bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Ethical stockmanship
Authors: Hemsworth PH 
Published: April 2007

The objective of this review is to consider the ethics of stockmanship, particularly from the perspective of the nature and extent of the duties of stockpeople to their farm animals.It will consider what science tells us about the impact of stockmanship on the animal, particularly the welfare of the farm animal. The effects of human–animal interactions on the stockperson will also be considered, since these interactions affect the work performance and job satisfaction of the stockperson and thus indirectly affect animal welfare. Animal ethics is broader than animal welfare and includes economic as well as philosophical, social, cultural and religious aspects. This paper is predicated on the view that farm animals can suffer, and that animal suffering is a key consideration in our moral obligations to animals.Housing and husbandry practices affect farm animal welfare and thus farmers and stockpeople have a responsibility to provide, at minimum, community‐acceptable animal housing and husbandry standards for their animals. The farmer's or stockperson's attitudes and behaviour can directly affect the animal's welfare and thus they also have a responsibility to provide specific standards of stockmanship for these animals. However, research suggests that the behaviour of some stockpeople is not as correct as it might be. Such situations exemplify the inevitably unequal human – domestic animal relationship, and this inequality should be considered in analysing the boundary between right and wrong behaviour of humans. Thus ethical discussion, using science and other considerations and involving stockpeople, livestock industries, government and the general public, should be used to establish and assure acceptable stockperson competencies across the livestock industries. Training programs targeting the key attitudes and behaviour of stockpeople presently offer the livestock industries good opportunities to improve human–animal interactions.
Pimelea trichostachya poisoning (St George disease) in horses
Authors: Wilson S‐J , Taylor JD , Gibson JA , Mckenzie RA 
Published: April 2007

A dense population of Pimelea trichostachya plants (Family Thymelaeaceae) in pasture poisoned a horse herd in southern inland Queensland in October–November 2005. Plant density was 2 to 45 g wet weight/m2 (mean 16 g/m2) from 5 to 69 plants/m2 (mean 38 plants/m2) representing 3 to 20% (mean 9%) of the volume of pasture on offer. Ten of 35 mares, fillies and geldings were affected. Clinical signs were loss of body weight, profound lethargy, serous nasal discharge, severe watery diarrhoea and subcutaneous oedema of the intermandibular space, chest and ventral midline. Pathological findings were anaemia, leucocytopenia, hypoproteinaemia, dilatation of the right ventricle of the heart, dilated hepatic portal veins and periportal hepatic sinusoids (peliosis hepatis), alimentary mucosal hyperaemia and oedema of mesenteric lymph nodes. Cattle grazing the same pasture were affected by Pimelea poisoning simultaneously. Removal of the horses to Pimelea‐free pasture initiated recovery. The one other incident of this syndrome, previously only recognised in cattle in Australia, occurred in horses, in South Australia in 2002, with access to a dense Pimelea simplex population.
Ganglioneuritis causing high mortalities in farmed Australian abalone (Haliotis laevigata and Haliotis rubra)
Authors: Hooper C , Hardy‐Smith P , Handlinger J 
Published: April 2007

Objective  To investigate an outbreak of sudden severe mortality in farmed abalone from coastal Victoria.Results  The outbreaks occurred almost simultaneously in three farms following abalone movements from the wild and between farms. The initial on farm investigation identified a number of features that when considered together were highly suggestive of an infectious aetiology. In many cases, dead abalone had no significant gross lesions. Others had swollen mouths and some had prolapse and eversion of the radula. Histologically, the lesions centred on the nerves innervating the labial apparatus, primarily the cerebral and buccal ganglia, cerebral commissure and peripheral nerve branches arising from these. Nervous tissue necrosis and haemocyte infiltration were the dominant lesions seen microscopically in affected nerves.Conclusions  A recent outbreak of mortality in Australian abalone was associated with neurotropic lesions, which have not previously been described in this country. The on farm and between farm pattern of spread of the outbreak, a history of abalone movements linking farms, clinical observation of moribund and dead abalone were all highly suggestive of a virulent infectious agent.
Immunization with PspA Incorporated into a Poly(Ethylene Oxide) Matrix Elicits Protective Immunity against
Streptococcus pneumoniae
Authors: Moore Quincy C. , Johnson LaShundra , Repka Michael , McDaniel Larry S. 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

CBA/N mice were immunized with PspA in a poly(ethylene oxide) matrix to examine its ability to deliver the antigen and modulate the immune response. All mice receiving PspA in the matrix survived a lethal pneumococcal challenge and had serum anti-PspA antibody levels statistically higher than mice receiving PspA alone (
P
< 0.009).
Extended Culture Enhances Sensitivity of a Gamma Interferon Assay for Latent
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Infection
Authors: Cehovin Ana , Cliff Jacqueline M. , Hill Philip C. , Brookes Roger H. , Dockrell Hazel M. 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

To test the hypothesis that prolonged culture would enhance the sensitivity of latent tuberculosis detection by a gamma interferon release assay, blood samples from 33 household contacts of Gambian tuberculosis patients were stimulated with
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
-specific antigens. After 24 h of culture, 66% were positive, compared to 93% after 6 days of culture.
Seroprevalence of Selected Infectious Agents in a Free-Ranging, Low-Density Lion Population in the Central Kalahari Game Reserves in Botswana
Authors: Ramsauer Sandra , Bay Gert , Meli Marina , Hofmann-Lehmann Regina , Lutz Hans 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

Twenty-one free-ranging Central Kalahari lions (
Panthera leo
) exhibited a high prevalence rate of feline herpesvirus (100%) and feline immunodeficiency virus (71.4%). Canine distemper virus and feline calicivirus occurred with a low prevalence. All individuals tested negative for feline coronavirus, feline parvovirus, feline leukemia virus,
Ehrlichia canis
, and
Anaplasma phagocytophilum
.
Exocytosis of Neutrophil Formyl Peptide Receptor-Like 1 (fPRL1) Results in Downregulation of Cytoplasmic fPRL1 in Patients with Purulent Dermatitis
Authors: Ohara Eiji , Kumon Yoshitaka , Kobayashi Toshihiro , Takeuchi Hiroaki , Sugiura Tetsuro 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACTN-Formyl peptide receptor-like 1 (fPRL1) is a member of the chemoattractant subfamily of G protein-coupled receptors and plays a key role in inflammation via chemotaxis and the regulation of mediator release from leukocytes. Activated fPRL1 has recently been shown to induce a complicated pattern of cellular signaling in vitro, but the details of the regulation and alteration of leukocyte cellular fPRL1 during inflammation in vivo remain unclear. To clarify the alteration of neutrophil fPRL1 during inflammation in vivo, the immunohistochemical staining of neutrophil fPRL1 in samples from patients with purulent dermatitis was performed. The in vitro morphological alteration of neutrophil fPRL1 on cellular membranes by stimulation withN-formylmethionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (fMLP) was also examined. Both the cytoplasm and the cellular membranes of blood neutrophils stained strongly for fPRL1. On the other hand, the cellular membranes of neutrophils in dermatitis tissue stained strongly for fPRL1 but the cytoplasm stained weakly. The enhancement of neutrophil fPRL1 on cellular membranes by stimulation with fMLP indicates the exocytosis of neutrophil fPRL1-containing granules. In conclusion, we for the first time confirmed the alteration of neutrophil fPRL1 in clinical cases of purulent dermatitis. Cytoplasm that was weakly stained and cellular membranes that were well stained for fPRL1 were considered to be distinctive features of activated neutrophils in purulent dermatitis tissue.
Single-Chain Antibody Fragment Specific forPlasmodium vivaxDuffy Binding Protein
Authors: Kim So-Hee , Hwang Seung-Young , Lee Yong-Seok , Choi In-Hak , Park Sae-Gwang , Kho Weon-Gyu 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACTPhage display of single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies is a powerful tool for selecting important, useful, and specific human antibodies. We constructed a library from three patients infected withPlasmodium vivax. Panning on recombinant PvRII enriched a population of scFvs that recognized region II of theP. vivaxDuffy binding protein (DBP). Three clones of scFvs that reacted with PvRII were selected, and their biological functions were analyzed. These scFvs inhibited erythrocyte binding to DBP. Clone SFDBII92 had the greatest affinity (dissociation constant = 3.62 × 10−8M) and the greatest inhibition activity (50% inhibitory concentration ≈ 2.9 μg/ml) to DBP. Thus, we demonstrated that human neutralizing antibody could be made from malaria patients using phage display and that these neutralizing scFvs should prove valuable for developing both passive and active immunization strategies based on DBP.
Genetic and Phenotypic Features of Blood and Genital Viral Populations of Clinically Asymptomatic and Antiretroviral-Treatment-Naive Clade A Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Infected Women
Authors: Andreoletti Laurent , Skrabal Katharina , Perrin Virginie , Chomont Nicolas , Saragosti Sentob , Gresenguet Gerard , Moret Helene , Jacques Jerome , Longo Jean de Dieu , Matta Mathieu , Mammano Fabrizio , Belec Laurent 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

In the present study, we assessed whether human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) genetic compartmentalization was associated with phenotypic CCR5 (R5) or CXCR4 (X4) coreceptor usage differences between the systemic and the genital viral populations. Four clinically asymptomatic and treatment-naïve clade A HIV-1-infected patients were selected from a cohort of 274 African women, because they were free of all the biological cofactors known to modify the kinetics of viral production in the genital tract. HIV RNA envelope sequences (V1 to V3) derived from plasma and cervicovaginal secretions (CVS) were amplified, subcloned, and sequenced. CCR5 or CXCR4 coreceptor usage was determined by production of recombinant viral particles, followed by single-cycle infection assays of indicator cell lines, using the tropism recombinant test. In these four selected patients, CVS-derived sequences appeared to be genetically distinct from blood-derived sequences (
P
≤ 0.001). Two patients were found to harbor virus populations with only the R5 phenotype in both compartments, whereas viruses using CXCR4 in addition to CCR5 were detected in two other patients. In particular, one woman harbored genital virus populations with mixed R5 and X4 phenotypes associated with peripheral blood populations with only the R5 phenotype. These results demonstrate genetic compartmentalization of HIV between the plasma and genital secretions of clinically asymptomatic, treatment-naïve, clade A-infected women. Also, for one patient, we report phenotypic coreceptor usage differences between the systemic (R5) and genital (R5/X4) viral populations. These features may be critical for the development of further mucosal vaccines, therapies, or new preventive strategies to block heterosexual transmission.
Assessment of Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization and PCR-Based Methods for Rapid Identification of
Burkholderia cepacia
Complex Organisms Directly from Sputum Samples
Authors: Brown A. R. , Govan J. R. W. 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

Several species within the
Burkholderia cepacia
complex (BCC) have emerged as significant opportunistic pathogens of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). BCC infection is typically associated with a poor clinical prognosis and decreased survival. These factors, combined with the existence of highly transmissible epidemic strains, have resulted in strict segregation of BCC- and non-BCC-infected patients to minimize cross infection. Accurate and rapid diagnosis of infections is essential to enable appropriate patient management. However, the rapidly evolving taxonomy of BCC poses a considerable challenge to diagnostics. In the present study, we assessed a commercially available fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) assay (seaFAST Cystic Fibrosis I kit) and a novel rRNA gene-based PCR assay for the rapid identification of BCC-positive sputa, irrespective of the BCC species. We report that, while the FISH assay fails to identify all BCC species, it does identify the majority of species, including the two most clinically relevant species,
B. multivorans
and
B. cenocepacia
. The sensitivity of the assay applied to sputum was limited by nonspecific background fluorescence. While sputum processing was optimized to minimize background, the resulting sensitivity for BCC detection was 8 × 10
5
CFU/ml. In contrast, the novel PCR assay reported herein exhibits 100% sensitivity and specificity for all BCC species and can detect 10
4
CFU/ml when applied to sputum. This novel rRNA gene-based assay is currently the most sensitive BCC-specific PCR assay for the detection of BCC direct from clinical samples and as such is a valuable addition to the field of BCC diagnostics.
Discovery of a Novel Human Picornavirus in a Stool Sample from a Pediatric Patient Presenting with Fever of Unknown Origin
Authors: Jones Morris S. , Lukashov Vladimir V. , Ganac Robert D. , Schnurr David P. 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

Fever of unknown origin (FUO) is a serious problem in the United States. An unidentified agent was cultured from the stool of an infant who presented with FUO. This virus showed growth in HFDK cells and suckling mice. Using DNase sequence-independent single-primer amplification, we identified several nucleotide sequences with a high homology to Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus. Nearly full-length viral genome sequencing and phylogenetic analysis demonstrate that this virus is a member of the
Cardiovirus
genus of the
Picornaviridae
family.
Nonoutbreak Surveillance of Group A Streptococci Causing Invasive Disease in Portugal Identified Internationally Disseminated Clones among Members of a Genetically Heterogeneous Population
Authors: Friães A. , Ramirez M. , Melo-Cristino J. 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

The typing of 160 invasive
Streptococcus pyogenes
isolates confirmed the importance of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing for defining clones. The results identified an extremely diverse population and highlighted the importance of both internationally disseminated and local clones not previously associated with invasive disease.
Nucleotide Sequence Diversity of the
bexA
Gene in Serotypeable
Haemophilus influenzae
Strains Recovered from Invasive Disease Patients in Canada
Authors: Zhou Jianwei , Law Dennis K. S. , Sill Michelle L. , Tsang Raymond S. W. 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

The
bexA
genes of 36
Haemophilus influenzae
isolates were sequenced to reveal their nucleotide sequence diversity, which divided them into two groups, similar to clonal divisions I and II. This sequence diversity may lead to false-negative PCR results for
H. influenzae
infections if
bexA
is the chosen gene target.
Adenovirus E4 34k and E1b 55k Oncoproteins Target Host DNA Ligase IV for Proteasomal Degradation
Authors: Baker Amy , Rohleder Kent J. , Hanakahi Les A. , Ketner Gary 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT
Cells infected by adenovirus E4 mutants accumulate end-to-end concatemers of the viral genome that are assembled from unit-length viral DNAs by nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ). Genome concatenation can be prevented by expression either of E4 11k (product of E4orf3) or of the complex of E4 34k (product of E4orf6) and E1b 55k. Both E4 11k and the E4 34k/E1b 55k complex prevent concatenation at least in part by inactivation of the host protein Mre11: E4 11k sequesters Mre11 in aggresomes, while the E4 34k/E1b 55k complex participates in a virus-specific E3 ubiquitin ligase that mediates ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. The E4 34k/E1b 55k complex, but not E4 11k, also inhibits NHEJ activity on internal breaks in the viral genome and on V(D)J recombination substrate plasmids, suggesting that it may interfere with NHEJ independently of its effect on Mre11. We show here that DNA ligase IV, which performs the joining step of NHEJ, is degraded as a consequence of adenovirus infection. Degradation is dependent upon E4 34k and E1b 55k, functional proteasomes, and the activity of cellular cullin 5, a component of the adenoviral ubiquitin ligase. DNA ligase IV also interacts physically with E1b 55k. The data demonstrate that DNA ligase IV, like Mre11, is a substrate for the adenovirus-specific E3 ubiquitin ligase; identify an additional viral approach to prevention of genome concatenation; and provide a mechanism for the general inhibition of NHEJ by adenoviruses.
Establishment of a Cottontail Rabbit Papillomavirus/HLA-A2.1 Transgenic Rabbit Model
Authors: Hu Jiafen , Peng Xuwen , Budgeon Lynn R. , Cladel Nancy M. , Balogh Karla K. , Christensen Neil D. 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACTThree transgenic rabbit lines that express a well-characterized human major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) gene (HLA-A2.1) have been established. All three lines carry the HLA-A2.1 heavy chain and are able to pass the transgene to their offspring with both the outbred and the inbred EIII/JC genetic background. HLA-A2.1 colocalizes exclusively with rabbit MHC-I on the cell surfaces. These HLA-A2.1 transgenic rabbits demonstrated infection patterns similar to those found after cottontail rabbit papillomavirus (CRPV) challenge when compared with results in normal rabbits, although higher regression rates were found in HLA-A2.1 transgenic rabbits. Because the CRPV genome can accommodate significant modifications, the CRPV/HLA-A2.1 rabbit model has the potential to be used to screen HLA-A2.1-restricted immunogenic epitopes from human papillomaviruses in the context of in vivo papillomavirus infection.
Atypical bZIP Domain of Viral Transcription Factor Contributes to Stability of Dimer Formation and Transcriptional Function
Authors: Schelcher Celine , Al Mehairi Salama , Verrall Elizabeth , Hope Questa , Flower Kirsty , Bromley Beth , Woolfson Derek N. , West Michelle J. , Sinclair Alison J. 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

The Epstein-Barr virus transcription factor Zta (encoded by
BZLF1
) is a bZIP protein containing an α-helical coiled-coil homodimerization motif (zipper). The Zta zipper forms less-stable dimers than other bZIP proteins, and an adjacent region (CT) interacts with the zipper to form a novel structure that is proposed to strengthen the dimer. Here we question the role of the CT region for Zta function. Cross-linking experiments demonstrate that the entire CT region lies adjacent to the zipper. Detailed analyses of Zta truncation mutations identify an involvement of the proximal CT region (221 to 230) in dimer formation with a further contribution from the distal region (236 to 243). Biophysical analyses reveal that residues 221 to 230 enhance the stability of the coiled coil. The ability of the Zta truncation mutants to interact with three Zta-binding sites also requires the proximal CT region. Fine mapping of DNA-binding requirements highlighted the contribution of these amino acids for Zta function. Thus, the proximal part of the CT region is required to aid the dimerization of Zta and thereby its DNA-binding ability. In contrast, although the distal part of the CT region aids dimerization, it promotes only a modest increase in DNA binding. To probe this further, we defined the contribution from the CT region for Zta to transactivate a promoter embedded within the viral genome. From this we conclude that the proximal part of the CT region is absolutely required, whereas the distal part is dispensable.
Detection of a Novel and Highly Divergent Coronavirus from Asian Leopard Cats and Chinese Ferret Badgers in Southern China
Authors: Dong B. Q. , Liu W. , Fan X. H. , Vijaykrishna D. , Tang X. C. , Gao F. , Li L. F. , Li G. J. , Zhang J. X. , Yang L. Q. , Poon L. L. M. , Zhang S. Y. , Peiris J. S. M. , Smith G. J. D. , Chen H. , Guan Y. 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACT

Since an outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was averted in 2004, many novel coronaviruses have been recognized from different species, including humans. Bats have provided the most diverse assemblages of coronaviruses, suggesting that they may be the natural reservoir. Continued virological surveillance has proven to be the best way to avert this infectious disease at the source. Here we provide the first description of a previously unidentified coronavirus lineage detected from wild Asian leopard cats (
Prionailurus bengalensis
) and Chinese ferret badgers (
Melogale moschata
) during virological surveillance in southern China. Partial genome analysis revealed a typical coronavirus genome but with a unique putative accessory gene organization. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that the envelope, membrane, and nucleoprotein structural proteins and the two conserved replicase domains, putative RNA-dependent RNA polymerase and RNA helicase, of these novel coronaviruses were most closely related to those of group 3 coronaviruses identified from birds, while the spike protein gene was most closely related to that of group 1 coronaviruses from mammals. However, these viruses always fell into an outgroup phylogenetic relationship with respect to other coronaviruses and had low amino acid similarity to all known coronavirus groups, indicating that they diverged early in the evolutionary history of coronaviruses. These results suggest that these viruses may represent a previously unrecognized evolutionary pathway, or possibly an unidentified coronavirus group. This study demonstrates the importance of systematic virological surveillance in market animals for understanding the evolution and emergence of viruses with infectious potential.
Acute Resolving Woodchuck Hepatitis Virus (WHV) Infection Is Associated with a Strong Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Response to a Single WHV Core Peptide
Authors: Frank Ina , Budde Claudia , Fiedler Melanie , Dahmen Uta , Viazov Sergei , Lu Mengji , Dittmer Ulf , Roggendorf Michael 
Published: April 2007

ABSTRACTWoodchucks infected with woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV) are an excellent model for studying acute, self-limited and chronic hepadnaviral infections. Defects in the immunological response leading to chronicity are still unknown. Specific T-helper cell responses to WHV core and surface antigens (WHcAg and WHsAg, respectively) are associated with acute resolving infection; however, they are undetectable in chronic infection. Up to now, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses could not be determined in the woodchuck. In the present study, we detected virus-specific CTL responses by a CD107a degranulation assay. The splenocytes of woodchucks in the postacute phase of WHV infection (18 months postinfection) were isolated and stimulated with overlapping peptides covering the whole WHcAg. After 6 days, the cells were restimulated and stained for CD3 and CD107a. One peptide (c96-110) turned out to be accountable for T-cell expansion and CD107a staining. Later, we applied the optimized degranulation assay to study the kinetics of the T-cell response in acute WHV infection. We found a vigorous T-cell response against peptide c96-110 with peripheral blood cells beginning at the peak of viral load (week 5) and lasting up to 15 weeks postinfection. In contrast, there was no T-cell response against peptide c96-110 detectable in chronically WHV-infected animals. Thus, with this newly established flow cytometric degranulation assay, we detected for the first time virus-specific CTLs and determined one immunodominant epitope of WHcAg in the woodchuck.