A lateral flow-based portable platform for determination of reproductive status of cattle.

Our objective was to develop and validate a tool integrating a disposable fluorescence-based lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) coupled with a portable imaging device for estimating circulating plasma concentrations of progesterone (P4). First, we developed and optimized a competitive LFIA test strip to measure P4 in bovine plasma. The LFIA design included a sample pad, a conjugate pad that stores R-phycoerythrin-anti-P4 conjugates, a glass-fiber spacer pad, a nitrocellulose membrane with printed test and control lines, and a cellulose-fiber absorbent pad.

Mechanisms involved in the p62-73 idiopeptide-modulated delay of lupus nephritis in SNF(1) mice.

The F(1) progeny of the (SWR × NZB) cross develop a lupus-like disease with high serum titers of autoantibodies, and increased frequency and severity of immune complex-mediated glomerulonephritis in females. In previous work, we found that an idiotypic peptide corresponding to aa62-73 (p62-73) of the heavy chain variable region of autoantibody 540 (Id(LN)F(1)) induced the proliferation of p62-73 idiotype-reactive T cell clones. Further, monthly immunization of pre-nephritic SNF(1) female mice with p62-73 resulted in decreased nephritis and prolonged life spans.

17β-Estradiol (E-2) administration to male (NZB × SWR)F₁ mice results in increased Id(LN)F₁-reactive memory T-lymphocytes and accelerated glomerulonephritis.

While it has been shown that estradiol treatment accelerates the onset of lupus nephritis with autoantibody production and kidney damage in both male and female lupus-prone mice, the specific mechanism(s) involved are unknown. Our previous work has shown that alterations in Id(LN)F(1)-reactive T cells and Id(LN)F(1)+ antibodies correlated closely with the onset of autoimmune nephritis in female F(1) progeny of SWR and NZB (SNF(1)) mice, supporting a critical role for the Id(LN)F(1) idiotype in the development of disease. Since male SNF(1) mice normally do not develop nephritis, we tested whether administration of 17β-estradiol (E-2) to male SNF(1) mice would increase Id(LN)F(1) IgG levels and autoreactive T cells, and further, induce nephritis.

Consensus-based reporting standards for diagnostic test accuracy studies for paratuberculosis in ruminants.

The Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy (STARD) statement (www.stard-statement.org) was developed to encourage complete and transparent reporting of key elements of test accuracy studies in human medicine.

Risk of autoimmune disease: challenges for immunotoxicity testing.

Autoimmunity represents a potentially diverse and complex category among the range of adverse outcomes for detection with immunotoxicity testing. For this reason, the risk of autoimmune disease is discussed in this overview chapter with additional mention among the later specific protocol chapters. Improvements in clinical diagnostic capabilities and disease recognition have led to a more accurate picture of the extent of autoimmune diseases across different human populations.