Project description:Background: The idea of using whole genome microarrays to detect peripheral blood biomarkers for physiological status a fairly new and unexplored method. Identifying biomarkers that can be linked to stress and immune response would be of great importance not only in animal management practices but in humans as well. The main objective of this research was to explore this concept using the North American Red Wolf (Canis rufus) which are exposed to a wide variety of environments from free ranging to confinement. Results: Transcription profiling of peripheral blood samples from 13 red wolf individuals in the Alligator River region of North Carolina revealed a strong signal of differentiation between confined and free-range animals. 482 out of 2,980 transcripts detected on the human Illumina Ref8 oligonucleotide bead arrays were found to differentiate these groups at a false discovery rate of 5 percent. Over-representation of genes in focal adhesion, insulin signaling, proteasomal, and tryptophan metabolism pathways suggests the activation of proinflammatory and stress responses in confined animals. Conclusions: Integration of immunological and physiological signals may leave a signature of lifestyle in the patterns of gene expression in the blood and suggest the possible development of biomarkers for disease and normal conditions. Keywords: Stress Response/Disease State
Project description:Brucella melitensis and Brucella canis differ by ~75 genes yet B. melitensis is highly virulent for humans while B. canis is considered rarely pathogenic. No identified bacterial factors or mechanisms account for this difference in virulence. To identify functional differences of these two bacteria, gene transcription was examined during infection of murine macrophages and compared to bacteria grown in broth. Our analysis identified transcriptional differences in macrophage infection between B. melitensis and B. canis genes involved in iron transport. Increased transcription of the TonB, enterobactin, and ferric anguibactin transport systems were observed in B. canis but not B. melitensis during infection of macrophages. Therefore, iron appears as an important requirement during the first 24h of infection by B. canis but not for B. melitensis and provides strategies for controlling these pathogens. Comparison of total bacterial RNA from Brucella canis infected murine macrophages to broth grown bacteria
Project description:Brucella melitensis and Brucella canis differ by ~75 genes yet B. melitensis is highly virulent for humans while B. canis is considered rarely pathogenic. No identified bacterial factors or mechanisms account for this difference in virulence. To identify functional differences of these two bacteria, gene transcription was examined during infection of murine macrophages and compared to bacteria grown in broth. Our analysis identified transcriptional differences in macrophage infection between B. melitensis and B. canis genes involved in iron transport. Increased transcription of the TonB, enterobactin, and ferric anguibactin transport systems were observed in B. canis but not B. melitensis during infection of macrophages. Therefore, iron appears as an important requirement during the first 24h of infection by B. canis but not for B. melitensis and provides strategies for controlling these pathogens. comparison of total bacterial RNA from Brucella canis infected murine macrophages and broth grown bacteria
Project description:Brucella melitensis and Brucella canis differ by ~75 genes yet B. melitensis is highly virulent for humans while B. canis is considered rarely pathogenic. No identified bacterial factors or mechanisms account for this difference in virulence. To identify functional differences of these two bacteria, gene transcription was examined during infection of murine macrophages and compared to bacteria grown in broth. Our analysis identified transcriptional differences in macrophage infection between B. melitensis and B. canis genes involved in iron transport. Increased transcription of the TonB, enterobactin, and ferric anguibactin transport systems were observed in B. canis but not B. melitensis during infection of macrophages. Therefore, iron appears as an important requirement during the first 24h of infection by B. canis but not for B. melitensis and provides strategies for controlling these pathogens. Comparison of total bacterial RNA from Brucella canis infected murine macrophages at 5 and 24h
Project description:Brucella melitensis and Brucella canis differ by ~75 genes yet B. melitensis is highly virulent for humans while B. canis is considered rarely pathogenic. No identified bacterial factors or mechanisms account for this difference in virulence. To identify functional differences of these two bacteria, gene transcription was examined during infection of murine macrophages and compared to bacteria grown in broth. Our analysis identified transcriptional differences in macrophage infection between B. melitensis and B. canis genes involved in iron transport. Increased transcription of the TonB, enterobactin, and ferric anguibactin transport systems were observed in B. canis but not B. melitensis during infection of macrophages. Therefore, iron appears as an important requirement during the first 24h of infection by B. canis but not for B. melitensis and provides strategies for controlling these pathogens. Comparison of total bacterial RNA from Brucella melitensis infected murine macrophages to broth grown bacteria
Project description:Genomic sequencing of historical, ancient, and modern North American wolf-like canids: red wolves (Canis rufus), eastern wolves (Canis lycaon), coyotes (Canis latrans), and gray wolves (Canis lupus)