Procedures are described for constructing and using a microscale electrospray interface for direct infusion of samples into mass spectrometers. The sensitivity of the nanospray interface is a result of greatly reducing the flow of sample solution while preserving the analyte signal intensity. The described methodology provides a simple and robust way to analyze individual purified peptide and protein samples, i.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn New Zealand, an arbovirus surveillance program has been operating for more than 20 years, which includes testing of cattle with the Akabane virus neutralization test. With the aim to replace this laborious test by an easier-to-perform enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), 2 commercial ELISA kits, ELISA-1 from France (originally from Australia) and ELISA-2 from Japan, were compared, using 334 serum samples from noninfected New Zealand cattle, and 548 serum samples from naturally infected cattle herds in Australia. Diagnostic specificities for the test methods were high, ranging from 99.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this contribution, the impact of bovine natural killer (NK) cells on resistance to bovine tuberculosis was studied, using a monoclonal antibody against bovine NKp46. NK cells cultured with M. bovis-infected macrophages, but not control uninfected macrophages, proliferated and released IFN-gamma.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe Australian brushtail possums are highly susceptible to Mycobacterium bovis and are the principal wildlife reservoir of M. bovis in New Zealand. To better understand the disease process in these animals, brushtail possums were infected by the aerosol route with a virulent strain of M.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFA method was developed for formulating Mycobacterium bovis bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) for oral vaccination against tuberculosis. Selected lipid-based formulations of BCG were tested in the brushtail possum for their ability to elicit immune responses and protection against bovine tuberculosis. Formulation of BCG in lipid matrices maintained bacteria in a dormant but viable state.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe variable efficacy of bacillus Calmette-Guérin (Mycobacterium bovis BCG) in protecting humans and cattle against tuberculosis has prompted a search for a more effective vaccination regimen. A prime-boost strategy was investigated in cattle naturally sensitized to environmental mycobacteria by using a combination of three DNA vaccines coding for Hsp 65, Hsp 70, and Apa for priming, followed by a boost with BCG prior to experimental challenge with virulent M. bovis.
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