TRYPANOSOMA EVANSI AND NEOSPORA CANINUM AMONG WATER BUFFALOES (BUBALUS BUBALIS) IN THE PHILIPPINES

The study determined the positivity rate of Trypanosoma evansi and Neospora caninum antibodies in water buffaloes in the province of Nueva Ecija, Philippines using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) for T. evansi and competitive Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (cELISA) for N. caninum antibodies . A total of 100 whole blood and 100 serum samples were collected to test for T. evansi and N. caninum , respectively. Rotat 1.2 VSG gene was target using PCR for T. evansi detection. Neospora caninum antibody detection was done from the serum samples using cELISA test kit.Results revealed that the positivity rate of T. evansi in Nueva Ecija was 11% (11/100). The positive animals identified were from the municipalities of Muñoz (4/16; 25%), Sta. Rosa (3/13; 23.08%) and Talugtug (4/16; 25%). The seropositive rate of Nueva Ecija for N. caninum. was 46% (46/100), seropositive animals were identified in Cabanatuan City, 57.14% (4/7); Science City of Muñoz, 43.14% (22/51); Sta. Rosa, 40% (4/10); Sto. Sunday, 50% (6/12); and Talugtug 50% (10/20). The seropositivity rate of N. caninum and the presence of T. evansi in Nueva Ecija may contribute to the cases of abortions in the province and further studies should be employed to confirm the association of these organisms to abortion cases on water buffaloes

Relationship between susceptibility of Blackface sheep to Teladorsagia circumcincta infection and an inflammatory mucosal T cell response

<p>Abstract</p> <p><it>Teladorsagia circumcincta</it> is the most economically important gastrointestinal (abomasal) nematode parasite of sheep in cool temperate regions, to which sheep show genetically-varying resistance to infection. Lambs, from parents with genetic variation for resistance<it>,</it> were trickle infected with L3 larvae over 12 weeks. 45 lambs were identified with a range of susceptibilities as assessed by: adult worm count at post mortem, faecal egg count (FEC) and IgA antibody levels. This project investigated the correlation of T cell cytokine expression and resistance to infection at the mature stage of response, when the resistant lambs had excluded all parasites.</p> <p>Histopathology showed only minor changes in resistant animals with a low level lymphocyte infiltration; but in susceptible lambs, major pathological changes were associated with extensive infiltration of lymphocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils.</p> <p>Absolute quantitative RT-qPCR assays on the abomasal lymph node (ALN) revealed a significant positive correlation between IL6, IL21 and IL23A transcript levels with adult worm count and FEC. IL23A was also negatively correlated with IgA antibody levels. Significantly positive correlation of TGFB1 levels with adult worm count and FEC were also seen in the abomasal mucosa. These data are consistent with the hypothesis that the inability to control L3 larval colonization, adult worm infection and egg production is due to the activation of the inflammatory Th17 T cell subset.</p

Guidelines for the use and interpretation of assays for monitoring autophagy (4th edition)

In 2008, we published the first set of guidelines for standardizing research in autophagy. Since then, this topic has received increasing attention, and many scientists have entered the field. Our knowledge base and relevant new technologies have also been expanding. Thus, it is important to formulate on a regular basis updated guidelines for monitoring autophagy in different organisms. Despite numerous reviews, there continues to be confusion regarding acceptable methods to evaluate autophagy, especially in multicellular eukaryotes. Here, we present a set of guidelines for investigators to select and interpret methods to examine autophagy and related processes, and for reviewers to provide realistic and reasonable critiques of reports that are focused on these processes. These guidelines are not meant to be a dogmatic set of rules, because the appropriateness of any assay largely depends on the question being asked and the system being used. Moreover, no individual assay is perfect for every situation, calling for the use of multiple techniques to properly monitor autophagy in each experimental setting. Finally, several core components of the autophagy machinery have been implicated in distinct autophagic processes (canonical and noncanonical autophagy), implying that genetic approaches to block autophagy should rely on targeting two or more autophagy-related genes that ideally participate in distinct steps of the pathway. Along similar lines, because multiple proteins involved in autophagy also regulate other cellular pathways including apoptosis, not all of them can be used as a specific marker for bona fide autophagic responses. Here, we critically discuss current methods of assessing autophagy and the information they can, or cannot, provide. Our ultimate goal is to encourage intellectual and technical innovation in the field