Immunology and Infectious Disease Commons^™

Comparing Immune Responses Of Juvenile And Adult Northern Fence Lizards, Sceloporus Undulatus, Zaïna Sandrine Kabange

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Sex steroid hormones affect behavior and morphological traits important in sexual selection. Steroid hormones also play a role in the development and functioning of immune system components. The immunocompetence handicap hypothesis (Folstad and Karter, 1992) proposes that tradeoffs, mediated by plasma levels of testosterone, exist between the immune system and elaboration of secondary sexual traits. Endocrine-immune interactions are well documented in birds and mammals, and steroid hormones can be immunoenhancing or immunosuppressive. Relatively little work has examined the ontogeny of immune function, and the interactions between steroid hormones and the immune system in reptiles. The first experiment addressed the question …

A New Species Of Petasiger (Digenea: Echinostomiformes: Echinostomatidae) In The Brown Pelican, Pelecanus Occidentalis, (Aves: Pelecaniformes: Pelecanidae), From The Área De Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica, David Zamparo, Daniel R. Brooks, Robin M. Overstreet

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

A new species of Petasiger inhabits Pelecanus occidentalis, from the Área de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The new species most closely resembles Petasiger novemdecim Lutz 1929 and Petasiger caribbensis Nassi, 1980 by having 19 circumoral spines and vitelline follicles confluent between the ventral sucker and gonads. The new species differs from both of these species by having a cirrus sac that is anteroposteriorly elongate and that reaches posteriorly to the midventral sucker, an ovary and Mehlis' gland that overlap the anterior testis dorsally, a uterus that lies dorsal to the ventral sucker, and a dextromedial genital pore. In P. …

Introduction Of Gerardo Pérez-Ponce De León, The 2005 Henry Baldwin Ward Medalist, Scott Lyell Gardner

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Includes the text for the introduction for Gerardo Pérez-Ponce De León who was the 2005 recipient of the Henry Baldwin Ward Medal through the American Society of Parsitologists. [Note: The award introduction was not given in person due to the impending arrival of Hurricane Dennis in Mobile, Alabama, where the ASP meeting was being held that year.]

The Case For Selection At Ccr5-Δ32, Pardis Sabeti, Emily C. Walsh, Stephen F. Schaffner, Patrick Varilly, Ben Fry, Holli Hutcheson, Mike Cullen, Tarjei S. Mikkelsen, Jessica Roy, Nick Patterson, Richard Cooper, David Reich, David Altshuler, Stephen J. O'Brien, Eric S. Lander

Biology Faculty Articles

The C-C chemokine receptor 5, 32 base-pair deletion (CCR5-Δ32) allele confers strong resistance to infection by the AIDS virus HIV. Previous studies have suggested that CCR5-Δ32 arose within the past 1,000 y and rose to its present high frequency (5%–14%) in Europe as a result of strong positive selection, perhaps by such selective agents as the bubonic plague or smallpox during the Middle Ages. This hypothesis was based on several lines of evidence, including the absence of the allele outside of Europe and long-range linkage disequilibrium at the locus. We reevaluated this evidence with the benefit …

A Method For Testing The Host Specificity Of Ectoparasites: Give Them The Opportunity To Choose, Carlos El Esbérard, Fernanda Martins-Hatano, Emerson B. Bittencourt, David Ep Bossi, Angélica Fontes, Marcela Lareschi, Vanderlaine Menezes, Helena G. Bergallo, Donald Gettinger

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Host-choice experiments were carried out with rodent and bat ectoparasites on Ilha Grande, state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We constructed experimental chambers that enclosed three different rodent or bat host species, and then introduced a selected set of ectoparasitic arthropods. When given the opportunity to choose among host species, the ectoparasites showed a strong tendency to select their primary hosts, and reject novel host species. These kinds of simple experiments can be valuable tools for assessing the ability of ectoparasites to locate and discern differences between host species, and make choices about which hosts to infest, and which hosts …

American Society Of Parasitologists Newsletter, V. 27, No. 3, Autumn 2005, Scott Lyell Gardner

American Society of Parasitologists: Newsletter

An issue of the American Society of Parasitologists' quarterly newsletter, also called the Journal of Parasitology Newsletter.

Three Rarely Reported Digeneans Inhabiting Amphibians From Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, David Zamparo, Daniel R. Brooks

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Three rarely reported species of digeneans were collected in amphibian hosts from Diversion Reservoir, Sooke, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada, The endangered anuran Rana aurora hosted Glypthelmins californiensis, Gorgoderina multilobata, and Megalodiscus microphagus. In addition, the anuran Pseudacris regilia and the caudatan Taricha granulosa hosted Megalodiscus microphagus. Gorgoderina multilobata has been reported only once since 1936 and has never been reported outside of California. We note several characters not previously reported for Gorgoderina multilobata and G. aurora.

The Voucher Specimens Served To Document The Existence Of The Host-Parasite Relationship Between Vertebrates And Its Associated Parasites At A Certain Geographic Locality At A Specific Date In Rakuno Gakuen University, Mitsuhiko Asakawa, Scott Lyell Gardner, Hitoshi Sasaki, Noriyuki Ontaishi

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

The voucher specimens serve to document the existence of the species of mammal and its associated parasites at a certain geographic locality at a specific time and date in history. In this paper, a case report was conducted with status quo of host voucher specimens including terrestrial vertebrates kept in Rakuno Gakuen University.

Spread Of An Exotic Fish-Gill Trematode: A Far-Reaching And Complex Problem, Andrew J. Mitchell, Robin M. Overstreet, Andrew E. Goodwin, Thomas M. Brandt

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Centrocestus formosanus, the gill trematode, has caused serious losses among fish raised by tropical fish producers since the early 1980s and is believed to be harmful to wild fish populations, including the federally listed endangered fountain darter (Etheostoma fonticola), in the Comal River near San Marcos, Texas. The parasite appears to infect in many fishes from Hawaii, Florida, Texas, and Utah. The gill trematode has a complex life cycle involving definitive hosts (aquatic birds and occasionally some mammals) and intermediate hosts (aquatic snails and several fish species). In the United States, the green heron (Butorides virescens …

A Role For Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (Erk1/2) Activation And Non-Selective Pore Formation In P2x7 Receptor-Mediated Thymocyte Death, Rodolphe Auger, Iris Motta, Karim Benihoud, David M. Ojcius, Jean M. Kanellopoulos

All Dugoni School of Dentistry Faculty Articles

Extracellular ATP (ATPe) binds to P2X7 receptors (P2X7R) expressed on the surface of cells of hematopoietic lineage, including murine thymocytes. Activation of P2X7R by ATPe results in the opening of cation-specific channels, and prolonged ATPe exposure leads to the formation of non-selective pores enabling transmembrane passage of solutes up to 900 Da. In the presence of ATPe, P2X7R-mediated thymocyte death is due primarily to necrosis/lysis and not apoptosis, as measured by the release of lactate dehydrogenase indicative of a loss of plasma membrane integrity. The present study is focused on the identification of P2X7R signaling mediators in ATP-induced thymocyte necrosis/lysis. …

Sheep Updates 2005 - Part 7, S. M. Liu, A. C. Schlink, J. R. Williams, M. E. Dowling, J. C. Greeff, Roy Butler, Keith Croker, L. G. Butler, Rob Davidson, Ken Hart, Doug Harrington, Mario D'Antuono, Julian Gardner, Geoff Duddy, R. G. Woodgate, A. Le Feuvre, A Bailey, R. B. Besier, N. Campbell, I. Carmichael, S. Love, Richard Stovold

Sheep Updates

This session covers eight papers from different authors:

POSTERS

1. Sulpher in wool and its implications for fleece weight and sheep health, SM Liu, AC Schlink, JR Williams, CSIRO Livestock Industries Wembley WA, ME Dowling,JCGreef, Department of Agriculture Western Australia.

2. Stubbles for sheep: a reality check, Roy Butler, Keith Croker, Department of Agriculture Western Australia.

3. Genetic benchmarking using artificial insemination, LC Butler, JC Greeff, Department of Agriculture Western Australia.

4. The potential lambing performances of ewes in mixed age flocks, Kieth Croker, Department of Agriculture Western Australia, Rob Davidson, WAMMCO International, formally University of Western Australia, Ken Hart, …

Sheep Updates 2005 - Part 4, Lucy Anderton, John Young, Rob Davidson, Keith Croker, Ken Hart, Tim Wiese, B. M. Thomson, I Williams, J. R. Briegel, J. C. Greeff, N. R. Adams, E. N. Bermingham, Sue Hatcher, Gordon Refshauge, Emma Kopke, Ross Kingwell, K. E. Kemper, M. L. Hebart, F. D. Brien, K. S. Jaensch, R. J. Grimson, D. H. Smith, Melanie Dowling, A. (Tony) Schlink, John Karlsson

Sheep Updates

This session covers twelve papers from different authors:

REPRODUCTION

1. Is it worth increasing investment to increase lambing percentages? Lucy Anderton Department of Agriculture Western Australia.

2. What value is a lamb? John Young, Farming Systems Analysis Service, Kojonup, WA

3. Providing twin-bearing ewes with extra energy at lambing produces heavier lambs at marking. Rob Davidson WAMMCO International,, formerly University of Western Australia; Keith Croker, Ken Hart, Department of Agriculture Western Australia, Tim Wiese, "Chuckem", Highbury, Western Australia.

GENETICS

4. Underlying biological cause of trade-off between meat and wool. Part 1. Wool and muscle glycogen, BM Thomson, I Williams, University …

Sheep Updates 2005 - Contents, Department Of Agriculture Western Australia

Sheep Updates

No abstract provided.

Sheep Updates 2005 - Part 5, Geoff Duddy, Brent Mcloud, John Sullivan, T. J. Mahar, A. Balasingam, J. H. Stanton, K. M. S. Curtis, P. R. Lamb, Eliza Dowling, Ned Crossley, Surrender Mann, Lucy Anderton, Matthew Kelly, Andrew Swan, Ian Mcfarland, Di Evans, K. Bell, D. Sackett, Robin Jacob

Sheep Updates

This session covers eleven papers from different authors; MARKET INFORMATION 1. Crystal Spring - Crystal clear and consistant, Geoff Duddy, Livestock Officer (Sheep & Wool) Yanco, NSW, Brent McLoud, (Product Development Officer) Cowra, NSW, John Sullivan, J.J Dresser and Co (Agent), Woodstock, NSW 2. An overview of Recent Developments in Dark and Medullated Fibre Testing, T.J. Mahar, A. Balasingam, AWTA Ltd 3. Opportunities and Implications for Wool Producers of the TEAM3 Prediction Equations, J.H. Stanton12 K.M.S. Curtis1 , 1Department of Agriculture Western Australia, 2 Curtin University, WA 4. Premiums and Discounts for Fibre Properties in Superfine Wool, Now and in …

American Society Of Parasitologists Newsletter, V. 27, No. 2, Summer 2005, Scott Lyell Gardner

American Society of Parasitologists: Newsletter

An issue of the American Society of Parasitologists' quarterly newsletter, also called the Journal of Parasitology Newsletter.

Four New Cestode Species From The Spiral Intestine Of The Round Stingray, Urobatis Halleri, In The Northern Gulf Of California, Mexico, Megan M. Friggens, Donald W. Duszynski

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

The spiral intestines of 40 specimens of Urobatis halleri from the northern Gulf of California, Mexico, were examined for cestodes. Four new species, Rhinebothrium chollaensis n. sp., Rhinebothrium gravidum n. sp., Eutetrarhynchus cortezensis n. sp., and Prochristianella minima n. sp., are described. This is the first record of these 3 genera in the Gulf of California and the first report of Eutetrarhynchus in U. halleri.

Diphyllobothrium Fayi N. Sp. (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae) From The Pacific Walrus, Odobenus Rosmarus Divergens, Robert L. Rausch

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

An independent species of cestode of the genus Diphyllobothrium Cobbold, 1858, known only from the Pacific walrus, Odobenus rosmarus divergens Illiger, has been incorrectly designated Diphyllobothrium cordatum (Leuckart, 1863) in the literature since 1955. That cestode is described in this study as Diphyllobothrium fayi n. sp. on the basis of specimens obtained from walruses from the northern Bering Sea and the Arctic Ocean. It is distinguished readily from D. cordatum by its much larger strobila of different form and by a range of morphological characteristics of taxonomic significance in the reproductive organs. Comparisons were made with specimens of D. cordatum …

Urotrema Shirleyae N. Sp. (Trematoda: Digenea: Urotrematidae) In Norops Oxylophus And N. Cupreus (Squamata: Iguania: Polychrotidae) From The Área De Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica, David Zamparo, Daniel R. Brooks, Vasyl Tkach

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

A new species of Urotrema inhabits Norops oxylophus and Norops cupreus from the Área de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The new species is most similar to Urotrema scabridum but differs by having a relatively longer esophagus, at least 10% of the total body length versus 4-8% in U. scabridum; an oral sucker width:ventral sucker width ratio less than 1:1 (averaging 1:0.76) versus 1:1 or greater; an oral sucker width:pharyngeal width ratio less than 1:0.5 (averaging 1:0.42) versus greater than 1:0.5; and by having many transversely oriented posttesticular uterine loops versus a few vertically oriented posttesticular uterine loops.

Environmental Factors In Autoimmunity: Assessment Of Immunotoxicity Of Phthalates In The Induction Of Lupus-Type Anti-Dna Antibodies, So-Yon Lim

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Objectives: Little is known of the role of specific environmental factors in promoting autoimmune disorders such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The broad objective of this study was to address how exposure to phthalates, common environmental factors m foods, and biomedical devices could affect the immune functions of resistant and autoimmune-prone mice. Methods: The environmental chemical model used in this study is phthalates, which are widely used in various forms and readily occur during day-to-day human contacts. Groups of nonautoimmune-prone (BALB/c, DBA/2 and C57BL/6) and susceptible (NZB, NZB/W Fl) mice were immunized with phthalates ( ortho, meta and para) conjugated …

American Society Of Parasitologists Newsletter, V. 27, No. 1, Spring 2005, Scott Lyell Gardner

American Society of Parasitologists: Newsletter

An issue of the American Society of Parasitologists' quarterly newsletter, also called the Journal of Parasitology Newsletter.

Defensin In The Ticks Dermacentor Variabilis And Ixodes Scapularis, Shane Michael Ceraul

Theses and Dissertations in Biomedical Sciences

This dissertation presents the identification, molecular structure and expression of defensin, an antimicrobial peptide, in the ticks, Dermacentor variabilis and Ixodes scapularis. A 624 bp cDNA molecule for defensin was cloned and sequenced from hemocytes, fat body and midgut of unstimulated D. variabilis ticks. Defensin peptide was detected only in the hemocyte lysates. These results suggest that the defensin from D. variabilis is synthesized and stored in the hemocytes, although the role of other tissues is not excluded.

The ability of the juvenile stage ticks to express the defensin gene was confirmed. Detection of the defensin transcript in all …

Skrjabinura Gnedina, 1933 (Nematoda: Seuratoidea: Seuratidae), In Birds From The Área De Conservación, Guanacaste, Costa Rica With Description Of A New Species, Luping Zhang, Daniel R. Brooks

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Two species of Skrjabinura Gnedina, 1933, were collected in the intestines of birds from the Área de Conservación Guanacaste (ACG), Costa Rica. Skrjabinura mesoamericana n. sp. inhabits Dendrocincla homochroa, Calocitta formosa, Dendrocolaptes certhia, Basileuterus rufifrons, and Chordeiles acutipennis. The new species differs from all species of the genus by having dissimilar spicules, the right having a distinctive thin and bent handle on the proximal end. The new species can be further distinguished from Skrjabinura pomatostomi and Skrjabinura brevicaudatum by having subequal versus equal spicules. Skrjabinura mesoamericana resembles S. brevicaudatum in the number and arrangement of …

The Defensin Gene In Dermacentor Variabilis And Ixodes Scapularis, Katherine Corbett Seguin

Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations

In response to microbial challenge, invertebrates rely on their innate immune response to recognize and destroy harmful pathogens. One of the primary proteins produced by the response and that has been observed in many invertebrates, including insects, mussels, and ticks, is defensin. These proteins are responsible for forming pores in the membranes of invading microbes thereby destroying them. This study examined the gene coding region for defensin in two important tick disease vectors, Dermacentor variabilis and Ixodes scapularis. PCR amplification of the genes from tick chromosomal DNA resulted in the amplification of a 225 base pair amplicon. Sequencing of …

Parhadjelia Cairinae N. Sp. (Nematoda: Habronematoidea: Habronematidae) In The Muscovy Duck, Cairina Moschata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Aves: Anseriformes: Anatidae), From The Área De Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Luping Zhang, Daniel R. Brooks

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

A new species of Parahadjelia occurs in the Muscovy duck, Cairina moschata (Linnaeus, 1758), from the Área de Conservación Guanacaste, Costa Rica. The new species differs from Parhadjelia neglecta Lent and Freitas, 1939, in the body size, in the spicules shape and ratio of spicules, and in having two pairs of sessile papillae near the tail tip of the male. The characters exhibited by P. neglecta and the new species validate its generic status distinct from Hadjelia.

Species Of Gorgoderina (Digenea: Gorgoderidae) In Rana Vaillanti And Rana Cf. Forreri (Anura: Ranidae) From Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Including A Description Of A New Species, Rosario Mata-López, Virginia León-Règagnon, Daniel R. Brooks

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Gorgoderina parvicava, G. diaster, and G. megacetabularis n. sp. are reported inhabiting the urinary bladders of Rana vaillanti and R. cf. forreri from northwestern Costa Rica. Gorgoderina megacetabularis n. sp. differs from all other species of the genus by the combination of the following characters: small body size (2.78-3.17, mean 2.92 mm), sucker ratio (1:3.1-3.7), and by the presence of two compact, oval, unlobed vitelline masses. Redescription of G. diaster including previously undescribed details on the reproductive apparatus and morphometric data are provided. This is the first record of the three species of Gorgoderina in Costa Rica and …

5-Ht1b Receptor-Mediated Presynaptic Inhibition Of Gaba Release In The Suprachiasmatic Nucleus, Jayne R. Bramley, Patricia J. Sollars, Gary E. Pickard, F. Edward Dudek

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) receives a dense serotonergic innervation that modulates photic input to the SCN via serotonin 1B (5-HT_1B) presynaptic receptors on retinal glutamatergic terminals. However, the majority of 5-HT_1B binding sites in the SCN are located on nonretinal terminals and most axonal terminals in the SCN are GABAergic. We therefore tested the hypothesis that 5-HT_1B receptors might also be located on SCN GABAergic terminals by examining the effects of the highly selective 5-HT_1B receptor agonist CP-93,129 on SCN miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents (mIPSCs). Whole cell patch-clamp recordings of mIPSCs were obtained from rat …

A Monkey’S Tale: The Origin Of Plasmodium Vivax As A Human Malaria Parasite, Ananias A. Escalante, Omar E. Cornejo, Denise E. Freeland, Amanda C. Poe, Ester Durrego, William E. Collins, Altaf A. Lal

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Library Materials

The high prevalence of Duffy negativity (lack of the Duffy blood group antigen) among human populations in sub-Saharan Africa has been used to argue that Plasmodium vivax originated on that continent. Here, we investigate the phylogenetic relationships among 10 species of Plasmodium that infect primates by using three genes, two nuclear (β-tubulin and cell division cycle 2) and a gene from the plastid genome (the elongation factor Tu). We find compelling evidence that P. vivax is derived from a species that inhabited macaques in Southeast Asia. Specifically, those phylogenies that include P. vivax as an ancient lineage from …

Bolivian Ectoparasites: A New Species Of Laelapine Mite (Acari: Parasitiformes, Laelapidae) From The Rodent Neacomys Spinosus, Donald Gettinger, Scott Lyell Gardner

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Laelaps neacomydis n. sp. is described from the pelage of the rodent Neacomys spinosus collected in Bolivia. Collection records from northern Brazil, southeastern Peru, and central Bolivia indicate its wide distribution across Amazonas associated with rodents of the genus Neacomys. The formal taxonomic description and illustrations are derived from the adults (female and male). Two larger species of laelapine mites, Gigantolaelaps intermedius and L. boultoni, infest the same hosts at the same localities.

Defensin In Ticks: Molecular Characterization, Expression, And Role In Innate Immunity, Daniel E. Sonenshine, Wayne L. Hynes, Shane M. Ceraul, Michelle Todd

Biological Sciences Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

How Many Years Of Life Could Be Saved If Malaria Were Eliminated From A Hyperendemic Area Of Northern Ghana?, Ayaga A. Bawah, Fred N. Binka

Poverty, Gender, and Youth

For some time, Chinese government policies have treated rural and urban areas very differently, and a by-product of China’s rapid development seems to be an even greater differentiation between urban and rural social and economic life. Over the next several decades, in part because of rapid fertility declines and in part as a result of mortality declines at older ages, China and other developing countries will experience enormous increases in the proportion of older adults and the proportion of the “oldest-old.” It is reasonable to expect that these age structure changes will alter the provision of health care, making an …