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PubMed2005

Major genes and QTL influencing wool production and quality: a review.

The opportunity exists to utilise our knowledge of major genes that influence the economically important traits in wool sheep. Genes with Mendelian inheritance have been identified for many important traits in wool sheep. Of particular importance are genes influencing pigmentation, wool quality and the keratin proteins, the latter of which are important for the morphology of the wool fibre. Gene mapping studies have identified some chromosomal regions associated with variation in wool quality and production traits. The challenge now is to build on this knowledge base in a cost-effective way to deliver molecular tools that facilitate enhanced genetic improvement programs for wool sheep.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Assessment of wool waste and hair waste as soil amendment and nutrient source.

A field and two container experiments were conducted to assess uncomposted wool and hair wastes as a nutrient source for crops and to evaluate their potential to improve soil biological and chemical properties. Overall, addition of wool or hair waste to soil increased yields of basil (Ocimum basilicum L. 'Trakia'), thorn apple (Datura innoxia Mill. 'Inka'), peppermint (Mentha x piperita L. 'Black Mitchum'), and garden sage (Salvia officinalis L. 'Desislava'), increased NH(4)-N and NO(3)-N in soil, increased total N (and protein) content in plant tissue, stimulated soil microbial biomass, and decreased mycorrhizae colonization of plant roots of thorn apple but not in basil. Wool and hair waste additions to soil altered slightly the content and composition of plant secondary metabolites (essential oils or alkaloids); however, overall the constituents remained within the "typical" range for the respective crops. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis demonstrated that wool and hair wastes decompose slowly under field or greenhouse conditions, and act as a slow release S, N, P, and K fertilizer. These results, along with the measured concentrations of NO(3)-N in soil at harvest, suggest that the addition of wool or hair waste of only 3.3 g kg(-1) of soil may support two to five harvests or crops under greenhouse conditions and two to four field seasons in field production systems, and would improve soil biological and chemical characteristics. Further research is needed to optimize the rate of application of these waste materials to the nutrient requirements of specific crops to avoid nitrate leaching into the ground water. In addition, the effect of wool and hair waste on other environmental end points should also be further investigated before specific recommendations for growers are provided.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed1991

Irritative symptoms and exposure to mineral wool.

In a cross-sectional study undertaken in 1981 using a postal questionnaire, the prevalence of irritative symptoms was investigated among 2,654 Danish construction workers working with mineral wool. An evaluation was undertaken in a multivariate logit analysis of the relationship between exposure level (measured by hours of exposure to mineral wool per month) and prevalence of symptoms. The analysis controlled for the confounders of age, smoking habits, and exposure to organic solvents. With greater exposure to mineral wool, there was a statistically significant increase in the frequency of irritative symptoms from the eyes, the skin, and the upper respiratory tract. Among construction workers working with mineral wool 160-180 hours per month, two-thirds had these symptoms once a week or oftener. The occurrence was 2-3 times higher compared with the construction workers not working with mineral wool. The relationship between exposure to mineral wool and skin and mucous membrane symptoms may be explained by the irritative action of the fibers that are given off during insulation work.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The effect of stone-wool on rat lungs and on the primary culture of rat alveolar macrophages and type II pneumocytes.

The effect of stone-wool has been studied in both in vivo long term sequential and in vitro methods in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Stone-wool was administered by single intratracheal instillation and the lungs were examined after 1, 3 and 6 months of exposure by morphological methods. UICC crocidolite was applied as a positive control. In addition, the effects of both fibres were examined in primary cultures of alveolar macrophages (AM) and type II pneumocytes (T2) by morphological, biochemical and immunological methods. By the end of 6 months stone-wool induced moderate pulmonary interstitial inflammation and fibrosis without progression, whereas crocidolite induced progressive interstitial inflammation and fibrosis as a function of time. Although stone-wool inhibited phagocytosis, it did not induce serious membrane damage to the cells examined and did not destroy their ultrastructure. It significantly reduced the activity of Cu,Zn/superoxide dismutase (SOD) and alkaline phosphatase (AP) in alveolar macrophages and significantly decreased the activity of AP and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) in type II pneumocytes. Crocidolite, on the other hand, decreased the activity of all enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, GSH-Px; glutathione reductase, GSH-Rd) of glutathione metabolism as well as alkaline phosphatase in alveolar macrophages. It decreased the activity of all enzymes in type II pneumocytes, except for Cu,Zn/SOD. On exposure to stone-wool, the production of inflammatory proteins, macrophage chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inhibitory protein-1alpha (MIP-1alpha) increased in both cultured cells but did not reach the level induced by crocidolite. Our results suggested that stone-wool is less toxic than crocidolite. Whether it is carcinogenic or not, is still an open question.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Isotopes, Wool, and Rangeland Monitoring: Let the Sheep Do the Sampling

/ Stable carbon isotope analyses of wool staples provided insight into the vegetation consumed by sheep at a temporal resolution not previously studied. Contemporary Australian and historic South African samples dating back to 1916 were analyzed for their stable carbon isotope ratio, a proxy for the proportion of C3 and C4 plant species consumed by animals. Sheep sample vegetation continuously throughout a year, and as their wool grows it integrates and stores information about their diet. In subtropical and tropical rangelands the majority of grass species are C4. Since sheep prefer to graze, and their wool is an isotopic record of their diet, we now have the potential to develop a high resolution index to the availability of grass from a sheep's perspective. Isotopic analyses of wool suggest a new direction for monitoring grazing and for the reconstruction of past vegetation changes, which will make a significant contribution to traditional rangeland ecology and management. It is recommended that isotopic and other analyses of wool be further developed for use in rangeland monitoring programs to provide valuable feedback for land managers.KEY WORDS: Carbon isotope ratios; Vegetation change; Rangelands; Monitoring; Wool

Journal Article↗
PubMed1991

A glass wool-based method for purifying Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes and identification of an epimastigote-specific glass-adherent surface peptide.

Glass wool, hydrophilic cotton wool, non-electrically charged BIO-GEL P2 and common tissue paper columns were used to purify trypomastigotes from a mixed Trypanosoma cruzi population grown in axenic culture medium. With all these columns, highly purified (up to 98%) trypomastigote preparations were obtained. Trypomastigote yields from cotton wool, BIO-GEL P2 and common tissue paper columns were not as high as from glass wool columns, from which yields varied from 69 to 80%. Purification on glass wool did not affect trypomastigote infectivity or virulence. Dead trypomastigotes could not be purified on glass wool columns. A glass-adherent amphiphilic peptide of 45 kDa, present in the cell membrane, was isolated from epimastigote but not from trypomastigote preparations.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Nylon wool column fractionation and characterisation of feline lymphocyte subpopulations.

Feline separated mononuclear cells (SMC) were obtained from peripheral blood by ficoll-diatrizoate gradient separation. SMC were further fractionated on nylon wool columns into nylon wool adherent cells (NWAC) and nylon wool effluent cells (NWEC). The three cell populations, SMC, NWAC and NWEC, were characterised using direct immunofluorescent staining for surface immunoglobulin (sIg) as a B cell marker and neuramidase treated guinea pig erythrocyte-rosette formation (E-rosettes) and mitogen-induced lymphocyte blastogenesis (LB) as possible T-cell markers. Feline SMC consisted of 30.1 +/- 4.0% sIg+ cells 36.6 + 5.4% E-rosette forming cells and 33.3% null cells i.e. cells which were sIg- and non E-rosette forming. Fractionation of SMC on nylon wool columns yielded NWEC which were significantly enriched for T cells in that they contained 68.6 +/- 2.9% E-rosette forming. Fractionation of SMC on nylon wool columns yielded NWEC which were significantly enriched for T cells in that they contained 68.6 +/- 2.9% E-rosette forming cells. NWAC were 51.0% +/- 10.8% sIg+, approximately 20% of cells were lost. The LB responsiveness of NWEC to concanavalin A (Con A) and phytonaemagglutinin-P (PHA-P) was enhanced compared to SMC. NWAC were non-responsive to Con A and PHA-P at all concentrations tested. It was concluded that nylon wool column fractionation of feline SMC was an efficient procedure for T cell enrichment and that the enriched cells retained the properties of E-rosette formation and blastogenesis by mitogens.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

A comparative study of feeding behavior and digestive function in dairy goats, wool sheep and hair sheep.

An intake and digestibility study was conducted with three groups (six animals per group) of yearling wether dairy goats (four Toggenburg, two Alpine), wool sheep (Targhee X Dorset) and hair sheep (St. Croix). Body weight (BW) ranged from 42 to 52 kg, averaging 47 kg. All animals were penned individually and given ad libitum access to a mixture of alfalfa-smooth bromegrass hay in pelleted, chopped or long form. Each group contained three ruminally cannulated animals. There were no apparent differences in the composition of feed consumed among goats, wool sheep and hair sheep, and no significant animal type X forage form interactions for any of the variables evaluated. Significant differences were observed in dry matter intake (DMI) between wool sheep, hair sheep and goats: 3.17%, 2.66% and 2.23% of BW, respectively (P less than .05). Daily water intake (WI) was greatest for wool sheep (P less than .05), but not different between hair sheep and goats. Total digestibility of dry matter (DM) and all fiber fractions were similar among animal types. For the cannulated animals, ruminal content weight and total ruminal volume were greatest for wool sheep (P less than .05). Ruminal acid detergent lignin (ADL) turnover was greater in wool and hair sheep than goats (P less than .05), but no differences were apparent for dry matter or neutral detergent fiber (NDF) turnover. For all animals, DMI, DMI/BW, digestible DMI and WI were greater for pelleted than chopped and long hay (P less than .05). Total ruminal volume, contents weight (on an absolute or BW basis) and fluid volume were lower in the cannulated animals consuming pelleted hay (P less than .05). Ruminal DM turnover rate was faster on pelleted than long hay, while DM turnover rate on chopped hay was intermediate. Turnover of ADL was faster on pelleted than chopped or long hay (P less than .05), but there were no differences among forage forms in NDF turnover rate. Fluid turnover rate was faster on pelleted and chopped than on long hay (P less than .05). Under the conditions of this study, no apparent differences were observed among animal types in the nutrient composition of feed consumed, ruminal or total tract digestibilities or rate of passage for dry matter. However, feeding behavior or selectivity differences under natural grazing conditions may deviate from what has been observed in confinement.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Immobilised pH gradient isoelectric focusing of wool proteins.

Conventional carrier ampholyte-isoelectric focusing is unsuitable for separating wool and hair proteins. The inability to form stable narrow pH gradients at acidic pH values does not allow good resolution of the many acidic wool and hair proteins. To evaluate the usefulness of immobilised pH gradient-isoelectric focusing (IPG-IEF) for wool proteins, S-amidomethyl wool proteins were analysed using IPG-IEF. Over twenty bands were visible on a pH 4-7 IPG-IEF gel. IPG-IEF was combined with sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) to give a two dimensional separation, and over 50 protein spots were observed. IPG-IEF appears to be ideally suited to the separation of wool proteins. The resolution of two-dimensional electrophoresis using IPG-IEF was greater than previously obtained using acid or alkaline PAGE in the first dimension. Good reproducibility of spot position was observed.

Ampholyte Mixtures↗
PubMed1995

Pharmacologic characterization of wool dust extract in isolated guinea pig trachea.

Wool mill workers develop respiratory symptoms and lung function abnormalities associated with their work in the textile industry. As in other workplaces, which process organic materials, the dust generated in the manufacture of wool has been implicated as a cause of these respiratory problems. Pharmacologic studies of wool dust extract were performed in vitro on guinea pig tracheal (GPT) segments. A wool dust extract (WDE) was prepared from material collected from a mill previously surveyed. When the standardized WDE solution was added to an organ bath in increments of 10, 30, 100, 300, and 1000 microliters it caused a consistent, dose-dependent constriction of GPT. Pretreatment of guinea pig tracheas, prior to WDE challenge, with atropine (10(-6) M), pyrilamine (10(-6) M), indomethacin (10(-6) M), verapamil (10(-6) M), TMBS (10(-6) M), BW755C (10(-6) M) and LY171883 (10(-6) M) was studied in order to evaluate receptor-dependent and -independent characteristics of WDE-induced constriction. WDE-induced bronchoconstriction was partially inhibited by the antihistamine pyrilamine. Atropine and leukotriene inhibitors (LY171883 and BW755C) were not found to have a significant protective effect on WDE-induced constriction. Both TMBS and verapamil (intra- and extracellular calcium blocking agent) suppressed the effect of wool dust extract in the range tested. These findings suggest that in this model, WDE-induced airway constriction is only partly attributable to common mediators of bronchoconstriction (e.g., histamine). The airway effects of WDE may be modulated by calcium channel blocking agents.

Air Pollutants, Occupational↗
PubMed1994

Phenotypic analysis of nylon-wool-adherent suppressor cells that inhibit the effector process of tumour cell lysis by lymphokine-activated killer cells in patients with advanced gastric carcinoma.

The causes of down-regulation of cytotoxic immune responses in cancer patients have not been fully evaluated. We previously demonstrated that T-cell-growth-factor-activated peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) with the surface phenotype CD8+ CD11b-, from patients with widespread metastasis of gastric carcinoma, inhibited the effector process of lymphokine-activated-killer(LAK)-cell-mediated cytolysis. In this study, we examined suppressor cell activity in freshly prepared PBL from 18 patients with advanced gastric carcinoma, and 10 normal healthy individuals. The suppressor cell activity was assayed by recording whether or not PBL inhibited directly the effector process of LAK cell cytotoxicity. Most of the PBL suspensions from cancer patients showed that they contained a population of cells that can directly inhibit the effector phase of tumor cell lysis of the cytotoxic cells. To analyze further the PBL responsible for the suppression, the cells were passed over a nylon-wool column. Nylon-wool-adherent cells significantly augmented the suppression, while the cells passing through abrogated the suppressive effect. Most nylon-wool-adherent cells from 10 normal healthy controls did not inhibit the cytotoxic reaction. To determine further the suppressor-effector population in nylon-wool-adherent cells, negative-selection studies using CD8-, CD4- or CD11b-coated magnetic beads, and positive-selection studies using CD8- or CD4-coated magnetic beads were performed. Finally the results suggest that the suppressor-effector cells comprise at least two different surface phenotypes: CD8+ T and CD8-CD11b+ cells. The possible role of CD4+ T cells and HLA-DR+ LeuM3+ macrophages as suppressor cells was ruled out in nylon-wool-adherent cells. CD8+ T and possibly CD8-CD11b+ cells apparently suppressed the efferent limb of the antitumor immunity. The selective immune suppression mediated by these cells may partly be concerned with escape mechanisms of gastric carcinoma from the host immune surveillance system.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Wool Base determination using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).

An industry grade dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) scanner was calibrated for Wool Base determination. The calibration used 201 Crossbred and Merino wool samples, and a further 72 samples to validate the calibration. The prediction correlation had the smallest residual standard deviation (RSD) when the independently measured mean fibre diameter (MFD) was included in the multiple regression analysis. Best results were achieved when separate calibrations were used for individual wool breeds. The RSD for the Merino calibration set of 44 samples was 1.88, when the MFD was included in the regression, and 2.1 without. The RSD for 144 Crossbred samples was 1.73 including the MFD, and 2.59 without. The validation trial with 46 Crossbred and 24 Merino wool samples resulted in RSD of 2.35 and 2.23, respectively. An excellent DEXA repeatability was achieved at a standard deviation of approximately 0.2%. Improvement of the calibration is expected from concurrent laboratory testing and scanning. The research shows the promising potential for DEXA as a tool to determine Wool Base.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗
PubMed2004

X-ray diffraction analysis of internal wool lipids.

Polarised optical microscopy (POM) and X-ray diffraction techniques were applied to intercellular lipids extracted from wool to study their structural arrangement in order to determine their role in the diffusion properties of wool fibre. Intercellular wool lipids (IWL) arranged as concentrated liposomes were shown to be a good intercellular lipid model, allowing their study by X-ray diffraction techniques. The results confirm that intercellular lipids of wool fibre are organised in a lamellar structure of 5.0-8.0 nm width, termed beta-layer, which had been assumed to be lipids arranged as a bilayer. Structurally, internal wool lipids are distributed at least in two domains at low temperatures: an ordered phase made up of ceramides and free fatty acids (FFA) alone, arranged in crystal orthorhombic states separately, and a liquid crystal state when mixed together. At 40 degrees C there is a reversible phase transition produced by the melt of the crystal orthorhombic states, whereas the liquid crystal state remains until 65 degrees C.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Treatment of strongflow wool scouring effluent by biological emulsion destabilisation.

The stable oil-in-water emulsion contained in wool scouring effluent was destabilised by aerobic biological treatment as the basis of a potential new effluent treatment process. The de-emulsified wool wax, which is recalcitrant to biodegradation, can then be readily removed by centrifugation. In 12-day batch experiments, 97% of wool wax and 87% of COD were removed after gentle centrifuging at 200 x g, compared to only 6% and 8%, respectively, for sterile controls. Steady-state chemostat experiments under optimum conditions gave essentially complete removal of wool wax and 90% removal of COD at less than 40 h retention time, and demonstrated that the mechanism of pollutant removal was by bioflocculation rather than aerobic degradation. At 100 L pilot scale, 95% of wool wax and 82% of COD were consistently removed over a period of 116 days of continuous operation at 38 h retention time and 30 degrees C, producing a spadable sludge of 5.7 mL/g. Variable influent concentration or filamentous bacteria did not disrupt this process and foaming was readily controlled using a mechanical foam breaker. After a shutdown period of 15 days the process could be restarted easily, achieving normal performance within one retention time. The successful operation of the pilot reactor suggests this process could be developed to full scale and incorporated into an overall treatment package.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Retarded and excessive development of skin appendages in fetal lambs in response to thyroidectomy before wool follicle appearance.

The impact on wool follicles of development in an athyroid environment was studied in a series of twin fetal lambs by surgically thyroidectomizing one of each pair before the appearance of follicle buds and comparing development of epidermal appendages in it with their development in the normal co-twin. Thyroidectomy was undertaken at 51 to 54 days' gestation, i.e. after approximately one-third of the gestation period. Each treated fetus was then replaced in the uterus, allowing pregnancy to continue. Eight pairs of twins were removed at intervals from 67 to 122 days' gestation and skin samples from the thyroidectomized and the intact twins were compared. Micromorphometric examination of the samples was used to assess quantitatively the effects of thyroid deprivation on wool follicle development. In thyroidectomized fetuses there was a failure of keratinization in primary wool follicles, an absence of secondary follicles, a tendency to excessive follicular branching and sweat gland development, and a paucity of sebaceous gland formation. The density of wool follicles was substantially increased, but the mean cross-sectional area of these follicles was reduced. The effects of very early thyroidectomy imply that the thyroid plays a role in the stimulation and regulation of wool follicle differentiation. To test the reversibility of the effects observed in the skin of thyroidectomized fetuses, grafts from these animals were transplanted to normal, young fetal lambs. Subsequent examination of grafted skin revealed that complete keratinization had occurred but that none of the other abnormal features had been reversed.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

The ESR signals in silk fibroin and wool keratin under both the effect of UV-irradiation and without any external effects and the formation of free radicals.

ESR studies have been done on natural and UV-irradiated silk fibroins and wool keratins at the temperature range of -196 degrees C to 20 C. The intensities of ESR signals obtained from the irradiated samples at -196 C remarkably increase with respect to those of natural samples. While the signals mainly consist of triplet peaks at -196 C. a doublet arises around the room temperatures. For the first time, at room temperature without any external effect the complicated ESR spectra of fibrous proteins (wool keratin and silk fibroin) whose components are as follows have been observed: (1) (for white wool keratin) a central doublet with deltaHm = 1.1 mT and g = 2.0075; deltaHm = 5mT and g = 2.1911; (2) a wide peak with deltaHm approximately 66 mT and g approximately 2.1575; (3) the 'sulfur' peak given in the literature with deltaHm = 2.2 mT and g = 2.0218; (4) the signal with deltaHm = 0.6 mT and g = 2.0065, and for silk fibroin, (a) a very wide signal with deltaHm approximately 70 mT and g approximately 2.084; (b) a very sharp signal with deltaHm approximately 1.1 mT and g approximately 2.01; and (c) relatively narrower signal with deltaHm approximately 5 mT and g approximately 2.336. It has been shown by recombination kinetic method that 30-50% of the free radicals formed by UV-irradiation do not undergo recombination up to 220 degrees C and 15 degrees C for silk libroin and wool keratin, respectively, even they keep their concentration constant for long period of time (weeks, months, even longer). In this article, considering above-mentioned results, the mechanism of signals observed in natural wool keratin and silk fibroin without any external effects is examined. We can briefly explain the role of the subject of the article, by considering fibrous proteins and some applications of the reactions by free radical occurring in these proteins tinder the effects of different factors in medicine and biology and the important role of oxidation and the other kinds of degradations on these processes. as well as the significant applications of ESR investigations on comprehending the processes by free radical.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Increased control of the sheep biting louse Bovicola (Damalinia) ovis with deltamethrin formulated in a fractionated wool grease carrier.

The synthetic pyrethroid deltamethrin (DM) containing a trace of [(14)C]-DM was formulated with non-oxidised sterol and wax ester fractions (F1) of wool grease and as the commercial preparation 'Clout-S'. These were applied as a 'backline' strip to sheep immediately after shearing and the concentration of [(14)C]-DM at meridians adjacent to the application strip and at 1/4 and 3/4 of the dorsal-ventral distance was determined. The F1 formulation resulted in significantly greater lateral spread of DM with less remaining at the application site (66+/-8% of dose) 98 days after treatment compared to 'Clout-S' (94+/-3% dose). Autoradiographic examination of treated wool demonstrated that there was more DM in the lower half of the wool staple when formulated in F1 compared to 'Clout-S'. Greater mortality occurred when sheep biting lice Bovicola (Damalinia) ovis were exposed in vitro to wool containing DM from F1 compared to 'Clout-S' treated sheep. In field trials there was increased efficacy against synthetic pyrethroid resistant B. ovis with F1 formulation than with 'Clout-S'. The study has demonstrated that synthetic pyrethroid availability, and therefore efficacy, can be significantly increased when the insecticide is formulated in a 'carrier' with the physicochemical characteristics of wool grease.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Occupational rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma in a wool worker caused by Dermestidae spp.

BACKGROUND: The family Dermestidae belongs to the order Coleoptera. Occupational allergy has been described in museum personnel. A 31-year-old male wool worker presenting rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma episodes probably linked to exposure to Dermestidae-infected wool was investigated. METHODS: Extracts prepared either from insect bodies or from dust from parasitized wool were used for skin prick testing (SPT), conjunctival and bronchial provocation tests and in vitro determinations. RESULTS: SPT and provocation tests were positive to both extracts. PEFR measurement demonstrated the association between the patient's symptoms and occupational exposure to Dermestidae. Specific IgE to both extracts was detected and immunoblotting revealed several protein bands from 5 to 200 kDa that were reactive to IgE from the patient's serum. CONCLUSIONS: Dermestidae exposure in wool workers when handling parasitized wool can be a cause of IgE-mediated rhinoconjunctivitis and asthma.

Adult↗