644 research outputs found
Making Rapid Change: Leaning 4-H
Nationwide, Extension is restructuring and searching for efficiencies due to reduced funding. When American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds became available, the Iowa 4-H program used the funding allocated to support training the administrative team and key staff to improve 4-H statewide processes. Building a lean culture of streamlining processes and eliminating waste through the use of kaizen events helped redirect funding for priority work, as well as create team spirit
Aquariums as Reservoirs for Multidrug-resistant Salmonella Paratyphi B
Multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi B dT+ isolates from patients with gastroenteritis were identical with isolates from their home aquariums. Matched isolates had identical phage types, XbaI and IS200 profiles, and Salmonella genomic island 1 (SGI1). Ornamental fish tanks are reservoirs for SGI1-containing S. Paratyphi B dT+
The parasite cytokine mimic <i>Hp</i>-TGM potently replicates the regulatory effects of TGF-β on murine CD4+ T cells
Transforming growth factorâbeta (TGFâβ) family proteins mediate many vital biological functions in growth, development and regulation of the immune system. TGFâβ itself controls immune homeostasis and inflammation, including conversion of naĂŻve CD4+ T cells into Foxp3+ regulatory T cells (Tregs) in the presence of ILâ2 and T cell receptor ligands. The helminth parasite Heligmosomoides polygyrus exploits this pathway through a structurally novel TGFâβ mimic (HpâTGM), which binds to mammalian TGFâβ receptors and induces Tregs. Here, we performed detailed comparisons of HpâTGM with mammalian TGFâβ. Compared to TGFâβ, HpâTGM induced greater numbers of Foxp3+ Tregs (iTregs), with more intense Foxp3 expression. Both ligands upregulated Treg functional markers CD73, CD103 and PDâL1, but HpâTGM induced significantly higher CD39 expression than did TGFâβ. Interestingly, in contrast to canonical TGFâβ signalling through Smad2/3, HpâTGM stimulation was slower and more sustained. Gene expression profiles induced by TGFâβ and HpâTGM were remarkably similar, and both types of iTregs suppressed T cell responses in vitro and EAEâdriven inflammation in vivo. In vitro, both types of iTregs were equally stable under inflammatory conditions, but HpâTGMâinduced iTregs were more stable in vivo during DSSâinduced colitis, with greater retention of Foxp3 expression and lower conversion to a RORâÎłt+ phenotype. Altogether, results from this study suggest that the parasite cytokine mimic, HpâTGM, may deliver a qualitatively different signal to CD4+ T cells with downstream consequences for the longâterm stability of iTregs. These data highlight the potential of HpâTGM as a new modulator of T cell responses in vitro and in vivo
Variation in Antimicrobial Resistance in Sporadic and Outbreak-related Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium
The prevalence of different antimicrobial resistance profiles and variants of the Salmonella genomic island 1 (SGI1) was reported for Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium DT104 strains isolated from patients in Denmark. Variation in antimicrobial resistance and corresponding changes of SGI1 were shown among isolates from a foodborne outbreak
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