Reverse genetics through random mutagenesis in Histoplasma capsulatum

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The dimorphic fungal pathogen <it>Histoplasma capsulatum </it>causes respiratory and systemic disease in humans and other mammals. Progress in understanding the mechanisms underlying the biology and the pathogenesis of <it>Histoplasma </it>has been hindered by a shortage of methodologies for mutating a gene of interest.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We describe a reverse genetics process that combines the random mutagenesis of <it>Agrobacterium</it>-mediated transformation with screening techniques to identify targeted gene disruptions in a collection of insertion mutants. Isolation of the desired mutant is accomplished by arraying individual clones from a pool and employing a PCR-addressing method. Application of this procedure facilitated the isolation of a <it>cbp1 </it>mutant in a North American type 2 strain, a <it>Histoplasma </it>strain recalcitrant to gene knock-outs through homologous recombination. Optimization of cryopreservation conditions allows pools of mutants to be banked for later analysis and recovery of targeted mutants.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This methodology improves our ability to isolate mutants in targeted genes, thereby facilitating the molecular genetic analysis of <it>Histoplasma </it>biology. The procedures described are widely applicable to many fungal systems and will be of particular interest to those for which homologous recombination techniques are inefficient or do not currently exist.</p

Charge collection and trapping in low‐temperature silicon detectors

Charge collection efficiency measurements in silicon detectors at low temperature (T \u3c 0.5 K) and low applied electric field (E=0.1–100 V/cm) were performed using a variety of high‐purity, p‐type silicon samples with room‐temperature resistivity in the range 2–40 kΩ cm. Good charge collection under these conditions of low temperature and low electric field is necessary for background suppression, through the simultaneous measurement of phonons and ionization, in a very low event rate dark matter search or neutrino physics experiment. Charge loss due to trapping during drift is present in some samples, but the data suggest that another charge–loss mechanism is also important. We present results which indicate that, for 60 keV energy depositions, a significant fraction of the total charge loss by trapping occurs in the initial electron‐hole cloud near the event location which may briefly act as a shielded, field‐free region. In addition, measurements of the lateral size, transverse to the applied electric field, of the initial electron‐hole cloud indicate large transverse diffusion lengths. At the lowest fields a lateral diameter on the order of 1 mm is found in a detector ∼5 mm thick

The Grizzly, November 3, 1978

Task Force Proposes Curricular Revisions: Faculty Discusses Broad Academic Changes • Computer Programs To Be Studied • Reed This Message • Liberal Education for a Modern World • Letters to the Editor • Campus Committees Graded • Springsteen Revisited • Halloween Horrors! • Annual Messiah Rehearsal • French Club Wined and Dined • GM: Looking Good For \u2779 • Soccer Trounces Widener • Founders\u27 Convocation • Harriers Cap 12-1 Season • Mermaids Anticipate Slick Season • Hockey J. V.s With No Losses • Zetans Take Intramural Football Championship • News in Brief: Egdon Heath to Rock T. G.; Forum Presents Workshop, Performance; Ursinus Appoints Band Directorhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1005/thumbnail.jp

Transcriptional analysis of the innate immune response of ducks to different species-of-origin low pathogenic H7 avian influenza viruses

BACKGROUND: Wild waterfowl, including ducks, represent the classic reservoir for low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) viruses and play a major role in the worldwide dissemination of AIV. AIVs belonging to the hemagglutinin (H) 7 subtype are of epidemiological and economic importance due to their potential to mutate into a highly pathogenic form of the virus. Thus far, however, relatively little work has been conducted on elucidating the host-pathogen interactions of ducks and H7 LPAIVs. In the current study, three H7 LPAIVs isolated from either chicken, duck, or turkey avian species were evaluated for their comparative effect on the transcriptional innate immune response of ducks. RESULTS: Three H7 LPAIV isolates, chicken-origin (A/chicken/Maryland/MinhMa/2004), duck-origin (A/pintail/Minnesota/423/1999), and turkey-origin (A/turkey/Virginia/SEP-67/2002) were used to infect Pekin ducks. At 3 days post-infection, RNA from spleen tissue was used for transcriptional analysis using the Avian Innate Immune Microarray (AIIM) and quantitative real-time RT-PCR (qRT-PCR). Microarray analysis revealed that a core set of 61 genes was differentially regulated in response to all three LPAIVs. Furthermore, we observed 101, 135, and 628 differentially expressed genes unique to infection with the chicken-, duck-, or turkey-origin LPAIV isolates, respectively. qRT-PCR results revealed significant (p<0.05) induction of IL-1β, IL-2, and IFNγ transcription, with the greatest induction observed upon infection with the chicken-origin isolate. Several key innate immune pathways were activated in response to LPAIV infection including the toll-like receptor and RIG-I-like receptor pathways. CONCLUSIONS: Pekin ducks elicit a unique innate immune response to different species-of-origin H7 LPAIV isolates. However, twelve identifiable genes and their associated cell signaling pathways (RIG-I, NOD, TLR) are differentially expressed regardless of isolate origin. This core set of genes are critical to the duck immune response to AI. These data provide insight into the potential mechanisms employed by ducks to tolerate AI viral infection

The Grizzly, February 9, 1979

False Alarm Leads To Student Arrest • Annual Report Reveals Enrollment Decline • SFARC Disbandment Questioned • ID Crackdown • USGA Election Results • Career Counseling & Placement Services • Letters to the Editor: Snack shop; Zeta Chi; Food waste angers waitress; Theft precautions cited • Roving Reporter: Forums requirement • Ursinus News In Brief: Soviet relations; Basses needed • An Inside View of Alice Cooper • Audio Corner: Turntables • Al Stewart: England\u27s Answer to Bob Dylan • Sheer Energy • Sport Book Review • New Semester; New Offerings • Grapplers Take Two • Bruins Split • Indoor Bears Off and Running • Men\u27s Swim Goes Under • Gymnasts Revenge Pennhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1012/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, October 27, 1978

Bomberger Tower Razed • Homecoming Brings Crowning, Presentations • Self Study Continues • Hockey Ties Nation\u27s Best • No Tickets at Door • Campus Sunshine to Set? • Ravine Paradise Revisited • Portrait of the Professor: Randy Davidson • Letters to the Editor • Springsteen & Dylan: Poet Laureates or Veritable Zeroes? • Art is a Math is an Art is a Math... • Escher Takes On New Dimension • Commencement Speaker Announced • Plea From the Press • GM: Looking Good For \u2779 • Soccer Splits: 2-2 • Sports Profile: Don Paolicelli • Thin Clads Receive Treat • Swarthmore Superior In Homecoming Game • J.V.s Romp to Win • Hockey Returns Home • News in Brief: Fire Alarm Installations Near Completion; ProTheatre to Present The Good Doctor ; Art Exhibit to Open Soonhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1004/thumbnail.jp

The Grizzly, October 27, 1978

Bomberger Tower Razed • Homecoming Brings Crowning, Presentations • Self Study Continues • Hockey Ties Nation\u27s Best • No Tickets at Door • Campus Sunshine to Set? • Ravine Paradise Revisited • Portrait of the Professor: Randy Davidson • Letters to the Editor • Springsteen & Dylan: Poet Laureates or Veritable Zeroes? • Art is a Math is an Art is a Math... • Escher Takes On New Dimension • Commencement Speaker Announced • Plea From the Press • GM: Looking Good For \u2779 • Soccer Splits: 2-2 • Sports Profile: Don Paolicelli • Thin Clads Receive Treat • Swarthmore Superior In Homecoming Game • J.V.s Romp to Win • Hockey Returns Home • News in Brief: Fire Alarm Installations Near Completion; ProTheatre to Present The Good Doctor ; Art Exhibit to Open Soonhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/grizzlynews/1004/thumbnail.jp

2002 Wild Blueberry Project Reports

The 2002 edition of the Wild Blueberry Project Reports was prepared for the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine and the Wild Blueberry Advisory Committee by researchers at the University of Maine, Orono. Projects in this report include: 1. Factors Affecting Microbial and Pesticide Residue Levels on Wild Blueberries 2. Effect of Blueberry Products on Oxidation in Meat Based Food 3. Determination of Pesticide Residue Levels in Freshly Harvested and Processed Wild Blueberries 4. Detection of Infested Wild Blueberries using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy 5. Investigation Of The Mechanism By Which Blueberry Fractions Maintain Arterial Integrity 6. Antioxidant Assessment in the Elderly 7. Water Use of Wild Blueberries and the Impact of Plant Water Stress on Yield 8. Control Tactics for Wild blueberry Pest Insects 9. IPM Strategies 10. Pest Biology 11. Wild Blueberry Pollination Research 12. Survey and Determination of Effective Control of Stem Blight and Leaf Spot Diseases in Wild Blueberry Fields 13. Effect of Foliar-applied Iron Chelate Concentration on Leaf Iron Concentration, Wild Blueberry Growth and Yield 14. Effect of Boron Application Methods on Boron Uptake in Wild Blueberries 15. Effect of Foliar N spray on Leaf N Concentration, Growth and Yield of Wild Blueberries 16. Effect of Foliar Spray (4-13-15) on Leaf Nutrient Concentration, Growth and Yield of Wild Blueberries 17. Effect of Foliar Copper Application on Growth and Yield of Wild Blueberries 18. Effect of Foliar Copper and/or Iron Application on Growth and Yield of Wild Blueberries 19. Effect of Soil pH on Nutrient Uptake 20. Assessment of Hexazinone Alternatives for Weed Control in Wild Blueberries and Weed Control 21. Evaluation of Fall Applications of Sulfonylurea Herbicides for Bunchberry Control in Wild Blueberries 22. Evaluation and Demonstration of Techniques for Filling in Bare Spots in Wild Blueberry Fields 23. Blueberry Extension Education Program Base 24. 2002 Pesticide Groundwater Survey 25. Cultural Weed Management using sulfur to lower the p

Characterization Of Large-Area Silicon Ionization Detectors For The ACE Mission

We report on extensive tests of large-area (10 cm diameter) high-purity ion-implanted silicon detectors for the solar isotope spectrometer (SIS), and lithium-drifted silicon detectors for the cosmic ray isotope spectrometer (CRIS), which are under development for launch on the advanced composition explorer (ACE) mission. Depletion and breakdown characteristics versus bias were studied, as were long-term current and noise stability in a thermally cycled vacuum. Dead-layer and total thickness maps were obtained using laser interferometry, beams of energetic argon nuclei and radioactive sources of alpha particles. Results, selection criteria, and yields are presented

1995 CSREES Reports

The 1995 edition of the CSREES Reports was prepared for the Maine Wild Blueberry Commission and the University of Maine Wild Blueberry Advisory Committee by researchers at the University of Maine, Orono. Projects in this report include: 1. Factors Affecting the Quality of IQF Blueberries 2. Preventing the Bleeding of Blueberry Fruit in Bakery Products 3. Removing Water from Blueberries Before Freezing 4. Determination of Pesticide Residue Levels in Freshly Harvested and Processed Lowbush Blueberries 5. Industrial Ingredients from Cull Blueberries 6. Application of Heat as a Method of Controlling Secondary Pest Insects on Lowbush Blueberries 7. The Phenology and Biology of Bumble Bees, Bombus, spp., that Pollinate Lowbush blueberry, Vaccinium spp., in Maine 8. Pollination Ecology of Lowbush Blueberry in Maine 9. Effects of Irrigation on Lowbush Blueberry Yield 10. Effect of Brief Warming Treatments on Late Winter Low-Temperature Tolerance of Native Lowbush Blueberry 11. Correlation of Late-winter/Early-spring Cold Hardiness with Date of Flowering 12. Evaluation of Cold Tolerance of Opening Flowers of Lowbush Blueberry 13. Influence of Flower Delaying Sprays on Seasonal Variation of Low Temperature Tolerance in Lowbush Blueberry 14. Effect of Various Levels of Disbudding on Yield of Lowbush Blueberry 15. Effect of Boron and the Polyamine Putrescine on Lowbush Blueberry Fruit Set and Yield 16. Effect of Boron and the Polyamine Putrescine on Extending the Receptivity of Lowbush Blueberry Blossoms 17. Effect of Soil pH on Nutrient Uptake 18. Correcting Boron Deficiency - missing 19. Phosphorus Uptake 20. Evaluation of Hexazinone Formulation on Soil Movement and Weed Control 21. Effect of Time of Fall Pruning on Growth and Productivity of Blueberries 22. Hexazinone Ground Water Survey 23. Effect of hexazinone formulation on movement through the soil profile 24. Evaluation of Tribenuron Methyl for Bunchberry Control 25. Evaluation of Tribenuron Methyl Commercial Applications for Bunchberry Control 26. Effectiveness of Resin-Exchange Columns to Determine Efficacy in Removing Hexazinone from Well Water 27. Effect of Clopyralid for Vetch Control 28. Evaluation of Tribenuron Methyl/Velpar® Tank Mix for Bunchberry Control 29. Blueberry Extension Education Progra