Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, or prion diseases, are fatal neurodegenerative diseases affecting humans and animals. Although many host tissues express PrPC (essential for prion replication), relatively few cell types accumulate significant levels of infectivity, including neurons and other cell types in the nervous system, and follicular dendritic cells in secondary lymphoid organs. This

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL) glycoproteins in blood can selectively recognise lectins on the surface of bacteria, and play an important role in natural immunity. Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are key molecules that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level in vivo, and their pathways are specific and effective. Previous studies indicate that small RNAs such as miRNAs perform regulatory roles

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection alone or in combination with other pathogens have brought huge economic losses to the poultry industry. The intestinal microbiota plays a critical role in host defence against respiratory infection. To explore the role of intestinal microbiota in MG-induced inflammation-mediated lung injury and secondary Escherichia coli infection, MG infection model and fecal

γδ T cells are a numerically significant subset of immune cells in ruminants, where they may comprise up to 70 % of all peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in young animals and 25 % in adults. These cells can be activated through traditional TCR-dependent mechanisms, or alternatively in a TCR-independent manner by pattern recognition receptors and have been shown to uptake antigen, as well as

The objective of this study was to evaluate the associations of serum markers for systemic inflammation, liver, mineral, and energy status, and blood neutrophil counts with the function of circulating neutrophils in postpartum dairy cows. Blood samples were collected from 21 healthy Holstein cows at 5, 10, 14, and 21 d postpartum. Serum samples were used to measure concentrations of total calcium,

Non-typhoidal Salmonella is one of the most common causes of bacterial foodborne disease and consumption of contaminated poultry products, including turkey, is one source of exposure. Minimizing Salmonella colonization of commercial turkeys could decrease the incidence of Salmonella-associated human foodborne illness. Understanding host responses to these bacteria is critical in developing strategies

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play critical roles as molecular chaperones, thereby promoting cellular homeostasis. HSPs are overexpressed in many types of human tumors and their serum concentration is elevated in cancer patients. Recent studies have suggested that HSPs may promote tumorigenesis via interactions with tumor-related proteins. There are only a few studies that address the expression of HSPs

Background Immune-targeted therapies are being successfully implemented into cancer clinical practice. In particular checkpoint inhibitors are employed to modulate the immune microenvironment of solid tumors. We sought to determine the expression of PD-L1, HVEM, and B7H3 in human and canine osteosarcoma, and correlate expression with clinical features and tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in naturally-occurring

Vaccination of neonatal pigs could be supportive to prevent porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), which is an important porcine pathogen causing worldwide welfare and health problems in pigs of different age classes. However, neonatal immunity substantially differs to adults, thus different vaccines may be required in neonateal pigs. We examined if the immunogenicity and efficacy

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), caused by Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) infection, disrupts conservation programs of threatened species such as the white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum). Interferon gamma release assays have been developed for the diagnosis of M. bovis infection in rhinoceros, however, the discovery of additional diagnostic biomarkers might improve the accuracy of case detection. The aim

Mycoplasma bovis is a pathogenic bacterium in bovines that causes huge global economic losses. Numerous factors play important roles in M. bovis pathogenesis; however, the host immune response involved in M. bovis infection has not been fully elucidated. We aimed to determine the characteristics of the host immune response to Mycoplasma infection. We evaluated the responsiveness of bovine peripheral

Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that recognize cluster of differentiation (CD) molecules on lymphocytes are useful tools for the study of different lymphocyte subsets in flow cytometry (FCM) analysis. CD4 is a glycoprotein found on the surfaces of helper T cells, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells. In this study, we describe Japanese Black (JB) calves in a farm whose peripheral blood mononuclear

In Norway, the tick-transmitted bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum is estimated to cause tick-borne fever (TBF) in 300 000 lambs on pastures each year, resulting in economic and animal welfare consequences. Today, prophylactic measures mainly involve the use of acaricides, but a vaccine has been requested by farmers and veterinarians for decades. Several attempts have been made to produce a vaccine

Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) is a branch of flow cytometry that allows for the isolation of specific cell populations that can then be further analyzed by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq). When utilizing FACS for population isolation prior to sequencing, it is essential to consider the protection of RNA from RNase activity, environmental conditions, and the sorting efficiency to

Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis), the main cause of animal tuberculosis (TB), can infect a wide variety of domestic and wild animal species, including suids. Suids may serve as reservoir hosts or disease sentinels in different scenarios. Accurate detection of M. bovis infection in pigs is important for TB control programs. Although previous studies have shown the value of serological assays for screening

The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is an economically and ecologically important wildlife species in South Africa; it is also a primary wildlife maintenance host of Mycobacterium bovis. Accurate and early detection of M. bovis infection in buffaloes is important for controlling transmission. Assays that detect cell-mediated immune responses to M. bovis in buffaloes have been developed although these

ADAM17 is a transmembrane protease expressed by most cells in humans and mice that cleaves cell surface substrates primarily in a cis manner, a process referred to as ectodomain shedding. ADAM17 has numerous substrates and plays a broad role in various physiological processes, including as a key regulator of inflammation. At this time, little is known about ADAM17 expression and function in dogs. A

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a causative pathogen of PRRS, one of the most economically disastrous swine diseases. Non-structural protein 1 (NSP1) of PRRSV consists of NSP1α and NSP1β which exhibit papain like cysteine protease activity. Recent evidence demonstrates that PRRSV NSP1 may be participated in modulating host immunity, but very few host proteins were discovered

Nucleocapsid (N) protein is the most highly expressed of all avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) viral proteins and stimulates a substantial immune response in infected animals. Codon optimized recombinant N (rec-N) protein from aMPV subtypes A, B, and C were expressed using the baculoviral expression system in Trichoplusia ni (Tni) insect cells. A mixture of purified rec-N antigens from each subtype was

Endotoxemia is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the equine industry, with colic being the most common cause of endotoxemia in horses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and potential efficacy of a single dose of allogeneic equine bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BM-MSCs) in horses after the IV administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Six horses were administered

As a recognized Mycobacterium bovis maintenance host, the African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) poses transmission risks to livestock, humans and other wildlife. Early detection of M. bovis infection is critical for limiting its spread. Currently, tests detecting cell-mediated immune responses are used for diagnosis in buffaloes. However, these may have suboptimal sensitivity or specificity, depending

Staphylococcus aureus is the leading cause of clinical mastitis and is associated with persistent subclinical infections in ewes, significantly compromising the quality and quantity of milk productions. To date, vaccines intended for use in sheep have been mainly focused on biofilm production traits, but many S. aureus pathogenic isolates do not produce biofilm, including those circulating in Sardinia

House dust mite (HDM) is an environmental allergen ubiquitously present indoors, causing allergic inflammation in dogs. However, it is unclear whether HDM allergens can be detected in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of dogs. In addition, although expression of interleukin (IL)-1β is increased in the intestinal mucosa of dogs with chronic enteropathy (CE), the role of HDM allergens in the production

Interferon lambda (IFN-λ) plays an important role in inducing an antiviral state in mucosal surfaces and has been used as an effective biotherapeutic against several viral diseases. Here we performed a proof of concept study on the activity of a biologically active recombinant bovine IFN-λ (rIFN-λ) produced in eukaryotic cells against Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus (BVDV) in cattle. We first confirmed

Assessment of immune fitness is valuable in many aspects of livestock management and research. Determining immune consequences of selection for increased disease resistance or inhabiting various environments or climates can lead to different management decisions. The ability to measure immune responses due to different diets, pregnancy status, or aging will increase insight about how these factors

Peripheral blood from healthy sheep (n = 3) and goats (n = 3) were employed to establish an efficient method for simultaneous isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and neutrophils and to standardize protocols for monocyte purification and generation of monocyte-derived macrophages (MDMs). In both species, a significantly enriched population of PBMCs, with higher purity and number

Different allelic forms of bovine CD4 were previously described in cattle and were also observed in Canchim calves examined in the present experiment. However, the functional relevance of these different CD4 phenotypes has not yet been investigated. CD4 + T helper cells are known to play a central role in immune control against Babesia bovis infection. Thus, our study aimed to compare the profiles

Aberrant expression of immune check point molecules, programmed death ligand (PD-L1) and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) has been reported in many human cancers with increased protein and gene expression correlated with an aggressive behaviour in some neoplasms. Additionally, PD-L1 blockade has been shown to be an effective therapy for some human cancers. Canine mammary gland tumours have

During the past two decades, avian leukosis virus (ALV) caused tremendous economic losses to poultry industry in China. ALV-K as a newly found subgroup in recent years, which made the control and eradication of ALV more difficult as they were originated from the recombination of different subgroups. To date, specific rapid detection methods refer to ALV-K are still missing. Gp85 is the main structural

The CD4+/CD8+ ratio is used as a marker of the immune regulation of T cell balance. When the ratio in peripheral blood is less than 1, this is considered an indication of immune suppression in an individual. Previous work on bovine Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) has consistently reported a ratio ≥1 as seen in other mammalian hosts, i.e. higher circulating CD4+ cell numbers than CD8+ cell

Commensal microbiota has been shown to play an important role in local infections. However, the correlation between host respiratory microbiota and Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection is not well characterized. Here, the results of 16S rRNA sequencing showed that MG infection correlated with alteration in respiratory microbiota of chickens characterized by decreased richness and diversity. To explore

Almost all bovine intranasal respiratory vaccines require a spraying device, but there are no published reports which prove the necessity of this. The objective of this investigation was to compare the efficacy of the Bovilis® INtranasal RSP™ Live vaccine when applied with or without an (intra)nasal spraying device. This vaccine contains live, attenuated strains of bovine respiratory syncytial virus

Background In order to adequately monitor cytokines in experimental models, currently available methods and commercially available kits should be compared. Aim To compare the plasma and tissue concentrations of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF as a measure of systemic inflammation in septic pigs. Methods Cytokines were quantified from blood and tissue samples obtained at 0, 60, 120, 180, and 240 min

Recurrent Airway Obstruction (RAO), also called severe asthma or heaves, is a chronic disease in adult horses caused by aeroallergens from straw or hay. Disturbances in hemostasis (intensified coagulation and depressed fibrinolysis) are considered one of the prominent reasons of inflammatory process, injury and dysfunction of the lungs. The aim of the study was to evaluate chosen parameters of hemostasis

Interferon alpha (IFN-α) belongs to the type I interferon family which mediates an early innate immune response to viral infections. In the present study, we developed sandwich ELISA using specific mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to measure IFN-α production in chickens. Recombinant chicken IFN-α (chIFN-α) expressed in yeast were purchased from Kingfisher Biotech, and used to immunize the mice. Five

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common disease in geriatric cats. Despite its high prevalence, the pathogenesis of feline CKD is poorly understood. Recently, there has been increasing evidence for the role of protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) in the progression of CKD in humans and rodents. However, the role of PAR-2 in feline CKD has not been evaluated. In this study, we determined nucleotide

Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSV) is one of the main component of the porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC), which strongly impact the pig production. Although PRRSV is often considered as a primary infection that eases subsequent respiratory coinfections, the possibility that other PRDC components may facilitate PRRSV infection has been largely overlooked. The main cellular

Mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis (bTB), poses a risk of infection for livestock, humans, and wildlife. An interferon (IFN)-γ release assay has been used with tuberculin skin tests to detect bTB; however, infected animals may still be missed. Previous studies have suggested that bovine interleukin-2 (BoIL-2) may act as a potential biological marker for the diagnosis of

The transition period, from pregnancy to lactation, implies comprehensive metabolic and endocrine changes including a systemic inflammatory reaction and oxidative stress around calving in dairy cows. The aim of the present study was a longitudinal characterization of the serum concentration of acute phase proteins (APP), i.e., haptoglobin (Hp), serum amyloid A (SAA) and acidic glycoprotein (AGP), as

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are modern tools in regenerative therapies of humans and animals owed to their immunomodulatory properties, which are activated in a pro-inflammatory environment. Different preconditioning strategies had been devised to enhance the immunomodulatory properties of MSC. In this research, we evaluated the immunological attributes of equine adipose MSC (eAMSC) before and after

Current laboratory tests are unable to distinguish healthy from allergic dogs. Unlike serum antibody responses, circulating antibody-secreting cells (ASC) are temporarily induced after each contact with the antigen. These ASC can be identified using ELISPOT and the observation of allergen-specific ASC might correlate with the causative allergens in dogs with an allergic dermatitis. In this study, blood

Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis, SE) infection of poultry causes a significant risk to public health through contamination of meat and eggs. Current Salmonella vaccines have failed to provide strong mucosal immunity in the intestines to reduce Salmonella shedding and food contamination. Considering the short lifespan of broilers, an easy-to-deliver, safe and effective Salmonella

Immunological and endocrine immaturity in foals increases foal morbidity and mortality from bacterial sepsis. Dendritic cells (DC) are critical in activating the adaptive immune response, but foal DC are phenotypically and functionally different than those of adult horses. Age-related variations in availability of some soluble plasma factors, such as hormones, might govern some age-related differences

Immunohistochemical method to detect avian lymphocytes is an efficient and reliable tool for accurate diagnosis, and immunological analysis of avian diseases. However, there are scarce studies reporting immunohistochemistry (IHC) using commercially available antibodies in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) chicken tissues. In the present study, we established an immunohistochemical method to identify

Chemokine (C-C motif) ligand (CCL) 4 is a CC chemokine subfamily member defined by the sequential positioning of conserved cysteine residues. Upon the binding of G-protein-coupled receptors on the cell surface, CCL4 mediates a diverse set of biological processes including chemotaxis, tumorigenesis, homeostasis and thymopoiesis. Although the physiological roles of mammalian CCL4s were elucidated >20

Neonatal calves are highly susceptible to a number of diseases including those that infect via the mucosal surfaces of the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts. In order to determine appropriate vaccine design and delivery systems, or to identify suitable immunostimulatory methods to combat these infections, a detailed understanding of the immune cell populations present at clinically relevant sites

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic joint disease afflicting a substantial portion of the world’s population with no currently available cure. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-based therapies have been observed to have a mild beneficial effect in OA but the mechanism behind their action remains unclear. This study aimed to identify the lymphocytic response to a xenogeneic human umbilical cord-derived MSC-based

The establishment of a panel of immune markers is of paramount importance to understand the different transcription patterns of infectious diseases in livestock. The array of commercially available immunological assays for cattle and sheep is currently limited, due to the lack of antibodies for these species. Even though SYBR Green based real time quantitative PCR (qPCR) is the most commonly used method

In the last decade in Hungary and the neighbouring countries, West Nile Neuroinvasive Disease (WNND) has been caused in dramatically increasing numbers by lineage 2 West Nile Virus (WNV) strains both in horses and in humans. The disease in this geographical region is seasonal, so vaccination of horses should be carefully scheduled to maintain the highest antibody titres during outbreak periods. The

To assess the effects of challenge dose and stage of gestation on infection and abortion, 35 elk were conjunctivally challenged with virulent Brucella abortus strain 2308 (S2308) during pregnancy. Seventeen elk were experimentally challenged early in the second trimester of gestation (December) with high (approximately 108 CFU) or low challenge (approximately 107 CFU) treatments having 8 and 9 pregnant

Selenium is a trace mineral that has antioxidant activities and can influence the immune system. However, antiviral effects of selenium have not been well studies in chickens. Chickens were therefore fed diets supplemented with two levels of two different sources of selenium (organic: selenium enriched yeast; SEY or inorganic: sodium selenite; SS). Chickens in the control groups did not receive supplemental

Chemokines are signaling proteins secreted by immune cells which regulate leukocyte trafficking. The aberrant expression of chemokines and their receptors by neoplastic cells influences the behaviour of many human cancers. This study evaluated gene-expression of the chemokines: CCL5, CXCL10, CXCL12 and the chemokine receptors: CXCR3, CXCR4, CXCR7, CCR4, CCR9 in 41 histologically-malignant, outcome-known

Objective Due to the immunomodulatory properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) through stimulation of endogenous immune cells by paracrine signals and cell contact, they have been proposed as alternative treatment option for many inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases in veterinary medicine. However, the long-term cultivation possibilities of feline MSCs are currently compromised due to a restricted

Immune system development of piglets is influenced by birth weight and colostrum and milk intake. Moreover, the dam transfer to piglets of vitamins A and D and copper, which play important role in immunity, is limited during lactation. In this study, we evaluated the potential of maternal and neonatal supplementations with vitamins A and D and copper, with or without neonatal supplementation of bovine

Systemic immune responses in cancer patients are of tremendous importance, both to advance understanding of disease mechanisms and for development of new diagnostic testing. Minimal published information is available on the systemic cytokine response in canine osteosarcoma (OS) patients. The goal of this study was to investigate serum cytokine alterations present in OS patients at the time of diagnosis

Mycoplasma bovis causes chronic arthritis in calves, presenting as osteolysis in affected joints. Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), an enzyme involved in cartilage degradation, is produced by synovial cells. Production of this proteinase is regulated by interleukin (IL)-1β, which is produced by mononuclear cells. Both factors are known to play important roles in osteolysis in human autoimmune and