Immunology and Infectious Disease Commons^™

In Vitro Modeling Of Macrophage And Cd8+ T Cell Activation: Evaluating Immortalized Cell Lines For Use In Undergraduate Immunology Laboratories, Lucy Groothuis

Masters Theses

The immune system is a complex, highly coordinated network of cells and signaling molecules that protects the body from infection and disease. Immunology is therefore a fundamental component of undergraduate education for students pursuing careers in medicine and biomedical research. Despite its importance, many undergraduate immunology courses lack a laboratory component. To address this gap, we developed an open-access immunology laboratory manual and evaluated its ability to generate meaningful data using primary murine cells and commercially available cell lines. Given the cost and logistical constraints of using mouse models in an undergraduate laboratory setting, we evaluated whether immortalized cell lines …

High Prevalence Of Trypanosoma Cruzi Infection In Raccoons (Procyon Lotor) And Associated Risk To Humans In Central Illinois, Esther Onuselogu

Masters Theses

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, remains a neglected tropical disease and a growing health threat in the United States. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) often coexist with humans in urban and suburban areas and serve as reservoir hosts for T. cruzi. While T. cruzi is rare in humans and domestic animals in the U.S., it is common in wildlife species, particularly raccoons and Virginia opossums (Didelphis virginiana). This study aimed to assess the prevalence of T. cruzi infection in the raccoon population of Central Illinois and evaluate the risk of transmission to humans. …

The Sewage Microbiome Dynamics Of Different Serving Neighborhoods In Charleston, Illinois, Sandra Chiamaka Okoye

Masters Theses

The complex microbial ecosystem within sewage systems holds significant implications for environmental and public health. Unlike studies on wastewater treatment plant microbiomes, upstream sewage systems have not been studied widely. This research investigated the dynamic sewage microbiome across diverse serving neighborhoods in Charleston, Illinois, encompassing residential, hospital, industrial, and university areas. Drawing upon recent advancements in microbiome research, the study aimed to unravel the spatial and temporal variations in microbial structures. Three times between June to December 2023 sewage samples were collected from manholes in the areas mentioned above. Community DNA was extracted and sequenced for the V4-V5 region of …

Molecular Investigation Of Tick-Borne Pathogens In Feral Swine (Sus Scrofa) From Seven Us States, Sofiane Aiche

Masters Theses

Feral swine (Sus scrofa) have been proposed as part of the lifecycles of multiple tickborne pathogens (TBP). This is a result of the increase in feral swine populations and increased tick populations and geographic ranges. Few surveys exist on the TBP relevant to human and wildlife of feral swine in the US. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of 10 TBP: Anaplasma spp., Borrelia spp., Cytauxzoon felis, Hepatozoon spp., Babesia spp., Mycoplasma spp., Trypanosoma cruzi, Toxoplasma gondii, Yersinia pestis, and Rickettsia spp. A total of 87 feral swine blood samples …

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, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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.

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 …

Epizoic Protozoa Of Planktonic Copepoda And Cladocera From A Small Eutrophic Lake, And Their Possible Use As Indicators Of Organic Water Pollution, Michael Stevens Henebry

Masters Theses

The epizoic protozoa of planktonic copepoda and cladocera from a eutrophic lake (Ashmore Lake, Coles County, Illinois) were studied over a 13-week period in the summer and fall of 1975. All organisms were collected with a 125 micron mesh plankton net. Epizoans (all peritrichs and suctorians) were hosted by three of four species of copepods and four of the ten species of cladocerans. The percentage of total organisms hosting epizoans varied significantly (0.001 alpha level) by month, but averaged 11.6 percent. This high occurrence of epizoans was thought to be related to the highly-eutrophic conditions existing in the lake. If …

Blood Parasites Of Squirrels From Coles And Lake Counties In Illinois, Nicholas I. Obiri

Masters Theses

Hepatozoon and microfilariae are described from the blood of fox and gray squirrels captured in Coles and Lake Counties in Illinois during 1976 and 1977. The hepatozoon species is identified as Hepatozoon griseisciuri on the basis of parasite morphology and hosts. A higher rate of infection (35.7% : 11.1%) was observed in gray squirrels than in fox squirrels and more adults were infected than juveniles. No microfilariae were found in gray squirrels but fox squirrels had a 57.1% infection rate with no difference based on age. The observed microfilariae are similar to that described by Davidson from Maryland gray squirrels …

Interrelationships Of Hypera Postica (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) And Bathyplectes Curculionis (Thomson) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae) In Illinois With Emphasis On Host-Parasite Densities, Distribution Of Parasites Within Available Hosts And Estimates Of Percent Parasitism, Robert John Barney

Masters Theses

In an attempt to better understand the host-parasite relationship of the alfalfa weevil, Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) and Bathyplectes curculionis (Thomson) (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae), all life stages of the parasite were monitored throughout the spring. Sampling was conducted on a degree day basis from early March to late May in an alfalfa field in Mason County, Illinois.

Dissections of host alfalfa weevil larvae revealed 2nd and 3rd host instars were preferred larvae for oviposition. Peak parasite densities were found to precede peak total host larval densities, but coincided with peak densities of the preferred 2nd and 3rd instars. Larger host …

The Arthropod Ectosymbionts Of The Fox Squirrel In Coles County, Illinois, Jeanine L. Stanis

Masters Theses

The body surface areas of 18 squirrels (Sciurus niger) were calculated by regions, and the numbers and densities of the ectoparasite populations present on each region determined. Four species representing four genera of arthropods were recovered. The louse, Neohaematopinus antennatus was the most abundant organism with Orchopeas howardii, Haemagamasus reidi, and Dermacentor variabilis being also present. The average population density of all parasite species combined was highest on the back and decreased on the belly, tail, legs, and the head respectively. Body regions showing greatest average total population densities were different for males and females. The …

Blood Parasites Of Illinois Wild Turkeys, Ulrike G. Guenthner

Masters Theses

Blood smears, from 152 wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) killed during hunting seasons in southern Illinois, were examined for blood parasites. Haemoproteus meleagridis infected 34% of the 83 adult and 19% of the 69 immature turkeys. Of the infected birds, 54% had one or two infected cells per 5000 erythrocytes and 78% had one to five. Infection rates were significantly higher in counties along the Mississippi River than in Pope County, located about 40 miles east of the river. Other parasites specifically searched for but not found were Leucocytozoon, Plasmodium, Trypanosoma and microfilaria.

Parasites Of Channel Catfish In Illinois Hatcheries, Charles Dale Meryman

Masters Theses

Ninety channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) were trapped during September 1973 through April 1974 at three hatcheries located at Worden, Centralia, and Kinmundy, Illinois. All were examined for parasites and 87 were parasitized. The trematodes Azygia angusticauda and Neascus sp. were found in the gastrointestinal system and Cleidodiscus floridanus and Dactylogyrus sp. were attached to the gills. Five cestode genera, including Bothriocephalus sp., Corallobothrium giganteum, Eubothrium sp., Haplobothrium sp., and Proteocephalus ambloplitis were present. Rhabdochona sp. was the only nematode found. Protozoans; Costia sp., Myxobolus sp., Scyphidia macropodia and Trichodina discoidea and one kind of glochidium were observed. …

Method Of Karyotype Determination For Cercaria: Application To Family Azygiidae (Trematoda), James Everett Mick

Masters Theses

The development of a method for karyotype determination of cercaria provides a basis for comparative karyotype analysis between cercaria and adult, possibly eliminating the need for infection experiments for positive identification of cercaria. Snails (Goniobasis livescens) were collected from below the spillway of Lake Charleston, on the Embarras River, near Charleston, Illinois. Of a total of 196 snails collected 42 (21.5%) were found to be infected with undetermined furcocyticercous cercariae. Infected snails were detected through isolation procedure. From the infected snails, emerged and non-emerged forms of the cercaria were recovered. Whole mounts of the cercaria were made and …

Helminth Parasites Of Illinois Wild Turkeys, James W. Jackson

Masters Theses

Viscera from 69 wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) collected from Jackson, Union and Alexander counties, Illinois, were examined for helminth and coccidian parasites. A total of eight species of parasites was found, all in the alimentary tract. The coccidian parasite Eimeria sp. was found in 9.6% of birds examined. The nematodes Heterakis gallinarum, Ascaridia galli and Ascaridia dissimilis were found in 13.2%, 27.9% and 48.5% respectively of all birds examined. Three species of cestodes, Raillietina williamsi, Metroliasthes lucida and Hymenolepis sp., were recovered from 41.1%, 27.9% and 1.4% respectively of birds examined. One species of trematode, …

A Survey Of Blood And Intestinal Parasites Of Peromyscus Leucopus And Microtus Ochrogaster In Coles County, Illinois, James William Matthews

Masters Theses

The purpose of this study was to isolate and identify blood and intestinal parasites from Peromyscus leucopus and Microtus ochrogaster in Coles County, Illinois and to calculate the rates of infection based on age, weight, and sex of the hosts.

A Survey Of Ectoparasites From Microtus Ochrogaster Ochrogaster (Wagner), Peromyscus Leucopus Noveboracensis (Fisher), And Cryptotis Parva Harlani (Say), Fred Basolo Jr.

Masters Theses

Ectoparasites were taken from 50 white footed deer mice, Peromyscus leucopus noveboracensis (Fisher), 50 prairie voles, Microtus ochrogaster ochrogaster (Wagner), and 11 least shrews, Cryptotis parva harlani (Say), within a five mile radius of Charleston, Illinois from 23 January 1973 through 25 June 1973. A total number of 4,242 ectoparasites were recovered; 2,395 from Microtus ochrogaster, 542 from Peromyscus leucopus, and 1,305 from Cryptotis parva. The major groups of ectoparasites and their percent recovery were: Acari (excl. of Metastigmata) 81.50%, Metastigmata 2.95%, Anoplura 15.50% and Siphonaptera 0.50%. A study of the ectoparasites recovered revealed representatives of 18 …