Publications by authors named "J H Kinnaird"

Article Synopsis
  • Intracellular pathogens like Theileria annulata can manipulate host cell gene expression to create a favorable environment for themselves, influencing how susceptible the host is to disease.
  • The study focused on the TashAT2 protein from the parasite, which was introduced into bovine cells, revealing over 800 genes that were differentially expressed, with many linked to pathways related to cell growth and disease susceptibility in cattle.
  • The findings suggest that TashAT2 functions similarly to a mammalian protein that alters the host’s gene expression and epigenome, specifically highlighting its role in increasing disease susceptibility in certain cattle breeds.
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Background: Knowledge of factors that influence the outcome of infection are crucial for determining the risk of severe disease and requires the characterisation of pathogen-host interactions that have evolved to confer variable susceptibility to infection. Cattle infected by Theileria annulata show a wide range in disease severity. Native (Bos indicus) Sahiwal cattle are tolerant to infection, whereas exotic (Bos taurus) Holstein cattle are susceptible to acute disease.

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The protozoan parasites Theileria annulata and Theileria parva are unique amongst intracellular eukaryotic pathogens as they induce a transformation-like phenotype in their bovine host cell. T. annulata causes tropical theileriosis, which is frequently fatal, with infected leukocytes becoming metastatic and forming foci in multiple organs resulting in destruction of the lymphoid system.

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Background: Vector-borne apicomplexan parasites are a major cause of mortality and morbidity to humans and livestock globally. The most important disease syndromes caused by these parasites are malaria, babesiosis and theileriosis. Strategies for control often target parasite stages in the mammalian host that cause disease, but this can result in reservoir infections that promote pathogen transmission and generate economic loss.

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