Mastitis is one of the most common and significant infectious diseases in dairy cattle and is responsible for significant financial losses for the dairy industry globally. An important pathogen of bovine mastitis, () has a high infection rate, requires a long course of treatment, and is difficult to cure. Bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) are the first line of defense of the mammary gland, and their natural immune system plays a critical role in resisting infection.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe ending of dual nomenclatural systems for pleomorphic fungi in 2011 requires the reconciliation of competing names, ideally linked through culture based or molecular methods. The phylogenetic systematics of and its many genera have received extensive study in the last two decades, however resolution of competing names in has not yet been addressed. Here we present a molecular phylogenetic investigation of that enables identification of competing names in this family, and provides the basis upon which these names can be maintained or suppressed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTouch is produced by sensations that include approaching, sliding, pressing, and temperature. This concept has become a target of research in biotechnology, especially in the field of bionic biology. This study measured sliding and pressing with traditional tactile sensors in order to improve a machine operator's judgment of surface roughness.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Platelets express the α2β1 integrin and the glycoprotein VI (GPVI)/FcRγ complex, both collagen receptors. Understanding platelet-collagen receptor function has been enhanced through use of genetically modified mouse models. Previous studies of GPVI/FcRγ-mediated collagen-induced platelet activation were perfomed with mice in which the FcRγ subunit was genetically deleted (FcRγ-/-) or the complex was depleted.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInvest Ophthalmol Vis Sci
June 2014
Purpose: The α2β1 integrin plays an important but complex role in angiogenesis and vasculopathies. Published GWAS studies established a correlation between genetic polymorphisms of the α2β1 integrin gene and incidence of diabetic retinopathy. Recent studies indicated that α2-null mice demonstrate superior vascularization in both the wound and diabetic microenvironments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExpression of the α2β1 integrin, a receptor for collagens and laminin, is altered during tumor progression. Recent studies have linked polymorphisms in the α2 integrin gene with oral, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). To determine the α2β1 integrin's role in SCC progression, we crossed α2-null mice with K14-HPV16 transgenic animals.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Human alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is caused by the accidental ingestion of the eggs of the fox tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. AE occurs frequently in rural western China due to the poor levels of hygiene, the close contact of people with dogs, and the lack of appropriate facilities for the correct and rapid diagnosis of the disease.
Findings: We describe a case of a patient with hepatic AE, and AE metastases of the brain.
Mast cells, critical mediators of inflammation and anaphylaxis, are poised as one of the first lines of defense against external assault. Mast cells release several classes of preformed and de novo synthesized mediators. Cross-linking of the high-affinity FcεRI results in degranulation and the release of preformed, proinflammatory mediators including histamine and serotonin.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBiochem Biophys Res Commun
October 2009
The transcription regulator CITED2 (CBP/p300-Interacting-Transactivator-with-ED-rich-tail-2) is known to suppress genes mediating angiogenesis and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. However, it is unclear whether CITED2 has a role in controlling skeletal repair or remodeling. We tested the hypothesis that CITED2 functions in bone fracture healing by suppressing the expression of genes critical to ECM remodeling, angiogenesis and osteogenesis, importantly the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFData from several investigators suggest that the alpha2beta1 integrin, a receptor for collagens, laminins, decorin, E-cadherin, matrix metalloproteinase-1, endorepellin, and several viruses, is required for innate immunity and regulation of autoimmune/allergic disorders. We demonstrated that the innate immune response to Listeria monocytogenes required alpha2beta1 integrin expression by peritoneal mast cells (PMCs). Ligation of the alpha2beta1 integrin by C1q contained in immune complexes comprised of Listeria and antibody was required for PMC activation in vitro and in vivo.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTo define the role of the alpha2beta1 integrin in pathologic angiogenesis, we investigated tumor-associated growth and angiogenesis in wild-type and alpha2-null mice. Our findings reveal that the alpha2beta1 integrin plays an important role in angiogenesis via regulation of VEGFR1 expression. When challenged with B16F10 melanoma cells, mice lacking alpha2beta1 integrin ex-pression exhibit increased tumor angiogenesis associated with up-regulated VEGFR1 expression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: To determine the true community prevalence of human cystic (CE) and alveolar (AE) echinococcosis (hydatid disease) in a highly endemic region in Ningxia Hui, China, by detecting asymptomatic cases.
Methods: Using hospital records and "AE-risk" landscape patterns we selected study communities predicted to be at risk of human echinococcosis in Guyuan, Longde and Xiji counties. We conducted community surveys of 4773 individuals from 26 villages in 2002 and 2003 using questionnaire analysis, ultrasound examination and serology.
In 2003 to approximately 2005, the Monochamus alternatus-infected Pinus thunbergii, P. massoniana and P. elliotii in pure and mixed forests were selected as attractants and dissected with one meter section manner, and five aggregation indices were used to analyze the spatial distribution patterns of M.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe have identified a significant focus and unusual clustering of human cases of cystic echinococcosis (CE) and alveolar echinococcosis (AE) in the village of Nanwan, Xiji County, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, in one of the most highly endemic areas for both diseases in China. The village, a Chinese Hui Islamic community, is composed of 167 members of four extended families. A total of 28 people died (12 of echinococcosis) since the village was first settled in the 1950s.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMast cells play a critical role in innate immunity, allergy, and autoimmune diseases. The receptor/ligand interactions that mediate mast cell activation are poorly defined. The alpha2beta1 integrin, a receptor for collagens, laminins, decorin, E-cadherin, matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1), endorepellin, and several viruses, has been implicated in normal developmental, inflammatory, and oncogenic processes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough the alpha 2 beta 1 integrin is widely expressed and has been extensively studied, it has not been previously implicated in mast cell biology. We observed that alpha 2 integrin subunit-deficient mice exhibited markedly diminished neutrophil and interleukin-6 responses during Listeria monocytogenes- and zymosan-induced peritonitis. Since exudative neutrophils of wild-type mice expressed little alpha 2 beta 1 integrin, it seemed unlikely that this integrin mediated neutrophil migration directly.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe alpha 2 beta 1 integrin serves as a receptor for collagens, laminin, and several other nonmatrix ligands. Many studies have suggested that the alpha 2 beta 1 integrin is a critical mediator of platelet adhesion to collagen within the vessel wall after vascular injury and that the interactions of the platelet alpha 2 beta 1 integrin with subendothelial collagen after vascular injury are required for proper hemostasis. We have used the alpha 2 beta 1 integrin-deficient mouse to evaluate the contributions of the alpha 2 beta 1 integrin in 2 in vivo models of thrombosis.
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