The effects of classic and variant infectious bursal disease viruses on lymphocyte populations in specific-pathogen-free White Leghorn chickens

Infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) is a pathogen that primarily infects B lymphocytes in domestic avian species. This viral infection has been associated with immunosuppression, clinical disease/mortality, and enteric malabsorption effects. The purpose of this experiment was to compare the effects of a classic (USDA-STC) and a new variant IBDV (RB-4, known to induce primarily the enteric disease) on immune cell populations in lymphoid organs. Seventeen-dayold specific-pathogen-free (SPF) White Leghorn chickens were either not infected (control) or inoculated with either USDA-STC or RB-4 IBD viral isolate. On days 3 and 5 post-inoculation (PI), lymphoid tissues were collected to prepare cell suspensions for immunofluorescent staining and cell population analysis by flow cytometry. Portions of the tissues were snap frozen for immunohistochemistry to localize various immune cells and IBD virus in the tissues. Tissue homogenates were prepared to test for IBDV by quantitative MTT assay. Both the USDA-STC and RB-4 viruses greatly altered lymphocyte populations in the spleen and bursa. At 5 d PI, bursal B cells were approximately 25% and 60% of lymphocytes in chicks infected with USDA-STC and RB-4, respectively, whereas in control birds, B cells constituted 99% of bursal lymphocytes. This reduction in the proportions of bursal B cells was associated with an infiltration of T cells. In the spleen, IBDV infection also reduced the percentage of B cells and increased the percentage of T cells. The differential effects of classic and variant IBDV infection on immune cell populations in lymphoid organs may explain the differences in clinical effects induced by these viruse

Poultry virus isolates and method

Infectious bursal disease viruses were isolated from broiler chickens experiencing proventriculitis in, for example, Oklahoma, Texas, West Virginia, and California. Chicken virus isolates Texas RB 3, Texas RB 4, HBS, F57-7, W/L 39, GAR 1, and the like have been isolated. These viruses are some of the major causes of this condition and can be utilized as or in a vaccine to prevent the disease condition. The viruses are a significant finding in the search for a causative agent for proventriculitis in broiler chickens and as such may be utilized in the development of a vaccine or vaccines. The viruses can be attenuated to be used as a modified live vaccine or utilized in an inactivated form in a killed vaccine

Have cochlear implant, won’t have to travel: introducing telemedicine to people using cochlear implants

Purpose: This paper describes a planned project to design, implement, and evaluate remote care for adults using cochlear implants and compare their outcomes with those following the standard care pathway.Method: Sixty people with cochlear implants will be recruited and randomized to either the remote care group or a control group. The remote care group will use new tools for 6 months: remote and self-monitoring, self-adjustment of device, and a personalized online support tool. The main outcome measure is patient empowerment, with secondary outcomes of hearing and quality of life stability, patient and clinician preference, and use of clinic resources.Conclusion: The clinical trial ends in summer 2016. Remote care may offer a viable method of follow-up for some adults with cochlear implants

Method for Bacteriophage Delivery and Amplification

Methods of selecting wide host range bacteriophage capable of growing in a plurality of bacteria including pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria and bacteriophage selected are described. In addition to methods of treating a subject infected with a pathogenic bacterium using bacteriophage, of decontaminating objects using bacteriophage, of producing vaccines. In another aspect, methods of determining bacterial viability and methods of improving the sensitivity of a biosensor using wide host range bacteriophages are also disclosed

Method for bacteriophage delivery and amplification

Methods of selecting wide host range bacteriophage capable of growing in a plurality of bacteria including pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria and bacteriophage selected by the methods are disclosed. Also disclosed are: methods of treating a subject infected with a pathogenic bacterium using bacteriophage, of decontaminating objects using bacteriophage, and of producing vaccines. In another aspect, methods of determining bacterial viability and of improving the sensitivity of a biosensor using wide host range bacteriophages are also disclosed

Large-scale sequencing identifies multiple genes and rare variants associated with Crohn’s disease susceptibility

peer reviewe

Modulating microbiome-immune axis in the deployment-related chronic diseases of Veterans: report of an expert meeting

ABSTRACTThe present report summarizes the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) field-based meeting titled “Modulating microbiome-immune axis in the deployment-related chronic diseases of Veterans.” Our Veteran patient population experiences a high incidence of service-related chronic physical and mental health problems, such as infection, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), various forms of hematological and non-hematological malignancies, neurologic conditions, end-stage organ failure, requiring transplantation, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We report the views of a group of scientists who focus on the current state of scientific knowledge elucidating the mechanisms underlying the aforementioned disorders, novel therapeutic targets, and development of new approaches for clinical intervention. In conclusion, we dovetailed on four research areas of interest: 1) microbiome interaction with immune cells after hematopoietic cell and/or solid organ transplantation, graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and graft rejection, 2) intestinal inflammation and its modification in IBD and cancer, 3) microbiome-neuron-immunity interplay in mental and physical health, and 4) microbiome-micronutrient-immune interactions during homeostasis and infectious diseases. At this VA field-based meeting, we proposed to explore a multi-disciplinary, multi-institutional, collaborative strategy to initiate a roadmap, specifically focusing on host microbiome-immune interactions among those with service-related chronic diseases to potentially identify novel and translatable therapeutic targets