Light whole genome sequence for SNP discovery across domestic cat breeds.

Background: The domestic cat has offered enormous genomic potential in the veterinary description of over 250 hereditary disease models as well as the occurrence of several deadly feline viruses (feline leukemia virus--FeLV, feline coronavirus--FECV, feline immunodeficiency virus--FIV) that are homologues to human scourges (cancer, SARS, and AIDS respectively). However, to realize this bio-medical potential, a high density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) map is required in order to accomplish disease and phenotype association discovery.

Description: To remedy this, we generated 3,178,297 paired fosmid-end Sanger sequence reads from seven cats, and combined these data with the publicly available 2X cat whole genome sequence.

Immune responses in rhesus rotavirus-challenged BALB/c mice treated with bifidobacteria and prebiotic supplements.

Bifidobacterium species (B. bifidum and B. infantis), with or without prebiotic compounds (arabino-galactan, short-chain fructo-oligosaccharide, iso-malto-dextrins), were orally fed to Balb/c pups (n = 192) to evaluate their potential synergistic effects on modulating the course of rhesus rotavirus (RRV) infection, as well as their ability to mediate the associated mucosal and humoral immune responses.

Altered expression of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in different stages of mouse skin carcinogenesis.

Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) is an endogenous inhibitor of interleukin-1. The expression of IL-1Ra and interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha) was measured in murine epidermis after treatment with tumor promoters and in tumor cell lines. A single treatment with three different tumor promoters (12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA), anthralin, and thapsigargin) induced IL-1Ra mRNA with different kinetics in mouse skin.

Dietary lipid varying in corn and coconut oil influences protein kinase C in phorbol ester-treated mouse skin.

An earlier study indicated that increased levels of corn oil in the diet resulted in decreased tumor yield after promotion by the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate in Sencar mouse epidermis (J Leyton, ML Lee, M Locniskar, MA Belury, TJ Slaga, et al. Cancer Res 51, 907-915, 1991). In the present study we investigated whether corn oil diets could alter the subcellular distribution and activity of protein kinase C (PKC), which is part of an important signaling pathway in carcinogenesis.

Epidermal proliferation but not quantity of DNA photodamage is correlated with UV-induced mouse skin carcinogenesis.

The hairless SKH-1 mouse strain has a higher skin tumor incidence, shorter tumor latency, and higher tumor yield in response to ultraviolet (UV) irradiation than the SENCAR strain. In this study we assessed the differences in UV susceptibility of both strains by measuring DNA photodamage and epidermal proliferation after one UV treatment and after 1, 3, 6, and 9 wk of chronic UV irradiation. Induction rates for cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) and pyrimidine (6-4) pyrimidone photoproducts [(6-4) PDs] were significantly greater in the SKH-1 strain than the SENCAR strain, but no strain differences in repair kinetics were detected for CPDs or (6-4) PDs.