Immunology and Infectious Disease Commons^™

Black Bear Population Health Monitoring In The Southeast, Kathleen Elizabeth Riese

Masters Theses

Recent growth of the American black bear (Ursus americanus) population in the southeast raises concerns about the potential spread of density-dependent diseases among bears, particularly sarcoptic mange. However, research on the health of bears in this area is limited. We analyzed samples from 169 bears in the region. We performed Knotts tests, skin scrapes, fecal floats; Canine adenovirus (CAV), canine parvovirus (CPV), canine distemper virus (CDV), and Toxoplasma gondii serology, Trypanosoma, Rickettsia rickettsii, and apicomplexan PCR, and identified ecto- and endoparasites found grossly or histologically. We found that 69% (63 of 91) had microfilaria; genetic analysis identified …

Comparison Of The Humoral Immune Response Following Both Bacterial Challenge And Rnai Of Major Factors On Proliferation Of Bartonella Quintana In The Human Louse, Jake Zina

Masters Theses

Human body lice, Pediculus humanus humanus, and head lice, Pediculus humanus capitis, have been hematophagous ectoparasites of humans for thousands of years. Despite being ecotypes, only body lice are known to transmit bacterial diseases to humans, and it appears that lower humoral and cellular immune responses allow body lice to possess a higher vector competence. We previously observed that the transcription level of the defensin 1 gene was up-regulated only in head lice following oral challenge of Bartonella quintana, a causative agent of trench fever, and also that body lice excreted more viable B. quintana in their …

Microbial Experience Increases Cytotoxicity Of Tumor-Infiltrating Cd8+ T Cells And Controls Tumor Growth, Nicholas Aaron Bunda

Masters Theses

Cancer immunotherapy research is traditionally conducted with specific pathogen-free (SPF) mice, which most accurately mimic the immune system of a human newborn. This makes translational research challenging, as this mouse model is not an accurate reflection of the adult patients who ultimately receive newly developed treatments. It is necessary to further develop a mouse model that bridges this gap and increases translatability of current cancer immunotherapy research.

By cohousing specific pathogen-free mice with regular pet store (PS) mice, we have generated a cohoused (CoH) mouse that reflects the microbial experience of an adult human immune system. We investigated antigen experience, …

Factors Influencing Primate Hair Microbiome Diversity, Catherine Kitrinos

Masters Theses

Primate hair is both a substrate upon which essential social interactions occur and an important host-pathogen interface. As commensal microbes provide important immune functions for their hosts, understanding the microbial diversity in primate hair could provide insight into primate immunity and disease transmission. While studies of human hair and skin microbiomes show differences in microbial communities across body regions, little is known about the nonhuman primate hair microbiome. In this study, we collected hair samples (n=159) from 8 body regions across 12 nonhuman primate species housed at 3 US institutions to examine 1) the diversity and composition of the primate …

Assessment Of The Immune Response To Posthodiplostomum Minimum Infection In Bluegills, Olamide S. Olayinka

Masters Theses

Bluegills (Lepomis macrochirus) are common intermediate hosts for white grub (Posthodiplostomum minimum). They tolerate heavy infections with minimal effect on condition and continue to accumulate metacercariae as they age. This suggests that any immune response to this parasite might not be effective. This study was conducted to better understand the immune mechanisms underlying P. minimum infection in bluegills.

Infected organs (liver, kidney, and heart) were examined histologically, and serum from infected fish was tested for antibodies to white grub. Juvenile flukes were recovered from isolated metacercarial cysts. Polyclonal antibodies were produced in mice against white grub …

White Grub In Bluegill In The Sangamon River: Impact Of Sewage Effluent And Flow Regime On Infection Parameters, Miranda White

Masters Theses

White grub (Posthodiplostomum minimum) is a digenetic trematode that uses a piscivorous bird, a pulmonate snail, and a centrarchid fish to complete its life cycle. To assess the impact of impoundment and sewage effluent on white grub infection parameters, infections in bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) were monitored in 3 reaches of the Sangamon River near Decatur, Illinois: Reach 1- free-flowing river upstream of Lake Decatur Dam, unimpacted by sewage effluent, Reach 2- impounded flow below Lake Decatur Dam, unimpacted by sewage effluent, and Reach 3- free-flowing river downstream of Sanitary District of Decatur, impacted by sewage effluent. Liver and kidney abundances …

Investigating The Prevalence Of An Insecticide Resistance Gene In Culex Mosquito Populations Of Central Illinois, Kylee R. Noel

Masters Theses

The globalization of society has led to the spread of the vectors, mosquitoes, and diseases. Each year millions of people are killed by diseases vectored by mosquitoes. For example, West Nile Virus alone killed over 2,000 people in North America in 2017; 8 of those deaths being in Illinois. Two prominent vectors of West Nile Virus are Culex pipiens and Culex restuans; which are difficult to differentiate based upon morphological features. In this study, mosquitoes collected from two Illinois counties, Coles County and Champaign County, were first identified based upon morphology and this identification was then compared to probe-based …

Investigating The Role Of Rna-Binding Protein 5 In The Life Cycle Differentiation Of Trypanosoma Brucei, David Anaguano Pillajo

Masters Theses

Trypanosomatid parasites such as Trypanosoma brucei have unusual mechanisms of gene expression including polycistronic transcription, mitochondrial RNA editing and trans-splicing. Additionally, these protists rely mainly on post-transcriptional regulation where RNA-binding proteins (RBP) have shown to play a major role. RBP6 and RBP10 are two examples of RBPs that play crucial roles in procyclic and bloodstream form parasites differentiation respectively, by post-transcriptional regulation. Over-expression of RBP6 is enough to promote differentiation into metacyclic trypomastigotes that are infective to mice. However, continuous expression is required, and this pattern does not reflect the natural expression in the tsetse fly or the influence of …

Improving Aedes Mosquito Surveillance And La Crosse Virus Screening In Eastern Tennessee, Cassandra Urquhart

Masters Theses

La Crosse virus (LACV), transmitted by infected Aedes triseriatus, Ae. albopictus, and Ae. japonicus mosquitoes is the leading cause of pediatric arboviral encephalitis. Severe cases of LAC encephalitis occur in individuals 16-years-old or younger and may cause permanent neurological damage or fatality. No vaccines exist making mosquito control and disease prevention crucial to public health. Effective screening and surveillance practices are key components to these goals. While a number of standard mosquito surveillance methods exist, continuous testing and improved understanding of vector biology to determine the best ways to implement these methods is important. Additionally, the current standard …

The Identification Of Notch1 Functional Domains Responsible For Its Physical Interaction With Pkcθ, Wesley D. Rossiter

Masters Theses

The adaptive immune system is a complex network of cells that protect the body from invasion by foreign pathogens. Crucial to the function of the adaptive immune system is the activation, proliferation and differentiation of T cells in response to foreign pathogen presentation by antigen presenting cells. T cell activation is driven through different signaling pathways that are dependent on phosphorylation of substrates by kinases. In the PLC pathway that activates the il2 gene program, Protein Kinase C-q (PKCq) and Notch1 localize to the immunological synapse and help drive the signaling cascade that leads to robust T cell activation. It …

Development And Evaluation Of Novel Vaccination Strategies For Campylobacter Control In Poultry, Xiang Liu

Masters Theses

Chicken is the primary natural host of Campylobacter, the leading bacterial cause of human enteritis in the US and other developed countries. Thus, mitigation of Campylobacter in chicken using innovative approaches, such as vaccination, will have a significant impact on food safety and public health. Our previous studies have demonstrated that the two outer membrane proteins, CmeC (the essential component of the CmeABC multi-drug efflux pump) and CfrA (a ferric enterobactin receptor), are feasible candidates for immune intervention against Campylobacter. DNA vaccine has appeared to offer various advantages for poultry, particularly when combined with in ovo vaccination. Chitosan-encapsulated …

Compatibility Factors Of Fascioloides Magna Miracidia And Four Sympatric Snail Species: Miracidial Behavior And Snail Response, Bryan Rolfsen

Masters Theses

Miracidia exhibit observable host-finding behaviors, and their sympatric snails have attributes that either permit or prohibit infection. This study was designed to assess the factors involved in intermediate host finding and host-parasite compatibility in the deer liver fluke (Fascioloides magna). The main aim was to determine the extent to which the parasite and/or the intermediate host are involved in host-parasite compatibility. A secondary goal was to determine what factors may lead to miracidial transformation. The study used a panel of four sympatric snails (Lymnaea caperata, Lymnaea palustris, Lymnaea exilis, and Physa sp.) that display …

Mathematical Modeling Of T Cell Clustering Following Malaria Infection In Mice, Reka Katalin Kelemen

Masters Theses

Malaria is the result of the immune system's unsuccessful clearance of hepatocytes (liver cells) infected by the eukaryotic pathogen of the Plasmodium genus. It has been shown that CD8 T cells are required and sufficient for protective immunity against malaria in mice [29, 36], but the mechanisms by which they find and eliminate infected hepatocytes are not known yet. Recently we reported the formation of CD8 T cell clusters consisting of up to 25 cells around infected cells [8]. Our mathematical modeling and data analysis revealed that malaria-specific T cells likely recruit each other and also non-malaria-specific T cells to …

Plasmodium Suppresses T Cell Responses To Heterologous Infections By Impairing T Cell Activation, Chelsi Elizabeth White

Masters Theses

Malaria is a devastating disease caused by parasites of the genus Plasmodium. Plasmodium falciparum, which is responsible for most malaria related fatalities, suppresses host immune responses during heterologous coinfections or following vaccination. However the mechanisms responsible for this defect are not well defined. The mechanism and to what extent this immunosuppression is occurring was investigated. This study demonstrates that both dendritic cell and T cell activation are impaired following a Plasmodium infection, ultimately altering the adaptive T cell response to secondary infections. T cell suppression is evident early on following a secondary infection and continues throughout the peak of parasitemia. …

Prevalence And Transmission Potential Of Borrelia Burgdorferi In Three Species Of Wildcaught Plestiodon Spp. Skinks Of The Southeastern United States, Teresa Dianne Moody

Masters Theses

In the southeastern United States, blue-tailed skinks (Plestiodon spp.) are important hosts for Ixodes scapularis ticks, the principal vector of Lyme disease (LD) in this region. Skinks and other southeastern lizards are not thought to be reservoir competent for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bbss), the etiological agent of LD in the United States. . Lizard-feeding by southeastern I. scapularis may tend to suppress sylvatic cycles of B. burgdorferi, and thus may be an important reason why LD case rates in the Southeast are much lower than in the Northeast and upper Midwest. Nevertheless, some skinks …

Trends In Borrelia Spp. Prevalence In Ixodes Spp. Ticks From The Southeastern Coastal United States, Lauren Paul Maestas

Masters Theses

The Lyme borreliosis (LB) cycle, involving Ixodes scapularis and Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto (Bbss), is well documented in the northeastern US, where LB is becoming increasingly prevalent. In coastal North Carolina, I. affinis has been shown to have a higher incidence of Bbss than I. scapularis. My objectives were, to assess changes in prevalence of Bbss in Ixodes spp. along a transect from Virginia to Florida, and to assess the value of dogs and mesomammals as sentinels for spread of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato.

Ixodes spp. were collected at sites from 37.4^o N to 30.0^{o …}

Parasites Of Invasive Carp And Native Fish In The Wabash River, Justin Wilcox

Masters Theses

Although the majority of introduced non-native species fail to establish, proliferate and spread to the point of causing observable damage, there are a significant minority that achieve biological successes far beyond what they do in their native ranges. Parasites and pathogens are theorized to play an important role in determining the outcome of invasions by non-native species, both as potential mediators of the population growth of invasive species and as invasive species themselves. This study examines and compares the abundance and species richness of digestive tract helminths in native and non-native fish of the lower Wabash River, a single waterpool …

Functional Cloning And Characterization Of Antibiotic Resistance Genes From The Chicken Gut Microflora, Wei Zhou

Masters Theses

A recent study using human fecal samples in conjunction with a culture-independent approach revealed immense diversity of antibiotic resistance (AR) genes in the human gut microflora. We hypothesize that food animal gut microflora also contain diverse and novel AR genes which could contribute to the emergence and transmission of AR in pathogens important in animal and human health. To test this, we examined AR reservoir in chicken gut microflora using a metagenomic, functional cloning method. Total genomic DNA was extracted from individual cecal contents of two free range chickens and two conventionally raised chickens. The DNAs were physically sheered into …

Impacts Of Predation Risk And Development On Susceptibility Of North American Anurans To Ranaviruses, Nathan Alden Haislip

Masters Theses

For over three decades, amphibian populations have been declining across the globe. Emerging infectious diseases are responsible for some of these declines. Ranaviruses have caused die-offs in wild amphibian populations on 4 continents, in 5 Canadian provinces, and in over 25 U.S. states. In order to understand host-pathogen dynamics, it is critical to establish baseline information on species susceptibility and the effects of natural stressors. The goal of my thesis research was to quantify the effects of anuran development and exposure to invertebrate predators on species-specific susceptibility to ranavirus. My experiments were designed in factorial arrangements, and consisted of exposure …

Naive And Memory T Cell Trafficking In Selectin Ligand-Deficient Mice: The Role Of Fucosyltransferase –Iv And –Vii In The Differential Migration Of T Cell Populations, John Robert Harp

Masters Theses

The correct and timely delivery of immune cells is critical for protection against foreign antigen. In order for cells to access most organs, there are requirements that must be met to facilitate exit from the blood into extravasculature. The initial requirement is selectin-selectin ligand interactions that mediate tethering and rolling to allow shear resistance. For proper selectin-selectin ligand interaction, glycoproteins must be modified by fucosyltransferases –IV and –VII, which adds fucose to an acceptor substrate to form the sialyl-LewisX moiety. Using fucosyltransferase –IV and –VII double knockout (FtDKO) mice, we made several novel observations. Our first observation showed increased numbers …

Transfer Of Immunity Against Hymenolepis Diminuta Parasites In Mice, Jerome F. Atta-Fynn

Masters Theses

The potential transfer of resistance against the rat tapeworm, Hymenolepis diminuta, from adult BALB/c mice to their young, was tested by comparing the worm burdens of 24 experimentally infected pups from previously infected females to 14 experimentally infected pups from uninfected females. The mean number of worms recovered, mean weight of recovered worms and frequency of mice pups with eggs of the parasite in their feces were significantly lower in infected pups from infected mothers than in infected pups from uninfected mothers. The lower worm burden observed in the infected pups from infected mothers suggested that the resistance to …

Evidence For Dna Methylation-Sensitive Transactivator Mediated Regulation Of The Expression Of An Epstein-Barr Virus Neutralizing Antigen, Sridhar Chalasani

Masters Theses

DNA methylation has a profound effect on the expression of a number of eukaryotic genes. This study demonstrates that an Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positive Burkitt's lymphoma cell line, Raji, contains the gene encoding gp350/220 but is not expressed. Frog virus 3 (FV3), an iridovirus, has the ability to overcome the inhibitory effect of DNA methylation. Fusion of FV3-infected cells with Raji cells resulted in expression of gp350/220, suggesting that gp350/220 is regulated by DNA methylation. Further evidence for this hypothesis was obtained by transfecting B95.8 cells with HpaII/HhaI methylated plasmid pLATE-CAT, containing the gp350/220 promoter. Southern blot analyses and a …

Ectoparasites Of Geomys Bursarius Illinoensis, Rick L. Miller

Masters Theses

This study was conducted to determine what ectoparasitic organisms are found on the pairie pocket gophers, Geomys burasrius, occurring in an isolated population in northeastern Illinois. The study area was a five hectare grassland community composed predominately of sandy soil, located in northeastern Iriquois Co., two miles north and three miles east of Beaverville, IL.

A total of 19 pocket gophers were captured from October 2 to November 17, 1983. Blood was collected and smears were made in the field. Hosts were examined for ectoparasites in the laboratory. Six hundred and nine ectoparasitic organisms were isolated representing a mean …

A Study Of Cell-Mediated Immunity During A Primary Infection With Pseudorabies Virus, John George Chosay

Masters Theses

This research defines the role and sequence of cell-mediated immune events in an in vivo virus infection. Pseudorabies virus infected CF1 mice lungs, were assessed by his to logical or immunohistochemical means. Using fluorescein isothiocyanate Tabled anti-T lymphocyte (ATG) and lissamine rhodamineB200 labeled anti-macrophage globulins (AMG), the number of lymphocytes and macrophages were determined. An early increase in T cells (four hours post-innoculation) was followed by an increase in macrophages (15 hours post-innoculation). Thereafter tissue levels of T cells and macrophages remained constant. Thymus dependent lymphocyte; failed to show increase macrophages clustering as pathology progressed. The first pathological changes in …

Gastrointestinal Cestodes And Nematodes Of Coyotes From Southeastern Illinois, Valerie Keener

Masters Theses

Gastrointestinal tracts of 45 coyotes, Canis latrans, from southeastern Illinois were examined for cestodes and nematodes. The following parasites and incidences (%) were observed: Taenia sp. (71.1); Physaloptera sp. (53.3); Ancylostoma sp. (20.0); Ascarididae (11.1); Thelazia sp. (2.2); Trichuris sp. (2.2); Uncinaria sp. (2.2). Ancylostoma sp. occurred significantly more often in juveniles than adults. Parasites averaged low numbers per coyote, and no ulceration or blood in the tracts was seen.

An Examination Of The Red Blood Cell Alloantigentic System In The Chinese Hamster, Kathryn Elliget Blashfield

Masters Theses

This research was done to determine whether any ABH-like blood group system was present in Chinese hamsters (Cricetulus griseus). The population of animals included 35 hamsters, 20 "normal" or outbred (10 males; 10 females) and 15 diabetic from The Upjohn Company's colony of inbred diabetic animals (8 males; 7 females; BE and BA lines). Animal sera and erythrocytes were compared by: hyperimmunization of rabbits (10 New Zealand White) with hamster erythrocytes; screening hamster erythrocytes and plasmas with human blood diagnostic typing antisera (Ortho Diagnostics), anti-H lectin, anti-A₁ lectin and human red cells of various types; absorption and elution of …

Dirofilaria Immitis In The Wild Canids Of Illinois, Thomas J. Kick

Masters Theses

The heartworm, Dirofilaria immitis, is widespread in dogs in North America and has been reported in wild canids in many states. This is a report of this parasite in hearts removed from coyote, red fox and gray fox carcasses collected in Illinois. A total of 415 coyotes had a significantly higher infection rate (23.6%) than 225 red foxes (3.6%) and 99 gray foxes (3.0%). Infection rates in red foxes and coyotes were significantly higher in or near the Wabash Border Natural Division along the eastern side of the state, suggesting a relationship between infection rates and this region. The …

Coccidian Parasites Of Wild Turkeys, Meleagris Gallopavo Silvestris, In Illinois, D. Michael Watkins

Masters Theses

Fecal samples from 124 wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris), collected in three southern Illinois counties, were examined for coccidia. Three and two tenths percent (4) of the birds sampled were infected with Eimeria of apparently four different species. These species were tentatively designated as: E. meleagridis, E. adendeides, E. meleagrimitis and E. subrotunda.

Notes On Seasonal Variation And Infectivity Of Haemogamasus Reidi, A Vector Of Hepatozoon Griseisciuri, On Eastern Gray Squirrels, Sciurus Carolinensis, Mohammed Bashiru

Masters Theses

Five hundred and twenty-two squirrels were trapped and retrapped from a population in Montgomery County, Maryland during 1974-1975. One hundred and forty-one squirrels were found to harbor an average of 10.6 mites (Range 175-1). While male squirrels outnumbered females (79 vs 62) females harbored more mites than males (829 vs 666). During the spring the average number of mites per captured squirrel increased to an average of 18.1 per squirrel. The average declined to 6.8, 4.8 and 3.3 per squirrel in summer, fall and winter respectively. Throughout the collection period adult female mites were by far more numerous on hosts …

Capillaria Sp. From Cryptotis Parva, Joseph N'Dong

Masters Theses

Twenty-nine Cryptotis parva were trapped at Lincoln Log Cabin State Park in Coles County Illinois between 22 December 1976 and 31 January 1978. Trapped specimens were necropsied and examined for the presence of helminth parasites. Nematode infections were found to be present in eight (27.2%) of the shrews collected with five (17.2%) of the males and three (10.3%) of the females infected. Three adult female nematodes were recovered from the small intestines of the host specimens, described and identified as the genus Capillaria. No male Capillaria were obtained and therefore species identification was impossible. However, the general appearance of …