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PubMed2001

[Bt gene flow of transgeic cotton].

This study was carried out to determine the gene flow of transgenic cotton under Chinese ecological environment. Transgenic cotton GK-12 containing the marker gene NPTII and Bt gene was planted in the 6 x 6 m2 plot, non-transgenic cotton CCRC 12 and Xinmian 13 were planted respectively around them. At varying distances from transgenic cotton, seeds produced by the non-transgenic cotton were collected and screened for marker gene and Bt gene using kanamycine sulphate and Dot-ELISA method. PCR technique was also used in some seeds to screen Bt gene. The result indicated that gene flow was found to be high at 0-6 m, and to decrease with distances; however gene flow occurred up to distance of 36 m from the transgenic cotton plot. Bt gene flow at 3-6 m increased with increasing the diversity of transgenic cotton in the plot, but gene flow increased little at long distance. The gene flow between species was lower than between cultivars at 0-6 m, and occurred at the distance of 72 m from transgenic plot. 72 m buffer zones would serve to limit gene flow of transgenic cotton from small-scale field test. The possibility of escapes of engineered gene to wild relatives of cotton species was also discussed.

Genes, Plant↗

PubMed1965

HYDROLYSIS OF FIBROUS COTTON AND REPRECIPITATED CELLULOSE BY CELLULOLYTIC ENZYMES FROM SOIL MICRO-ORGANISMS.

1. The action of cell-free filtrates from Trichoderma koningii was examined on undegraded cellulose in the form of cotton fibres, on degraded cellulose in the form of cellulose powder reprecipitated from phosphoric acid and on the soluble cellulose derivative CM-cellulose. 2. The cell-free filtrates compare favourably with intact cellulolytic micro-organisms in producing complete solubilization of undegraded as well as of degraded types of cellulose. Enzymic solubilization of cotton fibres gives quantitative conversion into glucose. Cellobiase is present. 3. The early enzymic breakdown of cotton fibres is characterized by the formation of very short fibres that increase to a maximum and disappear gradually by conversion into glucose. Disintegration of cotton fibres to short fibres is assisted by shaking, and within 20hr. the enzyme converts a minor fraction (up to 16%) of substrate into soluble products and a major portion (80%) into insoluble short fibres. 4. Maximum enzymic activity on cotton fibres occurs at about pH5.0, measured by the formation of short fibres, and at about pH3.8 on reprecipitated cellulose, measured by solubilization of the substrate. 5. Gluconolactone, glucose and cellobiose fail to produce marked inhibition of the enzymic hydrolysis of cotton fibres to short fibres or of the solubilization of reprecipitated cellulose unless present in amounts comparable with or greater than the initial weight of these two forms of cellulose. 6. The heavy-metal ions Cu(2+), Hg(2+) and Fe(3+) at 2mm concentration give 80-100% decrease in the enzymic breakdown of cotton fibres, measured by the formation of short fibres. At the same concentration Hg(2+) and Fe(3+) but not Cu(2+) also produce 70-100% inhibition of the solubilization of reprecipitated cellulose. 7. The ability to hydrolyse cotton fibres to short fibres and CM-cellulose to sugars is completely lost after heating enzyme preparations for 10min. at 71 degrees .

Cellulose↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Bactericidal treatment of raw cotton as the method of byssinosis prevention.

In early studies, research to control byssinosis focused on methods to reduce the trash in the textile mill environment. Dust control has been effective in reducing the prevalence of byssinosis, but simple reduction in dust levels does not always assure its prevention. Also, bacteria and fungi present in cotton do not in themselves cause byssinosis, but the endotoxins-heat-stable lipopolysaccharide-protein complexes contained in the cell wall of Gram-negative bacteria-are responsible for the development of this respiratory disease of workers on cotton, flax, and some other fibers. Experimental work was carried out in cotton fields in different cotton growing countries. Opened cotton capsules were treated by spraying them with bactericidal water solutions of benzododecinium bromide to avoid the growth of bacteria by bacteriostatic effect during transportation and storage and thus to prevent the formation of endotoxins. To simulate transport conditions, treated and nontreated cotton samples were incubated under high air humidity. The endotoxin contents were determined by Limulus amebocyte lysate assay depending on the duration of incubation. In nontreated samples the endotoxin content grew to over 5,000 ng/mg. In comparison, in treated samples the endotoxin content grew extremely slowly. Thus, the bactericidal treating of raw cotton showed high efficiency as a potential method of byssinosis prevention. The irradiation by gamma-rays is also efficient, but it is not realistic in cotton growing areas of developing countries at the present time.

Benzalkonium Compounds↗

PubMed2006

Modeling, estimation and validation of cotton dust and endotoxin exposures in Chinese textile operations.

In support of an epidemiological study of cancer incidence among cotton textile workers in Shanghai, PRC, historical estimates of exposure to cotton dust and endotoxin were developed for subjects drawn from a cohort of 267,400 female textile workers. A large dataset of historical cotton dust measurements were available from 56 of the study factories. Using these data, a series of models were developed to estimate cotton dust exposure by year, factory and process. Model estimates were validated by comparing with independently collected measurements gathered over a 15 year period and indicated a low relative bias (< 2%) and relative accuracy (+/- 61%). Endotoxin exposures were estimated using the endotoxin content of cotton dust by major processes obtained in five separate surveys in these factories. The validated exposures were assigned to the 7,242 jobs held by the 3,812 study subjects. Among the exposed workers, the mean cumulative exposure levels were 113.8 mg m(-3)*years for cotton dust and 6,707.7 EU m(-3)*years for endotoxin, respectively. The overall correlation among cotton dust and endotoxin exposures for these subjects was r = 0.58. Using an unusually rich set of historical cotton dust measurements, along with independently collected exposure measurements for validation and conversion to endotoxin levels, validated estimates of cumulative exposure were constructed for this large case-cohort study in the textile industry.

China↗

PubMed2000

Effect of kinetin concentration and methods of application on seed germination, yield components, yield and fiber properties of the Egyptian cotton (Gossypium barbadense).

Two field experiments in 1993 and 1994 as well as a laboratory germination experiment were conducted on the Egyptian cotton cultivar Giza 75 (Gossypium barbadense) to determine the effect of six concentrations of kinetin (6-furfurylaminopurine) ranging from 0 to 10.0 mg l(-1) and three different methods of application: (A) seeds were soaked for 24 h before germination (laboratory experiment) or sowing (field experiment) in solutions of different kinetin concentration, (B) cotton plants were sprayed twice with different kinetin concentrations at 60 and 75 days after sowing (DAS) during the square initiation and the beginning of bolling stages, at volume solution of 480 l ha(-1). (C) Seeds were soaked in kinetin solutions before sowing as method A. In addition cotton plants were sprayed twice as method B with the same kinetin concentrations. Kinetin application improved seed viability and seedling vigour as shown by lengths of the hypocotyl, radicle and the entire seedling, as well as seedling fresh weight. Moreover, significant increases were recorded in the number of open bolls/plant, boll weight, lint and seed indices, seed cotton yield/plant, and seed cotton and lint yields/plot. The highest means were obtained at 5 mg kinetin l(-1) concentration and under method C of application. Treatments generally, had no significant effects on lint percentage, yield earliness and fiber properties. These results show that, the use of kinetin at 5 mg l(-1) for pre-soaking seeds before planting and spraying cotton plants at 60 and 75 DAS with the same concentration could improve cotton germination, seed cotton and lint yields.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2006

Foliar washoff potential and simulated surface runoff losses of trifloxysulfuron in cotton.

The surface runoff potential of trifloxysulfuron {N-[(4,6-dimethoxy-2-pyrimidinyl)carbamoyl]-3-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoy)-pyridin-2-sulfonamide sodium salt} in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) production systems has not been evaluated. The objectives of this study were to (i) determine sorption/desorption coefficients for trifloxysulfuron; (ii) quantify foliar washoff of trifloxysulfuron when applied to cotton at the five-leaf stage; and (iii) determine the surface runoff potential of trifloxysulfuron when applied to cotton at the five-leaf stage and to bare soil. Freundlich sorption and desorption coefficients were 1.15 and 1.22, respectively. Sorption data indicated that trifloxysulfuron was moderately sorbed to soil and that it will be transported primarily in the dissolved phase of surface runoff. Foliar washoff studies revealed that approximately 91% of trifloxysulfuron applied to cotton at the five-leaf stage was available for washoff 72 h after application. Simulated rainfall (7.5 cm h-1) applied 1 day after herbicide application (7.9 g ha-1) resulted in average concentrations of trifloxysulfuron in surface runoff water of 0.8 microg L-1 for bare plots and 1.3 microg L-1 for cotton plots. Cumulative trifloxysulfuron losses in surface runoff from bare plots and cotton plots were 0.13 and 0.21 g ha-1, respectively. These values correspond to fractional losses of 1.7% for bare plots and 2.7% for cotton plots. Greater runoff losses of trifloxysulfuron from cotton plots were attributed to foliar washoff. Trifloxysulfuron runoff losses may be curtailed if the herbicide is applied early postemergence when canopy coverage is minimal, thereby reducing the potential for foliar washoff.

Adsorption↗

PubMed2003

Effects of drought stressed cotton, Gossypium hirsutum L., on beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), oviposition, and larval feeding preferences and growth.

The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua (Hübner), has been anecdotally reported to oviposit more on drought stressed than on nonstressed cotton plants. Using potted cotton plants in cages, this study demonstrated that beet armyworms deposited 3.3, 4.6, and 2.3 times more (P < or = 0.05) eggs on cotton plants that were grown on 1500, 1000, and 750 ml water/wk, respectively, than on cotton plants grown in well watered (4000 ml water/wk) soil. Third instars, however, showed no preference for stressed cotton foliage over nonstressed foliage. Third instar beet armyworms raised on well watered cotton plants were 1.5, 2.3, and 2.6 times heavier than those reared on cotton grown in the 1500, 1000, and 750 ml water/wk plants (P < or = 0.05), respectively. Physiochemical analyses showed that drought stressed leaves had significantly greater accumulations of free amino acids that are essential for insect growth and development. Soluble protein and soluble carbohydrates were also more abundant in stressed leaves compared to nonstressed leaves. Despite the apparent increase in nutritional quality in drought stressed plants, larval survival was reduced, probably because the limiting factor became water. Greater amounts of cotton leaf area were consumed from drought stressed leaves (P < or = 0.05) than from nonstressed leaves, probably because the larvae had to metabolize greater portions of assimilated energy to supplement body water with metabolic water derived from respiration. The association of greater host plant nutritional quality to oviposition preference, and conversely, to reduced survivorship, is discussed.

Amino Acids↗

PubMed1979

Botanically what is raw cotton dust?

The objective of this study was to determine the specific botanical ingredients present in respirable raw cotton dust. Significant differences in content of gross leaflike (bractcontaining) trash were found between several grade divisions of raw cottons. For example, higher grades of raw cotton (strict low middling = SLM) contained less leaflike trash than lower grade cottons (low middling = LM). The potential for production of fine particulate from botanical trash materials plus lint and linters was determined in the laboratory by an abrasive milling test. Bract and wood fragments were the most friable of all plant materials found in raw cottons whereas seed meat, lint, linters and seed coat were the least friable. Respirable (10 less than 10 micrometers) raw cotton dusts associated with the processing of middling, SLM and LM raw cottons were predicted to contain the following % weight composition of specific vegetable ingredients: leaflike = 70--72%, stem = 13--18%, bark = 3--8%, exocarp-mesocarp = 3.6%, endocarp = 1--2% and seed = 0.5--2%. Bract is the most abundant component in respirable raw cotton dust.

Byssinosis↗

PubMed1992

Cotton rats and other small mammals as hosts for immature Dermacentor variabilis (Acari: Ixodidae) in central Oklahoma.

Eight species of small mammals were evaluated as potential hosts for American dog ticks, Dermacentor variabilis (Say), in an upland, tallgrass prairie study site in central Oklahoma. Only hispid cotton rats, Sigmodon hispidus, and deer mice, Peromyscus maniculatus, were found to be important hosts for immature D. variabilis. Although D. varibilis larvae and nymphs frequently infested both cotton rats and deer mice, cotton rats were the most important host species for both immature stages in the study area. Cotton rats constituted 63.2% of the total 530 small mammals captured and were hosts to 85.2% of all larvae and 88.7% of all nymphs. Deer mice accounted for 19.8% of all small mammals captured and were hosts for 14.5% of the larvae and 10.8% of the nymphs recovered. The remaining small mammal species were hosts for less than 1% of the immature ticks collected. Larval infestations peaked during summer, whereas summer and spring peaks were noted for the nymphal infestations. The relative importance of cotton rats and deer mice as hosts for immature ticks could be largely, but not completely, explained by cotton rats being more than three times as abundant as deer mice. Attachment site data indicated that differences in grooming behavior also might be partially responsible for the larger infestations observed on cotton rats. Other possible ecological and behavioral explanations of the heavy infestations observed on cotton rats are discussed.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Control of plant trichome development by a cotton fiber MYB gene.

Cotton (Gossypium spp) plants produce seed trichomes (cotton fibers) that are an important commodity worldwide; however, genes controlling cotton fiber development have not been characterized. In Arabidopsis thaliana the MYB gene GLABRA1 (GL1) is a central regulator of trichome development. Here, we show that promoter of a cotton fiber gene, RD22-like1 (RDL1), contains a homeodomain binding L1 box and a MYB binding motif that confer trichome-specific expression in Arabidopsis. A cotton MYB protein GaMYB2/Fiber Factor 1 transactivated the RDL1 promoter both in yeast and in planta. Real-time PCR and in situ analysis showed that GaMYB2 is predominantly expressed early in developing cotton fibers. After transferring into Arabidopsis, GL1::GaMYB2 rescued trichome formation of a gl1 mutant, and interestingly, 35S::GaMYB2 induced seed-trichome production. We further demonstrate that the first intron of both GL1 and GaMYB2 plays a role in patterning trichomes: it acts as an enhancer in trichome and a repressor in nontrichome cells, generating a trichome-specific pattern of MYB gene expression. Disruption of a MYB motif conserved in intron 1 of GL1, WEREWOLF, and GaMYB2 genes affected trichome production. These results suggest that cotton and Arabidopsis use similar transcription factors for regulating trichomes and that GaMYB2 may be a key regulator of cotton fiber development.

Amino Acid Motifs↗

PubMed1988

Production of mannitol by fungi from cotton dust.

Cotton dust associated with high pulmonary function decrements contains relatively high levels of mannitol. In this study, cotton leaf and bract tissue and dust isolated from cotton leaf tissue were examined by optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and capillary gas chromatography. Alternaria alternata, Cladosporium herbarum, Epicoccum purpurascens, and Fusarium pallidoroseum were isolated from cotton leaf dust. The fungal samples, cotton dust, and cotton leaf contained mannitol. This study demonstrates that fungi from a late-fall harvest of cotton leaf material produce mannitol and are a probable source of the mannitol found in cotton dust.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1967

Experimental infection of the cotton rat Sigmodon hispidus with Rickettsia rickettsii.

Studies of experimental infection of the cotton rat, Sigmodon hispidus, with the virulent Sheila Smith (R type) and the avirulent Si 7 (U type) strains of Rickettsia rickettsii were undertaken to evaluate the role of this native wild mammal in the ecology of Rocky Mountain spotted fever. The Sheila Smith strain, which was highly lethal for guinea pigs, was nonpathogenic for cotton rats. Serial passage of the R-type strain in the cotton rat did not alter the virulence of the agent for cotton rats or guinea pigs. The U-type strain, which was originally recovered from a wild cotton rat, could not be maintained beyond the first passage in this animal host. Rickettsemia in the cotton rat occurred over a 24-hr period after inoculation of the virulent strain but was detected only 1 hr after inoculation of the avirulent strain. The short period of rickettsemia suggests that the cotton rat probably is not an important reservoir of R. rickettsii. Specific complement-fixing antibodies developed rapidly after infection with either strain, but the antibodies evoked by the R strain attained higher titers and persisted longer. Cotton rats previously infected with the Sheila Smith strain developed rickettsemia after reinfection with the same strain, even though relatively high levels of antibody were still present.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Lung function in Lancashire cotton and man made fibre spinning mill operatives.

OBJECTIVES: This survey was conducted to investigate current lung function levels in operatives working with cotton and man made fibres. Dust concentrations, smoking history, and occupational details were recorded so that factors influencing lung function could be identified. METHODS: A cross sectional study of respiratory symptoms and lung function was made in 1057 textile spinning operatives of white caucasian extraction. This represented 96.9% of the total available working population to be studied. Most (713) worked currently with cotton. The remainder worked with man made fibre. Lung function was assessed by measuring forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) and forced vital capacity (FVC). Exposure to cotton dust was measured in the work area and personal breathing zones, and retrospective exposure to cotton dust over a working life was estimated with accurate work history and best available hygiene data. RESULTS: 3.5% of all operatives had byssinosis, 55 (5.3%) chronic bronchitis, 36 (3.5%) work related persistent cough, 55 (5.3%) non-byssinotic work related chest tightness, and 56 (5.3%) work related wheeze. A total of 212 static work area dust samples (range 0.04-3.23 mg/m3) and 213 personal breathing zone samples (range 0.14-24.95 mg/m3) were collected. Percentage of predicted FEV1 was reduced in current smokers (mean 89.5, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 88-91) in comparison with non-smokers (93.1, 90.5-94.1) and FVC was reduced in operatives currently working with man made fibre (95.3, 93.8-96.9) in comparison with cotton (97.8, 96.6-99.0). Regression analysis identified smoking (P < 0.01), increasing age (P < 0.01), increasing time worked in the waste room (P < 0.01), and male sex (P < 0.05) as being associated with a lower FEV1 and FVC. Current and retrospective cotton dust exposures did not appear as predictor variables in the regression analysis although in a univariate analysis, FEV1 was reduced in those operatives exposed to high dust concentrations assessed by personal and work area sampling. DISCUSSION: This study has documented loss of lung function in association with exposure to cotton dust. Those operatives with work related symptoms had significantly lower FEV1 and FVC than asymptomatic workers. Although lung function seemed to be affected by high dust exposures when operatives were stratified into high and low exposure groups, regression analysis did not identify current dust concentrations as an independent factor influencing loss. Smoking habit was found to explain most of the measured change in FEV1 and FVC. It is likely that smoking and dust exposure interact to cause loss of lung function in cotton textile workers.

Adult↗

PubMed1991

Release of tumor necrosis factor in guinea pigs upon acute inhalation of cotton dust.

In guinea pigs, inhalation of cotton dust results in an acute pulmonary response with symptoms of increased breathing rate, cough, bronchoconstriction, and periods of apnea. These symptoms resemble those noted in individuals upon exposure to cotton and other organic dusts. A major contaminant of cotton dust is bacterial endotoxin. Because endotoxin, or lipopolysaccharide, is recognized to be a potent stimulator of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), it was postulated that TNF might be released in the lung following cotton dust exposure and associated with the pulmonary inflammatory response. Groups of guinea pigs were exposed to an atmosphere of 33 mg/m3 cotton dust for up to 6 h. At 3, 6, 7.5, and 24 h, lungs were isolated and lavaged to assess cell populations and production of TNF. Neutrophil infiltration was apparent by 3 h as was a marked increase in TNF in bronchial alveolar lavage fluid. Alveolar macrophages (AM) isolated at 3 h showed enhanced release of TNF upon in vitro culture when compared with those isolated at the other time points. AM were found to be primed to release TNF upon ex vivo stimulation with lipopolysaccharide. The greatest effect was noted with AM isolated 1.5 h after the 6-h cotton dust exposure. These results demonstrate the ability of cotton dust to cause release of TNF in the lung and suggest a role for TNF in the inflammatory response to cotton dust.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMed1996

Spontaneous cardiomyopathy and exophthalmos in cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus).

Exophthalmos and clinical signs of heart failure occurred sporadically in 3- to 12-month-old cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) in a colony originally derived from three male and four female littermates. Macroscopic lesions in severely affected animals included subcutaneous edema, hydrothorax, right ventricular dilatation, unilateral or bilateral atrial thrombosis, and exophthalmos. Hearts from 17 cotton rats that were found dead or were euthanatized because of exophthalmos or dyspnea and 33 control cotton rats were examined microscopically. Myocardial lesions were present in 46 of 46 cotton rats > or = 1 month of age and consisted of multifocal cardiac myocyte necrosis, mineralization, and mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltration. Cotton rats > 5 months of age also had foci of interstitial fibrosis and myocyte atrophy. Twelve of 24 (50%) necropsied cotton rats had chronic pulmonary congestion, and livers from eight of 24 (33%) had chronic periacinar congestion and atrophy. Thrombi were present in one or both cardiac atria in nine of 50 (18%) hearts, and in at least one orbital venous sinus in 14 of 24 (58%) necropsied cotton rats and in 12 of 14 (86%) with exophthalmos. Exophthalmos in this colony of cotton rats appears to have resulted predominantly from orbital venous sinus thrombosis caused by stasis of venous blood secondary to right heart failure associated with a heritable cardiomyopathy.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

CMD: a Cotton Microsatellite Database resource for Gossypium genomics.

BACKGROUND: The Cotton Microsatellite Database (CMD) http://www.cottonssr.org is a curated and integrated web-based relational database providing centralized access to publicly available cotton microsatellites, an invaluable resource for basic and applied research in cotton breeding. DESCRIPTION: At present CMD contains publication, sequence, primer, mapping and homology data for nine major cotton microsatellite projects, collectively representing 5,484 microsatellites. In addition, CMD displays data for three of the microsatellite projects that have been screened against a panel of core germplasm. The standardized panel consists of 12 diverse genotypes including genetic standards, mapping parents, BAC donors, subgenome representatives, unique breeding lines, exotic introgression sources, and contemporary Upland cottons with significant acreage. A suite of online microsatellite data mining tools are accessible at CMD. These include an SSR server which identifies microsatellites, primers, open reading frames, and GC-content of uploaded sequences; BLAST and FASTA servers providing sequence similarity searches against the existing cotton SSR sequences and primers, a CAP3 server to assemble EST sequences into longer transcripts prior to mining for SSRs, and CMap, a viewer for comparing cotton SSR maps. CONCLUSION: The collection of publicly available cotton SSR markers in a centralized, readily accessible and curated web-enabled database provides a more efficient utilization of microsatellite resources and will help accelerate basic and applied research in molecular breeding and genetic mapping in Gossypium spp.

Chromosome Mapping↗

PubMed1997

Microbial contamination of antiseptic-soaked cotton balls.

We investigated microbial contamination of in-use antiseptics at a hospital. No microbial contamination was observed in 70 samples of 0.02% benzalkonium chloride solution (500-ml volume), 70 samples of 1% titratable I2 povidone-iodine solution (250-ml volume), or 15 samples of 0.1% ethacridine lactate solution (500-ml volume) during use in reduced amounts. Nor was any microbial contamination observed in 70 samples of cotton balls soaked in 1% titratable I2 povidone-iodine solution in canisters or cotton gauze soaked in 70% (w/v) ethanol solution in canisters. However, among 70 samples of cotton balls soaked in 0.02% benzalkonium chloride solution in canisters, 6 (8.6%) were contaminated with 10(4) to 10(6) viable cells/ml. The microbial species detected were glucose non-fermentative bacilli such as Alcaligenes xylosoxidans and Pseudomonas putida. The contaminants obtained from cotton balls soaked in 0.02% benzalkonium chloride solution did not proliferate in that solution or in distilled water but showed rapid growth in the cotton balls soaked in either of these liquids. These findings suggested that benzalkonium chloride solution tends to become contaminated when cotton balls are immersed. Therefore, cotton balls soaked in benzalkonium chloride solution are not recommended as an antiseptic. When no other choice is available, the cotton balls should be soaked in benzalkonium chloride solution at the time of usage.

Alcaligenes↗

PubMed2002

Diversifying animal models: the use of hispid cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus) in infectious diseases.

The hispid cotton rat (Sigmodon hispidus) has been a longstanding laboratory animal model of infectious diseases. In this review, the most common usage of hispid cotton rats as models of infectious diseases is discussed in detail and all organisms, which have been shown to infect cotton rats, are listed. A state of the art overview is given on handling and maintenance of hispid cotton rats as well as experimental techniques such as narcosis and blood withdrawal. Most importantly, through the development of new reagents, the hispid cotton rat can be used to study immune responses against the respective pathogen. Hispid cotton rat cytokine and chemokine genes have been sequenced and cotton rat specific antibodies and cell lines have been produced which in connection with the establishment of immunological methods should facilitate the use of hispid cotton rats as animal models in the pathogenesis of infectious diseases.

Animal Husbandry↗