The expanding role of microarrays in the investigation of macrophage responses to pathogens.

In the last few years, microarray technology has emerged as the method of choice for large-scale gene expression studies. It provides an efficient and rapid method to investigate the entire transcriptome of a cell. No research field has benefited more from microarray technology than the study of the exquisite interplay between pathogens and hosts.

Quantitative analysis of pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression in Theileria annulata-infected cell lines derived from resistant and susceptible cattle.

The pathogenic mechanisms involved in tropical theileriosis, caused by the tick-borne protozoan parasite Theileria annulata, are unclear. Pathology is associated with the schizont stage of the parasite, which resides within bovine macrophages. Breed-specific differences in pathology have been observed in cattle, several Bos indicus breeds are relatively resistant to tropical theileriosis whilst Bos taurus cattle are highly susceptible.