Microbiology Commons^™

Receptor Mediated Oral Delivery Of Bioencapsulated Green Fluorescent Protein Expressed In Transgenic Chloroplasts, Arati Limaye

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The skyrocketing costs of prescription medicine in developed countries and their lack of availability in developing countries are the most challenging problems of human health. Primary reasons for such high cost are fermentation-based production, expensive purification methods, the need for low temperature storage and transportation and the delivery through sterile injections. Most of these expenses could be minimized or eliminated when therapeutic proteins are expressed and orally delivered via plant cells. Chloroplasts have the machinery to fold complex and biologically active eukaryotic proteins in the soluble chloroplast stromal compartment. Protein expression through chloroplast transformation system offers a number of advantages …

Selenotrisulfide Derivative Of Alpha-Lipoic Acid: Evaluation In A Cell Culture Model For Potential Use As A Topical Antioxidant, Melenie Lee Alonis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Selenium is a required micronutrient in mammalian cells. It is incorporated in the form of selenocysteine into selenoenzymes such as glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase, and is absolutely required for activity. Thioredoxin reductase is necessary for reduction of oxidized thioredoxin and therefore plays a major role in maintaining the redox status of the cell. Glutathione peroxidase is responsible for reducing peroxides into their corresponding alcohols and water. Together, these selenoenzymes constitute a significant part of the cell's arsenal to defend itself against oxidative stress. Exogenous sources of oxidative stress, such as UV radiation, are capable of generating reactive oxygen species …

A Novel Binding Interaction For The Paxillin Ld3 Motif: Paxillin Ld3 Mediates Merlin-Paxillin Binding At Paxillin Binding Domain 1, Sandra E. Beattie Geden

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Neurofibromatosis type 2, an autosomal dominant genetic disorder, causes predisposed individuals to develop various benign central and peripheral nervous system tumors. The characteristic tumors of this disease are schwannomas, which are tumors of the Schwann cells, typically on the vestibular nerve. These and the other associated tumors slowly compress nervous system structures causing deafness and loss of balance, resulting in an average life-span of less than 40 years. The product of the Nf2 gene is the protein named merlin or schwannomin. In individuals diagnosed with NF2, merlin is either absent or mutated to the point of inactivation. As such, merlin …

Extracullular Atp Regulates Il-1beta Release From Microglial Cells Via Purinergic Receptor After In Vitro Trauma, Chengya Liang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) induces a state of microglialactivation, which includes upregulation of macrophage functions and release inflammatory mediators such as certain inflammatory cytokines. Current literature suggests that interleukin-1Beta is an important cytokine mediator, which is dramatically increased after brain injury. Previous studies indicate that ATP is released by traumatically injured astrocytes and serves as a cell-to-cell mediator through purinergic receptors after in vitro injury. However, the mechanism of interleukin-1Beta release after traumatic brain injury remains poorly defined and is difficult to study using in vivo models. Using an in vitro model for traumatic brain injury (cell strain or stretch), …

Survival Of Mycobacterium Avium Subspecies Paratuberculosis In The Pol, John Rumsey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (map) is an intracellular pathogen that is known to parasitize macrophages and monocytes. Map infiltrates gastrointestinal tract host tissue where it is the known etiological agent of johne's disease in ruminants and implicated in the etiology of crohn's disease in humans. Map's ability to survive within macrophages enables it to disseminate throughout the rest of the host, possibly infecting other circulating blood leukocytes. In this study, the survival and fate of map strain atcc 43015 (human isolate) following phagocytosis was determined using in vitro murine macrophage cell line j774a.1 and polymorphonuclear cells (pmnc's) from five crohn's …

Evaluation Of Immunogenicity Of Transgenic Chloroplast Derived Protect, Vijay Koya

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Anthrax, a fatal bacterial infection is caused by Bacillus anthracis, a gram-positive, spore forming, capsulated, rod shaped organism. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) lists anthrax as Category A biological agent due to its severity of impact on human health, high mortality rate, acuteness of the disease and potential for delivery as a biological weapon. The currently available human vaccine in the United States (AVA anthrax vaccine adsorbed) is prepared from Alum adsorbed formalin treated supernatant culture of toxigenic, non-encapsulated strain of Bacillus anthracis with the principle component being protective antigen (PA83). Evaluation of anthrax vaccine given to nearly 400,000 US …

Cellular Immune Response And Gene Expression Profiling In Crohn's Dise, Claudia Romero

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Despite the chronic debate in the etiology of crohn's disease (cd), a debilitating inflammatory bowel disease (ibd) closely related to ulcerative colitis (uc), an emerging interest in a possible mycobacterial role has been marked. Granuloma and pathologic manifestations in cd resemble aspects found in tuberculosis, leprosy and paratuberculosis. The latter, a chronic enteritis in cattle, goat, sheep and primates, which is similar to human enteritis, also known as cd, is caused by a fastidious, slow growing mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (map). Due to the similarities between cd and paratuberculosis, a mycobacterial cause in cd has been proposed. Recent discovery of …

Immunochemical Characterization Of The Antigenic And Allergenic Components Of The Plant Pollens Of Paspalum Notatum. Callistemon Citrinis And Melaleuca Leucadendron, Saeed S. Hosseiny

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Antigenic as well as allergenic cross-reactivity was observed among the pollen extracts of Paspalum notatum, bahia (BA); Callistemon citrinis, bottlebrush (BO); and Melaleuca leucadendron, melaleuca (ME). lmmunoblot analysis of SOS-PAGE separated proteins revealed multiple antigenic components in the extracts of all three allergens which cross-reacted with rabbit antisera made to each pollen extract (anti-BA, anti-BO and anti-ME). A unique antigenic component of 15 kD molecular size reacting only to rabbit anti-BA antisera was detected in the bahia extract. Allergenic cross-reactivity among these pollens was strongly suggested by results obtained with skin testing of allergic individuals. A clinical study of 55 …

Lymphocyte Subpopulations And Other Laboratory Parameters In Patients With The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (Aids) And Related Conditions, Steven C. Shivers

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Patients with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), AIDS-Related Complex (ARC) and other high-risk individuals were evaluated for lymphocyte subsets and serum levels of IgG, IgA, IgM, complement C3 and C4, B2-rnicroglobulin, circulating immune complexes and antibodies to HIV (1). Patients with other immunologic diseases not related to AIDS and healthy individuals not at risk for AIDS were also included in the study. AIDS-related patients overall showed significant (p < .05) relative and absolute decreases helper/inducer T cells, and relative and absolute increases in suppressor/ cytotoxic T cells, resulting in dramatic decreases in helper to suppressor ratios. Relative decreases in total T cells and increases in B cells and natural killer (NK) cells were also observed in some AIDSrelated patients. Four patients not at risk for AIDS had borderline and possibly false positive HIV antibody results. Antibody levels in one of these patients gradually changed to negative after a period of a few weeks. AIDS-related patients overall were also found to have significant (p < .05) increases in serum levels of imrnunoglobulins, B2-microglobulin, and circulating immune complexes. Significant changes in serum levels of Complement C3 and C4 were not observed.

The Strain Improvement Of Aspergillus Ficuum Nrrl 3135, Eric A. Utt

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A strain improvement program was initiated to increase the yield of extracellular phytase (EC 3.1.3.8) in Aspergillus ficuum NRRL 3135. A minimal plating medium containing 2.99 g liter^-1 a-ketoglutaric acid was developed to decrease and stabilized conidiogenesis time and facilitate the isolation of single colonies. Exposure of A. ficuum conidia to 0.5 mg ml^-1 N-methyl-N’-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (NTG) for 15 min at pH 6.5 caused a one log kill and an increase in the mutation rate of 800-fold. Treatment of A. ficuum conidia with 46 ergs mm^-2 sec ^-1 UV radiation for 30 sec resulted in a one …

Analysis Of Immune Enhancing Effects Of Interleukin-2, Sharareh Sazesh

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The effectiveness of IL-2 in the enhancement of immune responses in B6-AKR and normal B6 mice was investigated. In vivo treatment of chimeras with murine IL-2 partially restored PFC responses of their splenocytes to SRBC. This treatment suppressed splenocytes IL-2 production in chimeras. In vivo treatment of chimeras with rhIL-2 resulted in a slight enhancement of mitogenic responses to Con-A. This treatment had no significant effect on mitogenic responses to PHA. The rhIL-2 treatment did not result in suppression of IL-2 production by chimeric splenocytes. Recombinant human IL-2 enhanced mitogenic responses of normal B6 and chimeric mice to PHA in …

Inhibition Of Murine Lymphokine Activated Killer (Lak) Cell Cytotoxicity By Adherent Cells And Prostaglandin E2, Kimberly G. Roe

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The effect of adherent cells, prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂), and indomethacin on LAK cell activity of C57BL/6J (B6) mice was investigated. Depletion of adherent cells from splenocyte cultures prior to LAK cell generation increased LAK cell cytotoxicity by 60% compared to non-depleted splenocyte cultures. Depletion of adherent cells from splenocyte cultures following five days of incubation and prior to the LAK cell assay resulted in a similar enhancement. Indomethacin, an inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis, enhanced LAK cell cytotoxicity in splenocyte cultures. PGE₂ inhibited LAK cell cytotoxicity of adherent cell depleted splenocytes 28% and 88% at l0^{-6 …}

T Cell Subset Analysis In The C57bl/6j Mouse, Bonny Bass

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Functional studies of murine T cells were performed to verify the role of T cells and adherent cells in the production of IL-2 and to clarify the role of the L3T4 receptor. Whole spleen cells were passed over nylon wool columns to obtain purified populations of cells for this purpose. It was found upon reconstitution of the T cells and adherent cells that a collaboration between the two was necessary for optimal IL-2 production. Their level of IL-2 production increased above the amount produced by the whole spleen cells. Antibody mediated cytotoxicity using L3T4 antisera identified T helper cells exclusively. …

Isolation And Characterization Of The Crossreactive Antigenic And Allergenic Components In Callistemon Citrinis And Melaleuca Quinquenervia Pollen By Immunochemical Methods, Brett E. Stanaland

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Effects On Iron And Cobalt On Methane Production From Dairy Cattle Manure, Mark E. Himes

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The effects of iron and cobalt on methanogenesis from dairy cattle manure were studied. Four-liter digestors with 3-liter working volumes were charged daily with dairy manure (4.5% W/V volatile solids) to achieve a 3-day retention time. Digestors were incubated at 37°C and pH 7.0 on a rotary shaker. Duplicate digestors were maintained under the following parameters: controls (no ions added), Co⁺⁺ at 4.958 mg/liter, Fe⁺⁺ at 20.64 mg/liter and Fe⁺⁺ and Co⁺⁺ at above stated final digestor concentrations.

Significantly higher production of biogas and methane occurred with the addition of iron (p = .05). Iron-amended digestors …

The Effect Of Ph On Methane Production From Dairy Cattle Manure, Mary G. Stafford

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The effects of pH upon methane production from anaerobic digestion of dairy cattle manure were investigated. One liter digesters were maintained by daily adjustment at the following pH levels: 7.6, 7.0, 6.0, 5.5, and 5.0. After 33 weeks of incubation the working volume of the digesters was increased to 3 liters. Digesters were incubated on a rotary shaker at 37°C. Digesters were loaded at the desired volatile solids concentrations, without an inoculum, and maintained from day one by daily additions and withdrawals to achieve a 3 day retention time. After 50 weeks of operation the manure from a second dairy …

The Microbial Biochemical Potential Of Two Detention-Retention Marshes In The Kissimmee River Valley Watershed, Douglas A. Winkelmann

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

One of the major programs to abate the deterioration of water quality in the Lake Okeechobee watershed was the addition of detention-retention facilities. The microbial biochemical potential of two different detention-retention marshes in the Kissimmee River Valley were examined to determine their effectiveness to improve water quality. The kinetics of decomposition and nutrient mineralization and assimilation, as mediated by microorganisms, and the enumeration of microorganisms capable of utilizing various substrates were studied. Various communities within each marsh were studied during a 2-year period. The decomposition rates of 3 plant substrates were determined. Chitin was used as a standard for organic …

Methane Production From Dairy Cattle Waste, Michael H. Scholla

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A microbiological and economic study of methane production from dairy cattle waste was performed. The profit potential of producing methane and other vendable products from dairy cattle wastes was studied using a computerized cost model. The unit gas cost ($/cu. ft. methane) was determined for refractory volatile solids (VS) concentrations between 52% and 28% (W/W). Reaction rate constants (RKO) between 5.92 x 109 and 1.24 x 1011 were used. Retention time (RT) was varied between 1 and 10 days. Total solids (TS) concentration was varied between 8% and 14%. Analyses were performed with and without a fertilizer plant option for …