Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular bacteria that infect a variety of
eukaryotic hosts and affect normal host processes. Within host cells, their
developmental cycle takes place inside non-acidified vacuoles termed inclusions. An
inclusion membrane composed primarily of secreted chlamydial synthesized proteins
called Incs encloses the inclusion. At this location, Incs have...
Contamination of recreational and shellfish waters with fecal pollution is a major water quality issue with associated economic impacts and human health risks. Reliable fecal source identification and rapid, quantitative analyses are essential components of risk assessment. Enteric bacteria that are endemic to specific hosts have a potential role as...
The Willamette River, one of only 14 American Heritage Rivers, flows through the most densely populated and agriculturally productive region of Oregon. Previous biological monitoring of Willamette River fish detected elevated frequencies of skeletal deformities in fish from certain areas of the lower (NP [NP], rivermile [RM] 26-55) and middle...
Tetracycline is a front line antibiotic for the treatment of chlamydial infections in both humans and animals, and the emergence of tetracycline resistant (tet[superscript R]) Chlamydia is of significant clinical importance. Recently, several tet[superscript R] chlamydial strains have been isolated from swine (Sus scrofa) raised in production facilities in Nebraska....
The majority of our modern understanding of bacterial pathogenesis is based on the strategy that involves screening bacterial genomes for the presence of the genes encoding pathogenic factors, and analysis of these genes via forward and reverse genetics. Chlamydiae represent a unique group of pathogenic bacteria in which it is...
Although IL-4 is a well-characterized multi-functional cytokine, its role as a survival factor in T cells is not completely understood. In an attempt to uncover IL-4-mediated survival, we studied caspase activation in primary mouse T lymphocytes undergoing death by neglect, activation-induced or steroid-induced cell death. Here, we identify the executioner...