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vaccine platform for infection or autoimmune diseases using an ETEC fimbrial scaffold: Author: Jun, SangMu; Date: 2009-05-15; Program: Veterinary Molecular Biology; Abstract: The expression of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) fimbriae (colonization factor antigen I (CFA/I) or K99) on the surface of a Salmonella vaccine vector confers protection against ETEC challenge. Application of such fimbriae as a treatment for the proinflammatory disease, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), or as a molecular scaffold for heterologous antigen expression by cloning enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) LPS peptide mimetics into the K99 fimbriae to produce a dual vaccine for ETEC/EHEC was investigated. The expression of CFA/I fimbriae by a Salmonella vaccine vector...; Download File | View full details

Risk Assessment of Plant-Based Pharmaceuticals and Biologics: Author: Shama, Leslie Marie; Date: 2006-12-15; Program: Plant Sciences; Abstract: Biotechnology is evolving to produce pharmaceutical proteins in plants. Plantbased pharmaceutical production creates concerns of exposure in an open environment and contamination of the food supply. Consequently, quantitative human health and ecological risk assessments were conducted for aprotinin, gastric lipase, and LT-B expressed in maize. A comparative, qualitative risk assessment was conducted for conventionally derived and plant-cell derived Newcastle disease virus vaccine. Effect and exposure scenarios were modeled for each quantitative risk assessment and each scenario was based on a ...; Download File | View full details

Keys to unlocking the biofilm phenotype of a virulent environmental isolate of Salmonella: Author: Clark, Stewart James; Date: 2008-08-15; Program: Microbiology; Abstract: The aim of this research was to elucidate the phenotypic adaptation of an environmental isolate of Salmonella enterica grown in a single species biofilm using transcriptomic analysis. This environmental isolate was obtained from an outbreak in Gideon, MO, and was classified as Salmonella enterica serotype Missouri. Gene expression profiles obtained from this environmental isolate were compared with profiles of the ATCC type strain Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium LT2 grown under the same conditions. It was shown that there were distinct transcriptional differences in both of the strain...; Download File | View full details

Effect of Trace Mineral Supplementation and the use of an Experimental Escherichia coli O157:H7 vaccine on Escherichia coli O157:H7 Fecal Shedding in Beef Calves: Author: Skinner, Kim David; Date: 2005-12-15; Program: Animal and Range Sciences; Abstract: Two experiments were conducted to evaluate fecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7 in newly-weaned calves. In the first experiment, twenty-four heifers were fed a basal diet composed of wheat middlings and corn grain (15% CP and 79% TDN). Twelve heifers were supplemented with trace minerals to provide an additional 399 mg Cu, 1001 mg Zn, and 707 mg Mn/d. The control diet had no supplemental trace minerals added. All heifers were inoculated with an oral dose of 1010 CFU of E. coli O157:H7. Fecal samples were collected every 18 h for the first three days after dosing and then every three d until d 21 ...; Download File | View full details

Analysis of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Virulence in Modeled Microgravity Conditions: Author: Guadarrama-Beltran, Seratna; Date: 2006-08-15; Program: Microbiology; Abstract: Spaceflight conditions may enhance bacterial growth, alter antimicrobial susceptibility and possibly affect virulence. Since spaceflight causes astronauts to experience secondary immunosuppression, increased virulence would increase the risk of infection. Limited opportunities for spaceflight experiments necessitate ground-based simulations. Clinostats and rotating wall vessel bioreactors, e.g. High Aspect Ratio Vessels (HARVs) are used to simulate microgravity effects at 1xg. Clinostat and HARV rotation on the horizontal axis results in the g-vector being time averaged to near zero. In contro...; Download File | View full details

Studies of Peptide Mimicry of the Group B Streptococcus Type III Capsular Polysaccharide Antigen: Author: Pomwised, Rattanaruji; Date: 2007-12-15; Program: Microbiology; Abstract: Capsular polysaccharide (CPS) of Streptococcus group B (GBS) is a poor immunogen and functions as T cell independent antigen, eliciting low IgG antibody with deficient immunologic memory. We previously identified a peptide, S9, which mimics CPS of type III GBS. Here we have taken steps to develop the mimetic peptide as a vaccine against GBS group III. We enhanced the immunogenicity of the peptide by presenting it on the coat protein of Cowpea Chlorotic Mottle Virus (CCMV). And we searched for better mimetic peptides by constructing a secondary phage display library. To accomplish the first goa...; Download File | View full details

Pathogen Transport and Capture in a Porous Media Biofilm Reactor: Author: Grabinski, Kevin John; Date: 2007-08-15; Program: Environmental Engineering; Abstract: Drinking water distribution systems pose the potential to transport biological and chemical contaminants to the consumers' tap that can be responsible for widespread waterborne disease outbreaks (WBDO). A need exists to improve the ability to monitor contaminants that can attach to the distribution system's interior surfaces and to obtain samples for diagnosing both the cause of a WBDO and the extent of contamination within the system. In this study, a porous media reactor colonized with a mixed-species drinking water biofilm was used to study the capture of Salmonella typhimurium as a model...; Download File | View full details

Low dose tolerance vaccine platform, reovirus protein sigma 1, and treatment of autoimmunity: Author: Rynda, Agnieszka; Date: 2008-08-15; Program: Veterinary Molecular Biology; Abstract: Effective treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) are problematic due to its unknown etiology. Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) in rodents mimics MS. Mucosal treatment of EAE with antigens to induce tolerance is effective, but requires large and/or multiple administrations, which introduces an allergy risk. We utilized reovirus adhesin, protein sigma 1 (p sigma1), to improve mucosal auto-antigen delivery and show that a single low-dose of pσ1-based vaccines induces tolerance and prevents autoimmunity when administered nasally. We engineered three pσ1-based vaccines ca...; Download File | View full details