Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology Commons^™

An Evaluation Of Contaminated Complete Feed As A Vehicle For Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea Virus Infection Of Naïve Pigs Following Consumption Via Natural Feeding Behavior: Proof Of Concept, Scott Dee, Travis Clement, Adam Schelkopf, Joel Nerem, David Knudsen, Jane Christopher-Hennings, Eric A. Nelson

Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background: Since its initial detection in May 2013, porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has spread rapidly throughout the US swine industry. Initially, contaminated feed was proposed as a risk factor for PEDV; however, data were not available to support this theory. Here we provide proof of concept of this risk by describing a novel means for recovering PEDV-contaminated complete feed material from commercial swine sites and conducting an in vivo experiment to prove its infectivity.

Results: For on-farm detection of PEDV RNA in feed, paint rollers were used to collect material from at-risk feed bins from 3 clinically affected breeding …

Evaluation Of Eight Live Attenuated Vaccine Candidates For Protection Against Challenge With Virulent Mycobacterium Avium Subspecies Paratuberclosis In Mice, John Bannantine, Jamie L. Everman, Sasha J. J.Rose, Lmar Babrak, Robab Katani, Raul G. Barletta, Adel M. Talaat, Yrjö J. Gröhn, Yung-Fu Chang, Vivek Kapur, Luiz E. Bermudez

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Johne's disease is caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), which results in serious economic losses worldwide in farmed livestock such as cattle, sheep, and goats. To control this disease, an effective vaccine with minimal adverse effects is needed. In order to identify a live vaccine for Johne's disease, we evaluated eight attenuated mutant strains of MAP using a C57BL/6 mouse model. The persistaence of the vaccine candidates was measured at 6, 12, and 18 weeks post vaccination. Only strains 320, 321, and 329 colonized both the liver and spleens up until the 12-week time point. The remaining five mutants …

Conformationally Stabilized Hiv Envelope Immunogens, Peter Kwong, John Mascola, Gary Nabel, Richard Wyatt, Barna Dey, Ling Xu, Tongqing Zhou, Joseph Sodroski, Wen Yuan, Shi-Hua Xiang

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Isolated immunogens including a HIV-1 gp120 polypeptide or immunogenic fragment thereof stabilized in a CD4 bound confirmation by crosslinked cysteines, and methods of their use are disclosed. The immunogens are useful, for example, for generating an immune response to HIV-1 gp120 in a Subject.

Chitosan Reduces Enteric Colonization Of Campylobacter In Young Chickens, But Not On Post-Harvest Chicken Skin Samples, Hanna Royce Arambel

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Worldwide, Campylobacter is one of the leading causes of foodborne bacterial gastroenteritis causing an estimated 1.3 million infections in the United States alone. Consumption and/or cross-contamination of raw or undercooked poultry products have been linked as the most common source of Campylobacter infection, making the poultry industry a target for Campylobacter reduction strategies. Campylobacter is prevalent in most poultry flocks in the United States, with as many as 90% of flocks Campylobacter-positive at the time of slaughter. It is estimated that a reduction of Campylobacter in poultry would greatly reduce the risk of campylobacteriosis in humans. Unfortunately, there are …

Cd8Α Dendritic Cells Drive Establishment Of Hsv-1 Latency, Kevin R. Mott, Sariah J. Allen, Mandana Zandian, Bindu Konda, Behrooz G. Sharifi, Clinton Jones, Steven L. Wechsler, Terrence Town, Homayon Ghiasi

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

It is generally accepted that CD8 T cells play the key role to maintain HSV-1 latency in trigeminal ganglia of ocularly infected mice. Yet, comparably little is known about the role of innate immunity in establishment of viral latency. In the current study, we investigated whether CD8α DCs impact HSV-1 latency by examining latency in the trigeminal ganglia (TG) of wildtype (WT) C57BL/6 versus CD8α^‒/‒ (lack functional CD8 T cells and CD8α⁺ DCs), CD8β^‒/‒ (have functional CD8α⁺ T cells and CD8α⁺ DCs), and β2m^‒/‒ (lack functional CD8 T cells but have CD8α^{+ …}

Overexpression Of Thioredoxin Binding Protein (Tbp-2) Increases Oxidation Sensitivity And Apoptosis In Human Lens Epithelial Cells, Yibo Yu, Kuiyi Xing, Rilwan Badamas, Charles A. Kuszynski, Hongli Wuand, Marjorie F. Lou

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Thioredoxin (Trx) is an important redox regulator with cytosolic Trx1 and mitochondrial Trx2 isozymes. Trx has multi-physiological functions in cells and its bioavailability is negatively controlled through active site binding to a specific thioredoxin binding protein (TBP-2). This paper describes the delicate balance between TBP-2 and Trx, and the effect of overexpression of TBP-2 in the human lens epithelial cells. Cells overexpressing TBP-2 (TBP-2 OE) showed a 7- fold increase of TBP-2, and a nearly 40% suppression of Trx activity but no change in Trx expression. The TBP-2 OE cells grew slower and their population decreased to 30% by day …

Evaluation Of Novel Oral Vaccine Candidates And Validation Of A Caprine Model Of Johne’S Disease, Murray E. Hines Ii, Sue E. Turnquist, Marcia R.S. Ilha, Sreekumari Rajeev, Arthur L. Jones, Lisa Whittington, John P. Bannantine, Raul G. Barletta, Yrjö T. Gröhn, Robab Katani, Adel M. Talaat, Lingling Li, Vivek Kapur

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Johne’s disease (JD) caused by Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) is a major threat to the dairy industry and possibly some cases of Crohn’s disease in humans. A MAP vaccine that reduced of clinical disease and/or reduced fecal shedding would aid in the control of JD. The objectives of this study were (1) to evaluate the efficacy of 5 attenuated strains of MAP as vaccine candidates compared to a commercial control vaccine using the protocol proposed by the Johne’s Disease Integrated Program (JDIP) Animal Model Standardization Committee (AMSC), and (2) to validate the AMSC Johne’s disease go at challenge model. …

Characterization Of A Novel Influenza Virus In Cattle And Swine: Proposal For A New Genus In The Orthomyxoviridae Family, Ben M. Hause, Emily A. Collin, Runxia Liu, Bing Huang, Zizhang Sheng, Wuxun Lu, Dan Wang, Eric A. Nelson, Feng Li

Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences Faculty Publications

We have recently reported the isolation of a novel virus, provisionally designated C/swine/Oklahoma/1334/2011 (C/OK), with 50% overall homology to human influenza C viruses (ICV), from a pig in Oklahoma. Deep RNA sequencing of C/OK virus found a matrix 1 (M1) protein expression strategy that differed from that of ICV. The novelty of C/OK virus prompted us to investigate whether C/OK virus could exist in a nonswine species. Significantly, we found that C/OK virus was widespread in U.S. bovine herds, as demonstrated by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR and serological assays. Genome sequencing of three bovine viruses isolated from two herds in different …

North American Lyme Borreliae: New Distributions And An Insight Into Borrelia Bissettii Infection, Immune Response And Transmission In A Murine Model, Brian Francis Leydet Jr

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Lyme borreliosis is an emergent threat to human health. It is estimated that 300,000 cases of Lyme disease are diagnosed annually in the United States. In recent years, non-traditional areas are starting to report more and more cases. While much research has gone into the tick and bacteria responsible for the disease, frequently new Borrelia species are being described and implicated in human illness. These species often go unstudied, and their threat to human health is not known. In the hopes of closing knowledge gaps on Lyme borreliosis in the US, we surveyed a non-endemic state, Louisiana, for Lyme Borrelia …

Light Stimulates The Mouse Adrenal Through A Retinohypothalamic Pathway Independent Of An Effect On The Clock In The Suprachiasmatic Nucleus, Silke Kiessling, Patricia J. Sollars, Gary E. Pickard

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

The brain’s master circadian pacemaker resides within the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). SCN clock neurons are entrained to the day/night cycle via the retinohypothalamic tract and the SCN provides temporal information to the central nervous system and to peripheral organs that function as secondary oscillators. The SCN clock-cell network is thought to be the hypothalamic link between the retina and descending autonomic circuits to peripheral organs such as the adrenal gland, thereby entraining those organs to the day/night cycle. However, there are at least three different routes or mechanisms by which retinal signals transmitted to the hypothalamus may be conveyed …

Dens Agenesis And Cervical Vertebral Malformation In A Labrador Retriever Puppy, Elisa Salas, Henry E. Cerny, Seth P. Harris

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Cervical vertebral malformations can cause acute or progressive pain, paralysis, and potentially death. Herein we present a case report of dens agenesis; cervical vertebral malformations of C1, C2, C6, and C7; subluxation of C1 and C2 and C4 and C5; and associated degenerative myelopathy in a 5-month-old female Labrador Retriever puppy. We additionally review current knowledge regarding pathogenesis and treatment.

Novel Gammaherpesvirus Functions 1 Encoded By Bovine Herpesvirus (Bovine Lymphotropic Virus), J. Jia, G. Delhon, E. R. Tulman, D. G. Diel, Fernando A. Osorio, X. Wen, G. F. Kutish, D. L. Rock

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

The genus Macavirus of the subfamily Gammaherpesvirinae includes viruses that infect lymphoid cells of domestic and wild ruminants and swine, causing asymptomatic latent infections in reservoir hosts. Here, we describe the genome of bovine herpesvirus 6 (BoHV-6), a

macavirus ubiquitous in healthy cattle populations. The BoHV-6 genome exhibited architecture conserved in macaviruses, including a repetitive H-DNA region and unique, 141 kilobase pair L

DNA region predicted to encode 77 genes. BoHV-6 encoded in variable genomic regions a novel complement of genes relative to other characterized macaviruses, likely contributing to distinctive aspects of BoHV-6 infection biology and host range. Most notably, …

Mechanisms Of Innate Immunity In Polymicrobial Sepsis, Liliang Jin

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Severe bacterial sepsis leads to a pro-inflammatory condition that can manifest as septic shock, multiple organ failure, and death. Neutrophils are critical for the rapid elimination of bacteria, however, the role of neutrophil chemoattractant CXCL1, pattern recognition receptors (PRRs)- NLR protein 3 (NLRP3) and alcohol in bacterial clearance during sepsis remains elusive. We demonstrate that CXCL1 plays a pivotal role in mediating host defense to polymicrobial sepsis following cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in gene-deficient mice. CXCL1 appears to be essential for restricting bacterial outgrowth and preventing multiple organ failure and death in mice. Moreover, CXCL1 is essential for neutrophil …

The Role Of Viral Glycoproteins And Tegument Proteins In Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 Cytoplasmic Virion Envelopment, Dmitry Vladimirovich Chouljenko

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a ubiquitous neurotropic alphaherpesvirus transmitted by contact with mucocutaneous surfaces of infected individuals. HSV-1 enters the host by fusion of the viral envelope with the host cell plasma membrane, followed by translocation of the viral capsids to the nucleus where viral DNA is injected into the host cell nucleus to initiate viral replication. To generate infectious virions, newly assembled capsids travel to the cytoplasm and undergo a process called secondary envelopment by budding into cytoplasmic vesicles derived from the trans-Golgi network. Cytoplasmic envelopment is a complex process involving interactions between a multitude of …

Autologous Adipose Derived Adult Multipotent Stromal Cells Alter The Porcine Systemic Immune And Bone Biomarkers Response To Cancellous Bone Xenografts, Jonathan Francis Bova

LSU Master's Theses

The use of a porcine model in assessing bone grafts in vivo is common when a large animal model is necessary. In this thesis we aimed to improve the porcine model of facial reconstruction through the use of a local anesthesia and novel methods of assessing the immune response to and bone forming ability of adult adipose derived mesenchymal stromal cells (ASC). The goals of the research were: 1) evaluate the effect of a bupivacaine mandibular nerve block on blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) in response to surgical stimulation and the need for systemic analgesics postoperatively, 2) quantify …

Evaluating The Clinical And Physiological Effects Of Long Term Ultraviolet B Radiation On Guinea Pigs (Cavia Porcellus), Megan K. Watson, Adam W. Stern, Amber L. Labelle, Stephen Joslyn, Timonthy M. Fan, Katie Leister, Micah Kohles, Kemba Marshall, Mark A. Mitchell

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Vitamin D is an important hormone in vertebrates. Most animals acquire this hormone through their diet, secondary to exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, or a combination thereof. The objectives for this research were to evaluate the clinical and physiologic effects of artificial UVB light supplementation on guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) and to evaluate the long-term safety of artificial UVB light supplementation over the course of six months. Twelve juvenile acromelanic Hartley guinea pigs were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: Group A was exposed to 12 hours of artificial UVB radiation daily and Group B …

Experimental Infection Of Pregnant Goats With Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (Bvdv) 1 Or 2, Thomas Passler, Kay P. Riddell, Misty A. Edmondson, Manuel F. Chamorro, John D. Neill, Bruce W. Brodersen, Heather L. Walz, Patricia K. Galik, Yijing Zhang, Paul H. Walz

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Infections with bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) of the genus pestivirus, family Flaviviridae, are not limited to cattle but occur in various artiodactyls. Persistently infected (PI) cattle are the main source of BVDV. Persistent infections also occur in heterologous hosts such as sheep and deer. BVDV infections of goats commonly result in reproductive disease, but viable PI goats are rare. Using 2 BVDV isolates, previously demonstrated to cause PI cattle and white-tailed deer, this study evaluated the outcome of experimental infection of pregnant goats. Pregnant goats (5 goats/group) were intranasally inoculated with BVDV 1b AU526 (group 1) or BVDV 2 …

Glutaredoxin-2 Is Required To Control Oxidative Phosphorylation In Cardiac Muscle By Mediating Deglutathionylation Reactions, Mary-Ellen Harper, Ryan J. Mailloux, Jian Ying Xuan, Skye Mcbride, Wael Maharsy, Stephanie Thorn, Chet E. Holterman, Christopher R.J. Kennedy, Peter Rippstein, Robert Dekemp, Jean Da Silva, Mona Nemer, Marjorie Lou

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Glutaredoxin-2 (Grx2) modulates the activity of several mitochondrial proteins in cardiac tissue by catalyzing deglutathionylation reactions. However, it remains uncertain whether Grx2 is required to control mitochondrial ATP output in heart. Here, we report that Grx2 plays a vital role modulating mitochondrial energetics and heart physiology by mediating the deglutathionylation of mitochondrial proteins. Deletion of Grx2 (Grx2−/−) decreased ATP production by complex I-linked substrates to half that in wild type (WT) mitochondria. Decreased respiration was associated with increased complex I glutathionylation diminishing its activity. Tissue glucose uptake was concomitantly increased. Mitochondrial ATP output and complex I activity could be recovered …

Altered Entrainment To The Day/Night Cycle Attenuates The Daily Rise In Circulating Corticosterone In The Mouse, Patricia J. Sollars, Michael J. Weiser, Andrea E. Kudwa, Jayne R. Bramley, Malcolm D. Ogilvie, Robert L. Spencer, Robert J. Handa, Gary E. Pickard

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) is a circadian oscillator entrained to the day/night cycle via input from the retina. Serotonin (5-HT) afferents to the SCN modulate retinal signals via activation of 5-HT_1B receptors, decreasing responsiveness to light. Consequently, 5-HT_1B receptor knockout (KO) mice entrain to the day/night cycle with delayed activity onsets. Since circulating corticosterone levels exhibit a robust daily rhythm peaking around activity onset, we asked whether delayed entrainment of activity onsets affects rhythmic corticosterone secretion. Wheel-running activity and plasma corticosterone were monitored in mice housed under several different lighting regimens. Both duration of the light:dark cycle (T …

The Catabolite Control Protein E (Ccpe) Affects Virulence Determinant Production And Pathogenesis Of Staphylococcus Aureus, Torsten Hartmann, Grégory Baronian, Nadine Nippe, Meike Voss, Bettina Schulthess, Christiane Wolz, Janina Eisenbeis, Kerstin Schmidt-Hohagen, Rosmarie Gaupp, Cord Sunderkötter, Christoph Beisswenger, Robert Bals, Greg A. Somerville, Mathias Herrmann, Virginie Molle, Markus Bischoff

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Carbon metabolism and virulence determinant production are often linked in pathogenic bacteria, and several regulatory elements have been reported to mediate this linkage in Staphylococcus aureus. Previously, we described a novel protein, catabolite control protein E (CcpE) that functions as a regulator of the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Here we demonstrate that CcpE also regulates virulence determinant biosynthesis and pathogenesis. Specifically, deletion of ccpE in S. aureus strain Newman revealed that CcpE affects transcription of virulence factors such as capA, the first gene in the capsule biosynthetic operon; hla, encoding α-toxin; and psmα, encoding the phenol-soluble modulin cluster α. Electrophoretic mobility …

Sumoylation Differentially Regulates Sp1 To Control Cell Differentiation, Lili Gong, Wei-Ke Ji, Xiao-Hui Hu, Wen-Feng Hu, Xiang-Cheng Tang, Zhao-Xia Huang, Ling Li, Mugen Liu, Shi-Hua Xiang, Erxi Wu, Zachary Woodward, Yi-Zhi Liu, Quan Dong Nguyen, David Wan-Cheng Li

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

The mammalian small ubiquitin-like modifiers (SUMOs) are actively involved in regulating differentiation of different cell types. However, the functional differences between SUMO isoforms and their mechanisms of action remain largely unknown. Using the ocular lens as a model system, we demonstrate that different SUMOs display distinct functions in regulating differentiation of epithelial cells into fiber cells. During lens differentiation, SUMO1 and SUMO2/3 displayed different expression, localization, and targets, suggesting differential functions. Indeed, overexpression of SUMO2/3, but not SUMO1, inhibited basic (b) FGF-induced cell differentiation. In contrast, knockdown of SUMO1, but not SUMO2/3, also inhibited bFGF action. Mechanistically, specificity protein 1 …

Protective Humoral Immune Response Induced By An Inactivated Porcine Reproductive And Respiratory Syndrome Virus Expressing The Hypo-Glycosylated Glycoprotein 5, Jung-Ah Lee, Byungjoon Kim, Fernando A. Osorio, Asit K. Pattnaik, Nak-Hyung Lee, Sang-Won Lee, Seung-Yong Park, Chang-Seon Song, In-Soo Choi, Joong-Bok Lee

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) causes significant economic losses to the swine industry worldwide. Although inactivated and live vaccines are commercially available for the control of PRRS, both types of vaccine have not always proven successful in terms of generating a protective immune response, particularly in the case of inactivated vaccines. In this study, we tested whether an inactivated vaccine could induce a humoral immune response to PRRS during a homologous challenge. Amino acid substitutions were introduced into glycoprotein (GP) 5 of the FL12 strain of the PRRS virus (PRRSV) using site-directed mutagenesis with a pFL12 infectious clone. The …

Light Stimulates The Mouse Adrenal Through A Retinohypothalamic Pathway Independent Of An Effect On The Clock In The Suprachiasmatic Nucleus, Silke Kiessling, Patricia J. Sollars, Gary E. Pickard

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

The brain’s master circadian pacemaker resides within the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN). SCN clock neurons are entrained to the day/night cycle via the retinohypothalamic tract and the SCN provides temporal information to the central nervous system and to peripheral organs that function as secondary oscillators. The SCN clock-cell network is thought to be the hypothalamic link between the retina and descending autonomic circuits to peripheral organs such as the adrenal gland, thereby entraining those organs to the day/night cycle. However, there are at least three different routes or mechanisms by which retinal signals transmitted to the hypothalamus may be conveyed …

Moraxella Spp. Isolated From Field Outbreaks Of Infectious Bovine Keratoconjunctivitis: A Retrospective Study Of Case Submissions From 2010 To 2013, John Dustin Loy, Bruce W. Brodersen

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK), also known as pinkeye, is the most costly eye disease of cattle. The principal etiologic agent of IBK is the Gram-negative bacterium Moraxella bovis. However, there have been reports of IBK outbreaks associated with Moraxella bovoculi. A retrospective study of IBK diagnostic cases submitted from July 1, 2010, through October 31, 2013, was conducted. Included in the study were 1,042 Moraxella isolates from 1,538 swabs of lacrimal secretions collected from 282 herds from 30 U.S. states. Moraxella isolates were identified to the species level and were composed of M. bovoculi (701 isolates), M. bovis …

In Situ Detection Of Autoreactive Cd4 T Cells In Brain And Heart Using Major Histocompatibility Complex Class Ii Dextramers, Chandirasegaran Massilamany, Arunakumar Gangaplara, Ting Jia, Christian Elowsky, Qingsheng Li, You Zhou, Jay Reddy

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

This report demonstrates the use of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II dextramers for detection of autoreactive CD4 T cells in situ in myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) 139-151-induced experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in SJL mice and cardiac myosin heavy chain-α (Myhc) 334-352-induced experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) in A/J mice. Two sets of cocktails of dextramer reagents were used, where dextramers+ cells were analyzed by laser scanning confocal microscope (LSCM): EAE, IAs/PLP 139-151 dextramers (specific)/anti- CD4 and IAs/Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) 70-86 dextramers (control)/anti-CD4; and EAM, IAk/Myhc 334-352 dextramers/ anti-CD4 and IAk/bovine ribonuclease (RNase) 43-56 dextramers (control)/anti-CD4. LSCM analysis of …

Generation Of Calves Persistently Infected With Hobi-Like Pestivirus And Comparison Of Methods For Detection Of These Persistent Infections, F. V. Bauermann, S. M. Falkenberg, B. Vander Ley, N. Decaro, Bruce W. Brodersen, A. Harmon, B. Hessman, E. F. Flores, J. F. Ridpath

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

The identification and elimination of persistently infected (PI) cattle are the most effective measures for controlling bovine pestiviruses, including bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and the emerging HoBi-like viruses. Here, colostrum-deprived calves persistently infected with HoBi-like pestivirus (HoBi-like PI calves) were generated and sampled (serum, buffy coat, and ear notches) on the day of birth (DOB) and weekly for 5 consecutive weeks. The samples were subjected to diagnostic tests for BVDV—two reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) assays, two commercial real-time RT quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), two antigen capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ACE), and immunohistochemistry (IHC)—and to HoBi-like virus-specific RT-PCR and RT-qPCR assays. …

Generation And Screening Of A Comprehensive Mycobacterium Avium Subsp. Paratuberculosis Transposon Mutant Bank, Govardhan Rathnaiah, Elise A. Lamont, N. Beth Harris, Robert J. Fenton, Denise K. Zinniel, Xiaofei Liu, Josh Sotos, Zhengyu Feng, Ayala Livneh-Kol, Nahum Y. Shpigel, Charles J. Czuprynski, Srinand Sreevatsan, Raul G. Barletta

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is the etiologic agent of Johne’s Disease in ruminants. This enteritis has significant economic impact and world wide distribution. Vaccination is one of the most cost effective infectious disease control measures. Unfortunately, current vaccines reduce clinical disease and shedding, but are of limited efficacy and do not provide long-term protective immunity. Several strategies have been followed to mine the MAP genome for virulence determinants that could be applied to vaccine and diagnostic assay developent. In this study, a comprehensive mutant bank of 13,536 MAP K-10 Tn5367 mutants (P>95% )was constructed and screened in …

Noninvasive Assessment Of Cardiac Abnormalities In Experimental Autoimmune Myocarditis By Magnetic Resonance Microscopy Imaging In The Mouse, Chandirasegara Massilamany, Vahid Khalilzad-Sharghi, Arunakumar Gangaplara, David Steffen, Shadi F. Othman, Jay Reddy

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the myocardium, but only ~10% of those affected show clinical manifestations of the disease. To study the immune events of myocardial injuries, various mouse models of myocarditis have been widely used. This study involved experimental autoimmune myocarditis (EAM) induced with cardiac myosin heavy chain (Myhc)-α 334-352 in A/J mice; the affected animals develop lymphocytic myocarditis but with no apparent clinical signs. In this model, the utility of magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) as a non-invasive modality to determine the cardiac structural and functional changes in animals immunized with Myhc-α 334-352 is shown. EAM and healthy mice …

Intricacies Of Cardiac Damage In Coxsackievirus B3 Infection: Implications For Therapy, Chandirasegara Massilamany, Arunakumar Gangaplara, Jay Reddy

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in humans, and myocarditis is one predominant cause of heart failure in young adults. Patients affected with myocarditis can develop dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a common reason for heart transplantation, which to date is the only viable option for combatting DCM. Myocarditis/DCM patients show antibodies to coxsackievirus B (CVB)3 and cardiac antigens, suggesting a role for CVB-mediated autoimmunity in the disease pathogenesis; however, a direct causal link remains to be determined clinically. Experimentally, myocarditis can be induced in susceptible strains of mice using the human isolates of CVB3, and the disease pathogenesis of …

Direct Staining With Major Histocompatibility Complex Class Ii Dextramers Permits Detection Of Antigen- Specific, Autoreactive Cd4 T Cells In Situ, Chandirasegaran Massilamany, Arunakumar Gangaplara, Ting Jia, Christian Elowsky, Guobin Kang, Jean-Jack Riethoven, Qingsheng Li, You Zhou, Jay Reddy

School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences: Faculty Publications

We report here the utility of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II dextramers for in situ detection of self-reactive CD4 T cells in two target organs, the brain and heart. We optimized the conditions for in situ detection of antigen-specific CD4 T cells using brain sections obtained from SJL mice immunized with myelin proteolipid protein (PLP) 139–151; the sections were costained with IA^s/PLP 139–151 (specific) or Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) 70–86 (control) dextramers and anti-CD4. Analysis of sections by laser scanning confocal microscope revealed detection of cells positive for PLP 139–151 but not for TMEV 70–86 dextramers …