Molecular and serological dynamics of infection in a longitudinal study of prime lamb production.

Background: is a globally significant livestock pathogen causing pathology and production losses. The on-farm infection and serological dynamics and the relevance of existing diagnostic tools for diagnosing in livestock remains poorly characterized. In this study, we characterized the antigen and antibody dynamics of this pathogen in a longitudinal study of prime lamb production, utilizing the infection focused -specific 16S rRNA qPCR assay and serology based chlamydial Complement fixation Test (CFT).

Humoral immune response against two surface antigens of Chlamydia pecorum in vaccinated and naturally infected sheep.

Chlamydia pecorum is a globally recognised livestock pathogen due to the significant clinical and economic impact it poses to livestock producers. Routine serological diagnosis is through a complement fixation test (CFT), which is often criticised for cross-reactivity, poor sensitivity and specificity. Although serology remains the preferred method in veterinary diagnostic laboratories, serological assays based on surface antigens of C.

Transcriptome sequencing of the long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta) reveals conservation and innovation of immune genes in the marsupial order Peramelemorphia.

Bandicoots are omnivorous marsupials of the order Peramelemorphia. Conservation concerns and their unique biological characteristics suggest peramelomorphs are worthy research subjects, but knowledge of their genetics and immunology has lagged behind that of other high-profile marsupials. Here, we characterise the transcriptome of the long-nose bandicoot (Perameles nasuta), the first high-throughput data set from any peramelomorph.

Characterization of Tropomyosin and Paramyosin: Immunoreactive Allergens in Scabies.

Scabies is a human skin disease due to the burrowing ectoparasite var. resulting in intense itching and inflammation and manifesting as a skin allergy. Because of insufficient mite material and lack of in vitro propagation system for antigen preparation, scabies is a challenging disease to develop serological diagnostics.

Immunization of a wild koala population with a recombinant Chlamydia pecorum Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP) or Polymorphic Membrane Protein (PMP) based vaccine: New insights into immune response, protection and clearance.

We assessed the effects of two different single-dose anti-Chlamydia pecorum (C. pecorum) vaccines (containing either Major Outer Membrane Protein (3MOMP) or Polymorphic Membrane Protein (Pmp) as antigens) on the immune response of a group of wild koalas. Both vaccines elicited a systemic humoral response as seen by the production of anti-chlamydial IgG antibodies in more than 90% of vaccinated koalas.

Safety and immunogenicity of a prototype anti-Chlamydia pecorum recombinant protein vaccine in lambs and pregnant ewes.

Arthritis and kerato-conjunctivitis caused by Chlamydia pecorum in lambs are difficult to diagnose and treat. We tested the ability of a prototype C. pecorum vaccine (SC-vaccine), comprised of C.

Antibody and Cytokine Responses of Koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) Vaccinated with Recombinant Chlamydial Major Outer Membrane Protein (MOMP) with Two Different Adjuvants.

Developing a vaccine against Chlamydia is key to combating widespread mortalities and morbidities associated with this infection in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus). In previous studies, we have shown that two or three doses of a Recombinant Major Outer Membrane Protein (rMOMP) antigen-based vaccine, combined with immune stimulating complex (ISC) adjuvant, results in strong cellular and humoral immune responses in koalas. We have also separately evaluated a single dose vaccine, utilising a tri-adjuvant formula that comprises polyphosphazine based poly I: C and host defense peptides, with the same antigen.

Active Rab11 and functional recycling endosome are required for E-cadherin trafficking and lumen formation during epithelial morphogenesis.

The correct targeting and trafficking of the adherens junction protein epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) is a major determinant for the acquisition of epithelial cell polarity and for the maintenance of epithelial integrity. The compartments and trafficking components required to sort and transport E-cadherin to the basolateral cell surface remain to be fully defined. On the basis of previous data, we know that E-cadherin is trafficked via the recycling endosome (RE) in nonpolarized and newly polarized cells.

Steroidogenic factor-1 and the gonadotrope-specific element enhance basal and pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide-stimulated transcription of the human glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit gene in gonadotropes.

In the anterior pituitary, expression of the common glycoprotein hormone alpha-subunit (alphaGSU) is mediated in part by multiple response elements residing in the distal promoter (-435 bp). One such site is the gonadotrope-specific element (GSE), which is bound by the orphan nuclear receptor steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) and confers pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP)-stimulated alphaGSU expression. Here we investigated the functional importance of the GSE and SF-1 phosphorylation in both basal and stimulated alphaGSU transcription.

Tissue growth and remodeling of the embryonic and adult adrenal gland.

The adrenal gland provides a model system for the study of tissue remodeling in endocrine physiology. For example, proper adrenal development requires proliferation of the adrenogonadal primordia, separation of adrenal and gonadal precursors, and cell migration that unites the adrenal cortex and adrenal medulla. In the adult, normal adrenal function is assured by the adrenal gland's unique capacity for growth in response to both tissue injury and physiological demand.

Thyroid hormone receptor-beta mutations conferring hormone resistance and reduced corepressor release exhibit decreased stability in the N-terminal ligand-binding domain.

Resistance to thyroid hormone (RTH) syndrome is associated with mutations in the human thyroid hormone receptor-beta (hTRbeta), many of which show marked reduction in hormone binding. Here, we investigated the structural consequences of two RTH mutants (A234T and R243Q), residing in the flexible N-terminal portion of the ligand binding domain (LBD), which exhibit modestly reduced hormone binding with impaired release of corepressor. X-ray crystallography analyses revealed that these two RTH mutants modulate the position of this flexible region by either altering the movement of helix 1 (A234T) or disrupting a salt bridge (R243Q).

Phosphorylation and intramolecular stabilization of the ligand binding domain in the nuclear receptor steroidogenic factor 1.

Steroidogenic factor 1 (SF-1) is an orphan nuclear receptor with no known ligand. We showed previously that phosphorylation at serine 203 located N'-terminal to the ligand binding domain (LBD) enhanced cofactor recruitment, analogous to the ligand-mediated recruitment in ligand-dependent receptors. In this study, results of biochemical analyses and an LBD helix assembly assay suggest that the SF-1 LBD adopts an active conformation, with helices 1 and 12 packed against the predicted alpha-helical bundle, in the apparent absence of ligand.