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Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Genetics And Functions Of The Sars Coronavirus Spike Protein, Chad Michael Petit
Genetics And Functions Of The Sars Coronavirus Spike Protein, Chad Michael Petit
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
The SARS-Coronavirus (SARS-CoV) is the etiological agent of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The SARS-CoV spike (S) glycoprotein mediates membrane fusion events during virus entry and virus-induced cell-to-cell fusion. Investigations, described herein, have focused on the genetic manipulation of the SARS-CoV S glycoprotein in order to delineate functional domains within the protein. This was accomplished by incorporating single point mutations, cluster-to-lysine and cluster-to-alanine mutations, as well as carboxyl terminal truncations into the protein and investigating these mutants in transient expression experiments. Mutagenesis of either the coiled-coil domain of the S glycoprotein amino terminal heptad repeat, the predicted fusion peptide, …
Cytokines And Aeroallergens In The Pathogenesis Of Summer-Pasture Associated Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Effects On Endothelin Production, Neutrophil Activation And Chemotaxis, Lais Rosa Rodrigues Costa
Cytokines And Aeroallergens In The Pathogenesis Of Summer-Pasture Associated Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Effects On Endothelin Production, Neutrophil Activation And Chemotaxis, Lais Rosa Rodrigues Costa
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
Summer pasture-associated obstructive pulmonary disease (SPAOPD), a naturally occurring airway disease of horses, is characterized by clinical exacerbation associated with exposure to pasture environment during the summer. Aeroallergens are believed to trigger exacerbation of SPAOPD, cytokines are likely associated with the anamnestic response to aeroallergens, and endothelin (ET)-1 is a potential mediator of airway obstruction. The goal of this dissertation was to describe and explore the interaction of aeroallergens triggering inflammation and T lymphocytes cytokine profile with the recruitment and activation of neutrophils and synthesis of ET-1 by mononuclear leukocytes and airway epithelial cells. The temporal pattern of clinical exacerbation …
The Role Of Urease In The Pathogenesis Of Edwardsiella Ictaluri, Natha Joy Booth
The Role Of Urease In The Pathogenesis Of Edwardsiella Ictaluri, Natha Joy Booth
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
An Edwardsiella ictaluri strain with disruption of ureG was identified through the use of signature tagged insertion mutagenesis as being attenuated for virulence in the channel catfish host. Sequencing of the flanking regions surrounding the insert showed that the gene was part of a urease gene complex that included ureE, ureF, ureG, ureD, ureI, and an ammonium transporter homologue. The ureG gene encodes a GTP-binding accessory protein which is thought to function in energy-dependent urease assembly. The ureG mutant strain was found to be attenuated for mortality, persistence, and for the ability to establish infection in a competition challenge during …
Voluntary Exercise In The C57b1/6j Mouse: Phenotypic Effects Of Varying Dietary Fat Levels And Hippocampal Gene Expression Differences Between High-Level And Low-Level Exercisers, Leslie Debardeleben Mclaughlin
Voluntary Exercise In The C57b1/6j Mouse: Phenotypic Effects Of Varying Dietary Fat Levels And Hippocampal Gene Expression Differences Between High-Level And Low-Level Exercisers, Leslie Debardeleben Mclaughlin
LSU Doctoral Dissertations
The drive to exercise voluntarily likely results from complex interactions between genes in many organ systems and various psychological parameters, such as motivation and the perception of fatigue. Reproducible variations in exercise intensity and duration are well established in laboratory rodents, but the genes responsible remain largely unknown. Also, to date, studies addressing the adaptive changes to exercise that might prevent dietary-induced obesity have focused primarily on energy intake and nutrient oxidation/partitioning, as opposed to genetics. We hypothesize that increased voluntary physical activity may be a normal mechanism in certain rodent strains to deter dietary-induced obesity and that in an …