Cutting an NKG2D Ligand Short: Cellular Processing of the Peculiar Human NKG2D Ligand ULBP4.

Stress-induced cell surface expression of MHC class I-related glycoproteins of the MIC and ULBP families allows for immune recognition of dangerous "self cells" by human cytotoxic lymphocytes the NKG2D receptor. With two MIC molecules (MICA and MICB) and six ULBP molecules (ULBP1-6), there are a total of eight human NKG2D ligands (NKG2DL). Since the discovery of the NKG2D-NKG2DL system, the cause for both redundancy and diversity of NKG2DL has been a major and ongoing matter of debate.

Neutralization of both IL-1α/IL-1β plays a major role in suppressing combined cigarette smoke/virus-induced pulmonary inflammation in mice.

Smoking is an important risk factor for the development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and viral infections are believed to be major triggers of exacerbations, which periodically lead to a worsening of symptoms. The pro-inflammatory IL-1 family members IL-1α and IL-1β are increased in COPD patients and might contribute to disease pathology. We investigated whether individual or combined inhibition of these cytokines reduced lung inflammation in cigarette smoke (CS)-exposed and H1N1-infected BALB/c mice.

A novel multiplex qPCR targeting 23S rDNA for diagnosis of swine dysentery and porcine intestinal spirochaetosis.

Background: A multiplex qPCR targeting a 128 bp region on the 23S rDNA gene was developed for detection of Brachyspira (B.) hyodysenteriae and B. pilosicoli, the agents of swine dysentery (SD) and porcine intestinal spirochaetosis (PIS), together with a triplet of apathogenic Brachyspira spp.

A novel quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method for detecting toxigenic Pasteurella multocida in nasal swabs from swine.

Background: Progressive atrophic rhinitis (PAR) in pigs is caused by toxigenic Pasteurella multocida. In Switzerland, PAR is monitored by selective culture of nasal swabs and subsequent polymerase chain reaction (PCR) screening of bacterial colonies for the P. multocida toxA gene.