Francisella tularensis is a gram-negative facultative intracellular
coccobacillus that primarily infects macrophages. The causative agent of tularemia,
this bacterium is considered among the most infectious organisms known, requiring
fewer than ten organisms to cause disease. Although ubiquitous in nature,
transmission to humans is rare but can occur via insect bites,...
According to the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Tuberculosis Annual Report of 2014, from the 9 million cases worldwide, China has about 11% of these cases. Although the control of TB has improved over the years, China still has the second leading highest Tuberculosis epidemic in the world. Using literature reviews...
The gut microbiome influences human disease including Type 2 diabetes, obesity and metabolic syndrome and interacts with the innate immune system. The human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide (hCAMP), an important component of the innate immune system, and vitamin D and xanthohumol, a natural compound found in beer hops, regulate its expression....
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a potent immunosuppressant and a prototypic ligand for the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). In a graft versus host (GvH) response, treatment with TCDD suppresses a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response by Day 10, concurrent with a T-regulatory (Treg) like phenotype in the donor CD4+ T-cells, observed on Day...
Cell-based biosensors are function-based detectors that use the physiological response of a living cell to sense biologically stimulating agents. This emerging technology extends the application of current detection methods by reporting on the toxicity of a sample and the potential to cause disease. Previously, Betta splendens erythrophores have been described...
To evaluate the immunologic and metabolic effects of OmniGen-AF® (Phibro Animal Health corporation, Quincy, IL; OG) supplementation in growing beef cattle, we designed three studies using replacement beef heifers (8.5 and 10.5 months of age) and steers supplemented across backgrounding, transition, and finishing periods. In Study 1, the effect of...
The ability to move towards favorable environmental conditions, called chemotaxis, is common among motile bacteria. In particular aerotaxis has been extensively studied in Escherichia coli. Three putative aer gene homologs were identified in the V. cholerae genome designated VCAer-1 (VC0512) VCAer-2 (VCA0658), and VCAer-3 (VCA0988). Deletion analyses indicated that only...
With continual and worldwide human population growth, our impact on the natural environment expands and intensifies every day. We consume natural resources, burn fossil fuels, and release toxic compounds into the air, water, and earth. We build roads that fragment the landscape, construct new settlements, and develop agricultural lands in...
Raspberries are an important commodity worldwide, with the United States (U.S.) leading fourth in global production in 2017. An important factor when shipping propagated Rubus across the globe is the security of clean plant material verified through pathogen detection methods which is vital in preventing disease spread. A raspberry virus...
Rift Valley fever (RVF) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic viral disease native to the African continent. Outbreaks tend to occur in the wet seasons, and can affect numerous mammalian species including African buffalo. It is debated how the virus survives the inter-epidemic period when it is not detected in mammalian populations,...