Comparative study of in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry for the detection of porcine circovirus 2 in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues.

In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry with different types of antibody (monoclonal vs. polyclonal, natural vs. synthetic) was compared to detect porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2) in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from pigs with experimentally and naturally occurring postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome.

Radioprotective effects of fucoidan on bone marrow cells: improvement of the cell survival and immunoreactivity.

Fucoidan is a sulfated polysaccharide purified from brown algae including Fucus vesiculosus and has a variety of biological effects including mobilization of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Recently, we demonstrated that fucoidan stimulates the antigen-presenting functions of dendritic cells. In this study, we investigated the radioprotective effects of fucoidan on bone marrow cells (BMCs), which are the main cellular reservoir for the hematopoietic and immune system.

Antigenic diversity of Theileria major piroplasm surface protein gene in Jeju black cattle.

Piroplasms are tick-transmitted, intracellular, hemoprotozoan parasites that cause anorexia, fever, anemia, and icterus. Theileriosis is caused by Theileria sergenti and causes major economic losses in grazing cattle in Japan and Korea. In May 2003, we examined the antigenic diversity of the major piroplasm surface protein (MPSP) gene in 35 healthy Jeju black cattle that were born and raised at the National Institute of Subtropical Agriculture.

Effects of root canal sealers on lipopolysaccharide-induced expression of cyclooxygenase-2 mrna in murine macrophage cells.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is a useful biomarker of the inflammatory potential of biomaterials in vitro. In this study we investigate the effects of soluble extracts from 3 selected root canal sealers (AH26, Sealapex, and N2 Universal) on COX-2 mRNA expression in cultured murine macrophage cells. Root canal sealers and the addition of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) both produced significant increases in COX-2 mRNA expression in RAW 264.

One-step immunochromatography assay kit for detecting antibodies to canine parvovirus.

This study was performed to determine the feasibility of using whole serum to detect antibodies to canine parvovirus (CPV) under nonlaboratory conditions and to evaluate the performance characteristics of an immunochromatography assay kit. Precise detection of levels of antibody against CPV in puppies can be used to determine a vaccination schedule, because maternal antibodies frequently result in the failure of protective vaccination, and can also be used to determine the antibody levels of infected puppies. Several methods for the titration of CPV antibodies have been reported, including the hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay, which is considered the "gold standard.

Development of a sandwich ELISA for the detection of Listeria spp. using specific flagella antibodies.

Five monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) and chicken immunoglobulin (IgY) were developed by immunizing with flagella purified from Listeria monocytogenes 4b and the five MAbs have been confirmed to be specific against three different epitopes of flagellin. The antibodies showed specific reaction to Listeria genus and no cross-reactivity with other bacteria tested in this experiment including E.coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enteritidis.

Human heterochromatin protein 1 isoforms HP1(Hsalpha) and HP1(Hsbeta) interfere with hTERT-telomere interactions and correlate with changes in cell growth and response to ionizing radiation.

Telomeres are associated with the nuclear matrix and are thought to be heterochromatic. We show here that in human cells the overexpression of green fluorescent protein-tagged heterochromatin protein 1 (GFP-HP1) or nontagged HP1 isoforms HP1(Hsalpha) or HP1(Hsbeta), but not HP1(Hsgamma), results in decreased association of a catalytic unit of telomerase (hTERT) with telomeres. However, reduction of the G overhangs and overall telomere sizes was found in cells overexpressing any of these three proteins.

Gene regulation by human orthologs of Drosophila heterochromatin protein 1.

Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1) functions in gene silencing, transcriptional regulation, and chromatin remodeling. Drosophila HP1 enhances position effect variegation and has also been shown to repress transcription of some euchromatic genes and activate some heterochromatic ones. The purpose of this study was to determine if human orthologs of Drosophila HP1 differentially regulate transcription by identifying genes that are targets for regulation by HP1 family proteins in human cells.