Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

P Drummond

Publications and source records attributed to P Drummond.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2001

Frequency and distribution in three ethnic populations of single nucleotide polymorphisms in the MICA gene.

The Homo sapiens major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class 1 chain related gene A (MICA) was scanned for novel single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using a panel of DNA samples from African-, Japanese- and Mexican-Americans. Overlapping primer-pairs were used to amplify products in the size range of 300 to 400 bp that were sequenced and scanned for SNPs using Phred, Phrap, Polyphred and Consed sequence analysis programs. A total of 16 SNPs were detected, six of which represent new variant nucleotides in the Homo sapiens MICA gene. Three of the variants also represent amino acid changes in the MICA protein. Differences among the three ethnic panels in the frequency of the variant nucleotides observed were inconsistent, but significant for seven of the SNPs detected. Though a small sample size, this study represents the first multi-population based analysis of the frequency and distribution of SNPs in the MICA gene, a locus that may be essential in the antigenic recognition by gammadelta T cells.

Alleles↗
PubMed2001

Expressed sequence tags for the chicken genome from a normalized, ten-day-old white leghorn whole embryo cDNA library. 2. Comparative DNA sequence analysis of guinea fowl, quail, and turkey genomes.

Accelerated efforts to develop a high-utility chicken genome map have resulted in the development of resources that may be useful for genetic analysis in other economically important poultry species. Here we describe a total of 26 comparative genomic DNA sequences (CGS) for the guinea fowl, Japanese quail, and domestic turkey developed using 10 primer pairs specific for 10 previously reported, unique, chicken expressed sequence tags (EST). The total length of CGS developed for each of the three species was 4,193, 4,597, and 6,057 bp in quail, turkey, and guinea fowl, respectively. About 70% of the CGS showed significant sequence similarity to reference database sequences, including the reference chicken EST and other avian and nonavian genes. A majority of the between-species comparisons of the CGS from all but two primer pairs were significant and ranged from 81 to 99%. The percentage similarity of the CGS appears to be a function of phylogenetic relatedness and was generally higher for comparisons between the chicken, quail, and turkey and lower between the guinea fowl and chicken, quail, or turkey. Maximum likelihood estimation of the phylogenetic relationships using CGS from two primer pairs also showed a closer relationship, as expected, among chicken, quail, and turkey than between guinea fowl and either chicken, quail, or turkey. Within the guinea fowl, quail, and turkey CGS developed, the total number of single nucleotide polymorphisms detected was 28, 17, and 14, respectively. Together, these resources represent tools that will facilitate genetic analysis of species that have been studied very little and our understanding of their genomes and genome evolution.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Comparative DNA sequence analysis of genetic variation in the African grey parrot, Psittacus erythacus.

Comparative genome analysis promises to provide an insight into avian species that have been very little studied. To test the feasibility of this approach, we investigated the use of heterologous primers to generate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the African grey parrot, Psittacus erythacus, using primers specific for chicken and turkey DNA fragments. Three of the primers were specific for three expressed sequence tagged sites in the turkey and the fourth for a chicken proteoglycan core protein-like DNA sequence. A total of about 2200 bp of the parrot genome was evaluated for DNA sequence variation. Seven SNPs were identified and confirmed by Mendelian segregation. The frequency distribution of the most common nucleotide at each SNP locus in an unrelated group of parrots ranged from 0.84 to 0.97. The percent similarity of each parrot sequence to the reference sequence was inconsistent and ranged from zero to 100%. The primers as well as the nucleotide variants described represent valuable resources for genetic analysis in the parrot.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Amplification of sequence tagged sites in five avian species using heterologous oligonucleotides.

Short of a complete genomic DNA sequence, sequence tagged sites (STSs) have emerged as major genomic reagents for the genetic analysis of little-studied ecologically and agriculturally important organisms. Here, we report STS developed for the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), guinea fowl (Numidea meleagris), Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix) and pigeon using primers specific for reference DNA sequences of two chicken (Gallus gallus) genes, aggrecan (agc1) and type X collagen (col10). Additional STSs were also developed for turkey, quail and chicken using primers specific for the human apobec-1 gene. The total length of the STSs developed was 5990, 2522, 4127, 1539 and 6600 bp for the turkey, guinea fowl, Japanese quail, pigeon and chicken, respectively. Based on splice site consensus GT and AG sequences, four of the seven agc1-based chicken STS appear to contain introns. The human gene-based STSs showed no significant sequence identity with the reference GenBank sequences. Maximum likelihood, maximum parsimony and neighbour-joining analysis of an agc1-based STS that was common to all five species showed phylogenetic relationships consistent with those previously defined using mitochondria DNA sequences and nuclear gene restriction maps. Additionally, several putative single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected within the STSs, including eight in the turkey, two in the quail, and two in the chicken when multiple sequences were evaluated from each species. This report describes new STSs that are resources for genetic and physical mapping and genome analysis within and among avian species. These resources should further aid in our understanding of the biology of agriculturally important but little-studied guinea fowl and turkey.

APOBEC-1 Deaminase↗
PubMed2000

Development and characterization of expressed sequence tags for the turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) genome and comparative sequence analysis with other birds.

Twenty-one randomly selected clones from a turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) pituitary complementary DNA (cDNA) library were sequenced to develop expressed sequence tags (ESTs) for this economically important avian species whose genome is among the least understood. Primers specific for the ESTs were used to produce amplicons from the genomic DNA of turkey, chicken (Gallus gallus), guinea fowl (Numidia meleagris), pigeon (Columba domestica), and quail (Corturnix japonica). The amplicons were sequenced and analyzed for sequence variation within- and similarity among-species and with GenBank database sequences. The proportion of shared bases between the turkey sequence and the consensus sequence from each of the other species ranged from 72% to 93% between turkey and pigeon and quail and between turkey and chicken, respectively. The total number of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) observed ranged from 3 in quail to 18 in chicken out of 4898 and 5265 bases analyzed, respectively. The most frequent nucleotide variation observed was a C-->T transition. Linkage analysis of one such SNP in the backcross progeny of the East Lansing reference DNA panel, localized TUS0005, the chicken sequence derived from primers specific for turkey TUT2E EST, to chromosome 4. The ESTs reported, as well as the SNPs may provide a useful resource for ongoing efforts to develop high utility genome maps for the turkey and chicken. The primers described can also be used as a tool in future investigations directed at further understanding the biology of the guinea fowl, pigeon and quail and their relatedness to the turkey.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

A cognitive-behavioural, group-based intervention for social anxiety in schizophrenia.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of group-based cognitive-behavioural therapy (CBT) for social anxiety in schizophrenia. METHOD: Patients with schizophrenia (20) with comorbid social anxiety were randomly assigned to the group-based CBT or wait-list control condition. Pre-, post- and 6-week follow-up ratings included measures of social anxiety and avoidance, mood and quality of life. RESULTS: The intervention group improved on all outcome measures and the control group showed no change in symptomatology. CONCLUSIONS: Group-based CBT is effective in treating social anxiety in schizophrenia.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Community acquired pneumonia--a prospective UK study.

BACKGROUND: There are few data on paediatric community acquired pneumonia (PCAP) in the UK. AIMS: To investigate the aetiology and most useful diagnostic tests for PCAP in the north east of England. METHODS: A prospective study of hospital admissions with a diagnosis of PCAP. RESULTS: A pathogen was isolated from 60% (81/136) of cases, and considered a definite or probable cause of their pneumonia in 51% (70/136). Fifty (37%) had a virus implicated (65% respiratory syncytial virus) and 19 (14%) a bacterium (7% group A streptococcus, 4% Streptococcus pneumoniae), with one mixed infection. Of a subgroup (51 patients) in whom serum antipneumolysin antibody testing was performed, 6% had evidence of pneumococcal infection, and all were under 2 years old. The best diagnostic yield was from paired serology (34%, 31/87), followed by viral immunofluorescence (33%, 32/98). CONCLUSION: Viral infection accounted for 71% of the cases diagnosed. Group A streptococcus was the most common bacterial infective agent, with a low incidence of both Mycoplasma pneumoniae and S pneumoniae. Pneumococcal pneumonia was the most common bacterial cause of pneumonia in children under 2 years but not in older children. Inflammatory markers and chest x ray features did not differentiate viral from bacterial pneumonia; serology and viral immunofluorescence were the most useful diagnostic tests.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

The effect of dark-rearing on dendritic development in two regions of the forebrain of the domestic chick.

The effects of dark-rearing on dendritic development were studied in domestic chicks aged 72 h. Two areas of the forebrain were investigated, the hyperstriatum accessorium (HA) and the intermediate part of the medial hyperstriatum ventrale (IMHV). Dark-rearing significantly reduced spine density on the dendrites of large multipolar neurones in both left and right HA. In the IMHV there was a significant decrease in spine density in the left hemisphere in chicks reared in the light. No other parameters of dendritic development were affected. These results reinforce the conclusion that in the young domestic chick the left IMHV is a particularly labile region.

Animals↗