The need for veterinarians in biomedical research.

The number of veterinarians in the United States is inadequate to meet societal needs in biomedical research and public health. Areas of greatest need include translational medical research, veterinary pathology, laboratory-animal medicine, emerging infectious diseases, public health, academic medicine, and production-animal medicine. Veterinarians have unique skill sets that enable them to serve as leaders or members of interdisciplinary research teams involved in basic science and biomedical research with applications to animal or human health.

Identification of a novel common proviral integration site, flit-1, in feline leukemia virus induced thymic lymphoma.

A new proviral integration site for feline leukemia virus (FeLV), termed flit-1, was identified from feline thymic lymphoma. Among 35 FeLV-related tumors examined, 5 of 25 thymic lymphomas demonstrated proviral insertion within flit-1 locus whereas none of four alimentary and five multicentric lymphomas and one T-lymphoid leukemia examined had rearrangement in this region. Extensive sequence analysis has shown that flit-1, which is noncoding, is conserved on human chromosome 12 and mouse chromosome 15.

Animal models of retroviral encephalopathies: feline model.

Human immunodeficiency virus infection in children and adults results in a progressive neurodegenerative disease consistent with a predominant subcortical mediated dementia. Techniques for developing a feline model of the early stages of lentiviral-associated neurodegeneration are presented. The behavioral, neurophysiologic, immunologic, virologic, and neuropathologic aspects of this model are also described.

Progress in the discovery and definition of monoclonal antibodies for use in feline research.

The practice of veterinary medicine and research into both animal diseases and animal models of human disease are restricted by the scarcity of monoclonal antibodies (mAb) that react with animal proteins. One way to enlarge the repertoire of mAb to animal leukocyte differentiation antigens (LDA) is to test mAb specific to other species for cross-reactivity to the species of interest. We have tested a panel of 380 commercially available anti-human mAb for cross-reactivity to feline LDA.

Lentivirus-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses are rapidly lost in thymectomized cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus.

To what extent the thymus is needed to preserve the virus-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response of lentivirus-infected adults is unclear. Presented here is the first definitive study using thymectomized (ThX) animals to directly evaluate the contribution of thymic function to lentivirus-specific CTL response and the control of lentivirus infections. ThX and mock-ThX cats were inoculated with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and monitored for their FIV-specific CTL responses.

Expression of equine glucose transporter type 4 in skeletal muscle after glycogen-depleting exercise.

Objectives: To clone and sequence cDNA for equine insulin-responsive glucose transporter (glucose transporter type 4 [GLUT-4]) and determine effects of glycogen-depleting exercise and meal type after exercise on GLUT-4 gene expression in skeletal muscle of horses.

Sample Population: Muscle biopsy specimens from 7 healthy adult horses.

Procedures: Total RNA was extracted from specimens, and GLUT-4 cDNA was synthesized and sequenced.

Evaluation of bystander recruitment and cytotoxic functions of the IFN-gamma producing alloreactive CD8+ T cells in mice.

Vigorous CTL response against alloantigens, which is the main effector mechanism in acute allograft rejection, has been well described. Studies to monitor these responses in a quantitative manner has recently taken a new turn following the introduction of new quantitative flow cytometric methods such as CFSE cell proliferation and intracellular cytokine staining as alternatives to the conventional LDA assays. Although this technique has frequently been used in allogeneic systems in recent years, potential recruitment of non-antigen-specific bystander CD8+ T cells in the antigen-specific population has not been studied in detail.

Immunomodulatory effect of zidovudine (ZDV) on cytotoxic T lymphocytes previously exposed to ZDV.

In a previous study, zidovudine (ZDV) was shown to cause a concentration-dependent inhibition of antigen-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) clonal expansion (S. Francke, C. G.

Methamphetamine enhances cell-associated feline immunodeficiency virus replication in astrocytes.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among substance abusers is on the rise worldwide. Psychostimulants, and in particular methamphetamine (METH), have detrimental effects on the immune system as well as causing a progressive neurodegeneration, similar to HIV infection. Many Lentivirinae, including feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), penetrate into the central nervous system early in the course of infection with astrocytes serving as a reservoir of chronic brain infection.