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PubMed1999

Single nucleotide variation in rDNA ITS-2 differentiates Psoroptes isolates from sheep and rabbits from the same geographical area.

Psoroptic sheep scab and psoroptic otoacariasis of domestic rabbits occur in the same geographical regions of Switzerland. To address the question as to whether Psoroptes mites are naturally transmitted between sheep and rabbits, we determined the sequences of the rDNA second internal transcribed spacer (ITS-2) from psoroptic mites from sheep (5 field isolates from Switzerland and 2 laboratory isolates from Ireland and the UK) and from rabbits (8 field isolates from Switzerland). The ITS-2 sequences for all Psoroptes mites originating from sheep were identical and differed at 1 nucleotide position from all the sequences of the rabbit-derived isolates. A statistically significant difference between a rabbit-derived isolate and isolates originating from sheep was also obtained by morphometric analysis of the lengths of the outer opisthosomal setae. For comparative purposes, the ITS-2 sequences from Chorioptes and Sarcoptes collected in Switzerland were also determined. No intraspecies variation was found in 6 sarcoptic isolates from red foxes, with a sequence identity of 41% as compared to Psoroptes. The ITS-2 sequences of 3 chorioptic isolates differed by 24-29% from the Psoroptes sequence. Identical sequences were found for the Chorioptes isolates from sheep and a camel, which differed by 18% from the sequence of an isolate from a cow. These genetic data of psoroptic mites originating from sheep and rabbits from the same geographical area suggest the existence of epidemiologically separated populations.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Variations in antigen-antibody association kinetics as a function of pH and salt concentration: a QSAR and molecular modeling study.

The relationship between three environmental factors (ionic strength, pH, and temperature) and antigen-antibody binding kinetics was investigated using QSAR (quantitative structure-activity relationship) and molecular modeling approaches. The interaction used for this analysis is that between the camel antibody fragment cAbLys3 and lysozyme. Binding kinetics were measured using a Biacore 2000 instrument, at NaCl concentrations between 50 and 500 mM, at pH's between 5 and 10, and at temperatures between 15 and 30 degrees C, according to multivariate experimental designs. Variations in kinetic on- and off-rate parameters were up to 400- and 16-fold, respectively. Mathematical models that relate log k(on) to experimental conditions were developed. They indicated an influence of all three factors, with a clear dependency between pH and NaCl concentration for their effect on k(on). These models were able to predict on-rate parameters under new experimental conditions. Titration calculations using continuum electrostatics were performed on the crystallographic structures of the isolated and bound proteins to gain structural insight for the on-rate enhancement observed at pH <6.5 and low salt concentrations. These calculations rule out electrostatic steering linked to global and/or local charge variations in the molecules as the factor responsible for the on-rate enhancement at low pH. His 111 of cAbLys3, located at the binding interface, can adopt two side chain orientations with different intramolecular contacts. The results of the calculations suggest an alternative mechanism whereby the conformation of the interfacial His 111 depends on the charge, and these differences in conformation may influence the solvation energy and the subsequent binding kinetics. Our results stress the complex relationship between environmental conditions and molecular binding properties.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Exocellular enzyme activity of dermatophytes and other fungi isolated from ruminants in Southern Iraq.

Sixteen fungal species were isolated from 182 specimens collected from four ruminants (buffalo, camel, cattle and sheep) in Southern Iraq. Fungi represented by five species of dermatophytes and eleven species of other fungi were screened for the activity of four enzymes: keratinase. proteinase, lipase and amylase. Keratinase was found to be produced by all of the dermatophytes and non-dermatophytes, except for Paecillomyces variottii and Scytalidium lignicola. However, high keratinase activity was expressed by the dermatophytic species particularly by Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. erinacei and Microsporum gypseum. Three dermatophytes viz. M. gypseum, T verrucosum and T. mentagrophytes var. nodulare were capable of producing protease, lipase and amylase. Although, T. mentagrophytes var. erinacei showed high protease activity, it did not produce lipase and amylase. On the contrary most of the non-dermatophytic species revealed protease and lipase activities higher than the dermatophytes. The Curvularia spp. isolates showed the highest protease and amylase activity, while Aspergillus parasiticus revealed the highest activity of lipase andamylase. No correlation was observed between enzyme activity and the growth rate of the examined fungi.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Disfluencies signal theee, um, new information.

Speakers are often disfluent, for example, saying "theee uh candle" instead of "the candle." Production data show that disfluencies occur more often during references to things that are discourse-new, rather than given. An eyetracking experiment shows that this correlation between disfluency and discourse status affects speech comprehensions. Subjects viewed scenes containing four objects, including two cohort competitors (e.g., camel, candle), and followed spoken instructions to move the objects. The first instruction established one cohort as discourse-given; the other was discourse-new. The second instruction was either fluent or disfluent, and referred to either the given or new cohort. Fluent instructions led to more initial fixations on the given cohort object (replicating Dahan et al., 2002). By contrast, disfluent instructions resulted in more fixations on the new cohort. This shows that discourse-new information can be accessible under some circumstances. More generally, it suggests that disfluency affects core language comprehension processes.

Humans↗
PubMed2003

Biodiversity of domestic livestock in the Republic of Yemen.

This paper describes the domestic livestock of the Republic of Yemen and aspires to complement earlier sources listing or partially describing 'breeds'. It attempts to cover all species and provide indications of production parameters through a literature review and via field observations made by the author in 1999. Information is provided on livestock numbers and the economic importance of animal production. Most animals are kept in sedentary mixed crop-livestock production systems; transhumant systems have the next greatest number of stock; with nomadic systems being of least and declining importance. Yemen's livestock appear to comprise at least 11 breeds of sheep, 5 breeds of goat, 2 breeds of cattle, 4 breeds of camel, 2 breeds of donkey and 1 breed of horse. There are no data on breeds of poultry but domestic fowl (where clearly considerable diversity exists) and pigeons are kept. There is little formal information on the history and relationships of most breeds. Some appear to be of ancient local origin, whereas others show affinities with those of neighbouring and other countries. None of the identified types is considered endangered, so conservation would be premature. A more formal and detailed genetic characterization, to add to the largely morphological and traditional classification, may, however, reveal such a need.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2004

T7 RNA polymerase-directed expression of an antibody fragment transgene in plastids causes a semi-lethal pale-green seedling phenotype.

A T7 promoter-controlled transgene, AbL, encoding a camel single-domain antibody fragment that binds to the model antigen chicken egg-white lysozyme was introduced into the plastid genome of tobacco. AbL expression was activated in the transplastomic line by introducing a nuclear transgene, ST7, encoding a light-regulated plastid-targeted T7RNAP by cross-pollination. The resulting AbL x ST7 progeny seedlings developed a pale-green phenotype and ceased growth soon after germination. High levels of AbL transcripts accumulated in AbL x ST7 seedlings and expression of functional AbL antibody was detected by ELISA. Transplastomic AbL plants were also crossed with nuclear-transformed tobacco plants containing a salicylic acid-inducible transgene encoding a plastid-targeted T7RNAP (PR-T7 transgene). The resulting AbL x PR-T7 progeny were wild-type in appearance but were slow growing and prone to wilting even when provided with adequate water. Although AbL transcription was inducible by treating AbL x PR-T7 leaves with salicylic acid, high levels of T7RNAP-dependent AbL transcripts also accumulated in the absence of induction. However, AbL antibody did not accumulate at levels detectable by immunoblotting or ELISA in AbL x PR-T7 plants despite the fact that total leaf RNA containing AbL transcripts was capable of directing AbL antibody synthesis in an E. coli-derived in vitro translation system.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Superovulatory response and embryo recovery after treatment with different gonadotrophins during induced luteal phase in Camelus dromedarius.

Superovulation, embryo recovery and transfer were attempted in 19 dromedary camels of about 6-10 years of age, and having calved at least once. Superovulation was done using two commercially available porcine FSH preparations, FSH-I (II donors) and FSH-2 (8 donors) during a luteal phase created by inducing ovulation with hCG. The superovulatory response was assessed by ultrasonography. The embryo recovery was attempted non-surgically in sitting position on day 8 and day 7 after first mating in one FSH-1 and one FSH-2 group, respectively. Considerable individual variation in response to the superovulatory stimulus was observed. No significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of superovulatory response and embryo recovery (p > 0.05). In total 30 embryos were recovered from 17 donors (1.51 embryos/donor). Recipients were synchronized with donors using hCG. Eight embryos were transferred, resulting in two pregnancies and live births.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Impact assessment of a community-based animal health project in Dollo Ado and Dollo Bay districts, southern Ethiopia.

Participatory methods were used to assess the impact of a community-based animal health worker (CAHW) project in two remote pastoralist districts of Ethiopia. The CAHW project had been operating for 3 years at the time of the assessment. Participatory methods were standardized and repeated with 10 groups of informants in the project area. The assessment showed significant reductions in disease impact for diseases handled by CAHWs compared with diseases not handled by CAHWs. In camels, there was significant reduction (p < 0.001) in the impact of mange, trypanosomosis, helminthosis, anthrax and non-specific respiratory disease. In cattle there was a signficant reduction (p < 0.001) in the impact of blackleg, anthrax and helminthosis. In sheep and goats there was a sign reduction (p < 0.001) in the impact of mange, helminthosis, contagious caprine pleuropneumonia, orf and non-specific diarrhoea. In order of importance, these reductions in disease impact were attributed to (1) increased use of modern veterinary services provided by CAHWs, (2) vaccination campaigns involving CAHWs, (3) good rainfall and availability of grazing and (4) decreased herd mobility. Decreased herd mobility was also associated with negative impact of tick infestation. Community-based animal health workers were considered to be highly accessible, available, affordable and trustworthy relative to other service providers. They were also perceived to be suppliers of a good quality service. Specific types of positive impact attributed to CAHW activities were increases in milk, meat, income and draught power.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2002

Serum retinol of Chadian nomadic pastoralist women in relation to their livestocks' milk retinol and beta-carotene content.

Human serum retinol and livestock milk retinol levels were assessed as part of a study on the health status of Chadian nomadic pastoralists and their livestock in close partnership between Chadian public health and livestock institutions. Of the examined women (n = 99), 43% were moderately retinol-deficient (0.35 mol/L < x < 0.7 mol/L 95% CI; 33-54%), and 17% severely retinol-deficient (< 0.35 mol/L 95% CI; 10-26%). None of the interviewed women (n = 87) reported the consumption of fruit, and only two of fresh vegetables were reported consumed in the past 24 hours. Milk is the almost exclusive source of vitamin A for these populations. Goats (n = 6) had the highest average milk retinol level (329 +/- 84 micrograms/kg [mean +/- SEM]), followed by cattle (n = 25; 247 +/- 32 micrograms/kg), and camels (n = 12; 120 +/- 18 micrograms/kg). Milk retinol levels did not differ between the rainy and dry seasons. Human serum retinol depends significantly on livestock milk retinol levels (partial slope 0.23; 95% CI: 0.008-0.47). Our study supports the use of goat and cow milk as an important source of vitamin A in pastoral nomadic settings. However, the levels still require to be complemented further by promoting green leafy vegetables, fruits, and supplements.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

A historical analysis of tobacco marketing and the uptake of smoking by youth in the United States: 1890-1977.

This article presents evidence for sex-specific temporal associations between major cigarette marketing campaigns and increases in youth smoking initiation using national survey data for 1910-1977 (N = 165,876). Considerable smoking initiation occurred in males under 18 and born before 1890 when marketing focused only on males. Initiation in male youth increased greatly during 1910-1919; in 1912, R.J. Reynolds launched its unprecedented campaign for Camel brand. Initiation in female youth began in the mid-1920s, coincident with the Chesterfield and Lucky Strike women's marketing campaigns. In the late 1960s, smoking uptake among young females again increased rapidly, coincident with large-scale marketing of women's brands. Male initiation did not increase with these campaigns. Thus, in each instance, major marketing impact occurred in youth smoking initiation only in the sex group targeted.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1986

Latent aggression-promoting properties of mouse bladder urine activated by heat.

The aggression-promoting property of bladder urine in adult male mice was investigated. Under a newly developed stimulus application procedure (i.e., camel hairbrush applicator). Experiment 1 determined the minimal volume at which bladder and voided urine educed agonistic behavior in agressors. It was found that at least 0.05 ml of bladder urine and 0.03 ml of voided urine, both from intact males, were needed to induce significantly more attacks and uro-anal sniffs than respective urine types from castrated males. Also, bladder urine educed significantly less agonistic behavior than voided urine, both from intact males. Hence, the presence of a weak bladder urine chemosignal was confirmed. From these and previous findings, it was hypothesized that the chemocommunicative property of the weak bladder urine chemosignal could be accentuated by releasing the prochemosignal(s). Using 0.03 ml as the urine volume in Experiment 2, it was shown that heating bladder urine at 37 degrees C educed significantly more agonistic behavior than freezing bladder urine. The heating of bladder urine, however, effected significantly fewer attacks than the freezing of voided urine. It was concluded that bladder urine contains a latent and a free chemosignal, both of which are weak relative to voided urine chemosignal activity.

Aggression↗
PubMed1993

Origin of underwater hearing in whales.

All described fossil and Recent cetaceans have relatively similar ear bones (malleus, incus and stapes) that strongly diverge from those of land mammals. Here we report that the hearing organ of the oldest whale, Pakicetus, is the only known intermediate between that of land mammals and aquatic cetaceans (whales, dolphins and porpoises). The incus of Pakicetus is intermediate with respect to inflation, crural proportions, and position of the mallear joint. The incus and mandible of Pakicetus indicate that the path of soundwaves to its ear resembled that of land mammals. These fossils suggest that the first whale was amphibious, and corroborate the hypothesis that artiodactyls (for example, pigs, camels and ruminants) are the closest extant relatives of cetaceans.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Reconstructing the evolutionary history of the artiodactyl ribonuclease superfamily.

The sequences of proteins from ancient organisms can be reconstructed from the sequences of their descendants by a procedure that assumes that the descendant proteins arose from the extinct ancestor by the smallest number of independent evolutionary events ('parsimony'). The reconstructed sequences can then be prepared in the laboratory and studied. Thirteen ancient ribonucleases (RNases) have been reconstructed as intermediates in the evolution of the RNase protein family in artiodactyls (the mammal order that includes pig, camel, deer, sheep and ox). The properties of the reconstructed proteins suggest that parsimony yields plausible ancient sequences. Going back in time, a significant change in behaviour, namely a fivefold increase in catalytic activity against double-stranded RNA, appears in the RNase reconstructed for the founding ancestor of the artiodactyl lineage, which lived about 40 million years ago. This corresponds to the period when ruminant digestion arose in the artiodactyls, suggests that contemporary artiodactyl digestive RNases arose from a non-digestive ancestor, and illustrates how evolutionary reconstructions can help in the understanding of physiological function within a protein family.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2002

Immunomodulation of enzyme function in plants by single-domain antibody fragments.

Immunomodulation involves the use of antibodies to alter the function of molecules and is an emerging tool for manipulating both plant and animal systems. To realize the full potential of this technology, two major obstacles must be overcome. First, most antibodies do not function well intracellularly because critical disulfide bonds cannot form in the reducing environment of the cytoplasm or because of difficulties in targeting to subcellular organelles. Second, few antibodies bind to the active sites of enzymes and thus they generally do not neutralize enzyme function. Here we show that the unique properties of single-domain antibodies from camelids (camels and llamas) can circumvent both these obstacles. We demonstrate that these antibodies can be correctly targeted to subcellular organelles and inhibit enzyme function in plants more efficiently than antisense approaches. The use of these single-domain antibody fragments may greatly facilitate the successful immunomodulation of metabolic pathways in many organisms.

1,4-alpha-Glucan Branching Enzyme↗
PubMed2007

Production and characterization of anti-(mucin MUC1) single-domain antibody in tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cultivar Xanthi).

Members of the Camelidae (camels, dromedaries, llamas, alpacas, guanacos and vicunas) are known to produce Igs (immunoglobulins) devoid of light chains and CH1s (constant heavy-chain domains). The antigen-specific binding fragments of these heavy-chain antibodies therefore comprise one single domain (the so-called 'VHH') and are of great importance in biotechnological applications. To evaluate the expression and biological activity of sdAbs (single-domain antibodies) in plants, which, on account of their small size and antigen-recognition properties, would have a major impact on antibody-engineering strategies, we constructed a pBI121-VHH gene encoding the recombinant sdAb fragments with specificity for a cancer-associated mucin, MUC1. Analysis of transgenic tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum cultivar Xanthi) plants by PCR and Western blotting demonstrated the expression of sdAb, while ELISA results with various MUC1 antigens and immunocytochemistry with cancerous cell lines confirmed that the activity of these molecules compared favourably with that of the parent recombinant antibodies. Protein purification was achieved by using sequential (NH4)2SO4 precipitation, gel filtration and immunoaffinity chromatography. Analysis of the purified VHH by ELISA indicated that the purified antibody fragments were able to react successfully with a MUC1-related peptide. These results reaffirm that the tobacco plant is a suitable host for the production of correctly folded VHH antibody fragments with diagnostic and therapeutic applications.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Prepositional marking of source-goal structure and children's comprehension of English passives.

Maratsos and Abramovitch (1975) argued that the presence of a preposition is the major cue for the passive interpretation of sentences by children. Experiment 1 of the present study demonstrates that the semantics of the preposition are more important than the syntactic form-class: In an otherwise passive frame (the giraffe is tickled ... the camel), from elicits as many passive interpretations from preschoolers as the usual by, whereas to elicits primarily active interpretations. The results of Experiment 2 with younger children show that from actually may be a stronger elicitor of the passive interpretation than by. This linkage between the semantics of the preposition and the syntax of the sentence is interpretable in the perspective of the similarity between source-goal and agent-patient structures, as explicated by case grammar.

Child↗
PubMed1999

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of IgG1 antibodies specific to human cystic echinococcosis in Egypt.

Human cystic hydatidosis (cystic echinococcosis) is a chronic zoonotic disease that results from infection with the dog tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. In Egypt, cystic echinococcosis (CE) is recognized in slaughtered livestock by veterinarians, however, there is little information about human CE infection rates. We describe an immunological assay useful for the diagnosis of human cystic hydatidosis. Sera were collected from surgically confirmed hydatid cases (34), nonendemic subjects free from parasitic infection (20) and from subjects (109) infected with other helminths (Hymenolepis nana, Schistosoma mansoni, Fasciola hepatica and Ancylostoma duodenale). Hydatid cyst fluid (HCF) of camel origin was used as antigen in an ELISA format to measure total E. granulosus specific IgG antibodies and IgG subclasses. Sensitivity measurements of total IgG, and IgG1-4 were 100, 100, 79.4, 61.8 and 55.9%, respectively, whereas respective specificity reached 65.1, 97.7, 98.4, 96.1 and 83. 7%. The diagnostic value of measuring IgG1 (97.7%), as assessed by a rating index (J) for combined sensitivity and specificity, was superior to total IgG (65.1%) and IgG2-4 (77.8, 57.9 and 39.6%, respectively). These findings set the stage for field evaluation of the IgG1 assay in areas endemic with human cystic hydatidosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Re-evaluation of intramolecular long-range electron transfer between tyrosine and tryptophan in lysozymes. Evidence for the participation of other residues.

One-electron oxidation of six different c-type lysozymes from hen egg white, turkey egg white, human milk, horse milk, camel stomach and tortoise was studied by gamma- and pulse-radiolysis. In the first step, one tryptophan side chain is oxidized to indolyl free radical, which is produced quantitatively. As shown already, the indolyl radical subsequently oxidizes a tyrosine side chain to the phenoxy radical in an intramolecular reaction. However this reaction is not total and its stoichiometry depends on the protein. Rate constants also vary between proteins, from 120 x s(-1) to 1000 x s(-1) at pH 7.0 and room temperature [extremes are hen and turkey egg white (120 x s(-1)) and human milk (1000 x s(-1))]. In hen and turkey egg white lysozymes we show that another reactive site is the Asn103-Gly104 peptidic bond, which gets broken radiolytically. Tryptic digestion followed by HPLC separation and identification of the peptides was performed for nonirradiated and irradiated hen lysozyme. Fluorescence spectra of the peptides indicate that Trp108 and/or 111 remain oxidized and that Tyr20 and 53 give bityrosine. Tyr23 appears not to be involved in the process. Thus new features of long-range intramolecular electron transfer in proteins appear: it is only partial and other groups are involved which are silent in pulse radiolysis.

Animals↗