A5054185834- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- HIV Research and Treatment
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Monoclonal and Polyclonal Antibodies Research
- Environmental DNA in Biodiversity Studies
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Immune Cell Function and Interaction
- Herpesvirus Infections and Treatments
- Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptors
- Chromosomal and Genetic Variations
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Avian ecology and behavior
- Pancreatic function and diabetes
- HIV/AIDS drug development and treatment
- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Xenotransplantation and immune response
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Glycosylation and Glycoproteins Research
- Microbial Community Ecology and Physiology
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Cytomegalovirus and herpesvirus research
- Fatty Acid Research and Health
- Virus-based gene therapy research
Colby College
2024
University of Central Florida
2017-2024
Cornell University
2014-2017
Illinois State University
2008-2015
University College London
2008-2011
MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology
2010
Uppsala University Hospital
2003-2006
Uppsala University
2003-2005
ABSTRACT Members of the Camelidae family produce immunoglobulins devoid light chains. We have characterized variable domains these heavy chain antibodies, VHH, from llamas immunized with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope protein gp120 in order to identify VHH that can inhibit HIV-1 infection. To increase chances isolating neutralizing we employed a functional selection approach, involving panning phage libraries expressing repertoire on recombinant gp120, followed by...
Measures of body condition, immune function, and hematological health are widely used in ecological studies vertebrate populations, predicated on the assumption that these traits linked to fitness. However, compelling evidence actually predict long-term survival reproductive success among individuals wild is lacking. Here, we show condition (i.e., size-adjusted mass) cutaneous responsiveness phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) injection neonates positively recruitment subsequent longevity a wild,...
Abstract Identifying the composition of avian diets is a critical step in characterizing roles birds within ecosystems. However, because are diverse taxonomic group with equally dietary habits, gaining an accurate and thorough understanding diet can be difficult. In addition to overcoming inherent difficulties studying birds, field advancing rapidly, researchers challenged myriad methods study diet, task that has only become more difficult introduction laboratory techniques studies. Because...
Abstract Animals must balance various costs and benefits when deciding to breed. The of breeding at different times have received much attention, but most studies been limited investigating short‐term season‐to‐season fitness effects. However, early, versus late, in a season may influence lifetime over many years, trading off complex ways across the breeder’s lifespan. In this study, we examined complete life histories 867 female tree swallows ( Tachycineta bicolor ) Ithaca, New York,...
Abstract Single components of the immune system are widely used to assess function in free‐living vertebrates. However, as different immunological triggered by types threats and may be regulated independently, there is little reason assume that they should respond similarly if challenged. We investigated whether three commonly assayed responses, cutaneous activity (phytohaemagglutinin assay), antibody response (tetanus toxoid immunization), plasma bactericidal ( Escherichia coli killing)...
Abstract DNA metabarcoding is a molecular technique frequently used to characterize diet composition of insectivorous birds. However, results are sensitive methodological decisions made during sample processing, with primer selection being one the most critical. The set for avian insectivores ZBJ. recent studies have found that ZBJ produces significant biases in prey classification likely influence our understanding foraging ecology. A new set, ANML, has shown promise characterizing bat...
Recently, we described llama antibody fragments (VHH) that can neutralize human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1). These VHH were obtained after selective elution of phages carrying an immune library raised against gp120 HIV-1 subtype B/C CN54 with soluble CD4. We describe here a new, family-specific approach to obtain the largest possible diversity related compete CD4 for binding envelope glycoprotein. The creation this homologous has enabled us isolate similar nucleotide sequences as...
HIV-1 entry into host cells is mediated by the sequential binding of envelope glycoprotein gp120 to CD4 and a chemokine receptor. Antibodies epitopes overlapping CD4-binding site on are potent inhibitors HIV entry, such as llama heavy chain antibody fragment V(HH) D7, which has cross-clade neutralizing properties competes with mAb b12 for high affinity gp120. We report crystal structure D7 at 1.5 A resolution, reveals molecular details complementarity determining regions (CDR) substantial...
House wrens are typically socially monogamous, but frequently engage in extra-pair matings leading to multisired broods. Because females do not appear acquire direct material benefits from their mates, we tested the hypothesis that female house derive indirect genetic benefits, such as enhanced immunocompetence (cutaneous immune activity, humoral immunity, and plasma bactericidal activity) condition (size haematoserological traits) for offspring, by mating polyandrously. We predicted young...
Immunological measures are increasingly being applied to ecological and evolutionary studies of wild vertebrates, yet frequently it is not clear how condition environmental factors correlate with various immune parameters. We used mixed‐model ANOVA examine the effects several (both morphological physiological) on two responsiveness in nestling house wrens (Troglodytes aedon L.) test hypothesis that nestlings good mount stronger responses than those poor condition. Based previous studies, we...
Despite keen interest in extra-pair mating birds, its adaptive significance remains unresolved. Here, we use a multi-year dataset to test whether traits of female's social mate influence her propensity produce offspring population house wrens, and producing young has consequences for fitness through effects on survival. Females were most likely when paired with old males poor-quality territories, although this latter effect was marginally nonsignificant. Among offspring, the cutaneous...
Life-history studies of wild bird populations often focus on the relationship between an individual's condition and its capacity to mount immune response, as measured by a commonly-employed assay cutaneous immunity, PHA skin test. In addition, haematocrit, packed cell volume in relation total blood volume, is indicator physiological performance. A multi-year study population house wrens has recently revealed that those exhibiting highest strongest responses nestlings are most likely be...
Staphylococcus aureus nasal carriage provides the bacterial reservoir for opportunistic infection. In comparing microbiomes of culture-defined persistent S. carriers versus noncarriers, we detected DNA in all noses, including those with an established history negativity based on culture. Colonization Gammaproteobacteria, Klebsiella aerogenes, Citrobacter koseri, Moraxella lincolnii, and select Acinetobacter spp., was associated noncarriage. We next developed physiological competition assays...
Lipid peroxides (LOOHs) abound in processed food and have been implicated the pathology of diverse diseases including gut, cardiovascular, cancer diseases. Recently, RNA Sequencing (RNA-seq) has widely used to profile gene expression. To characterize expression pathway dysregulation upon exposure peroxidized linoleic acid, we incubated intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2) with 100 µM 13-hydroperoxyoctadecadienoic acid (13-HPODE) or (LA) for 24 h. Total was extracted library preparation...
Adult male and female birds typically respond differently to immunological challenges, but whether this difference is present in altricial nestlings not well-documented. Furthermore, the timing of development different axes immune system might vary also be affected by differences condition health state. We tested for sex-related response nestling House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon Vieillot, 1809) injection phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) bacteria-killing capacity their plasma. Based on prior work, we...
DNA metabarcoding describes the use of targeted (i.e., amplicon) sequencing to identify community constituents from a complex sample containing genetic material multiple organisms, such as water, soil, gut contents, microbiomes, or biofilms. This molecular approach for characterizing mixed samples relies on development "universal primers" that allow effective amplification target sequences across broad range taxa. Armed with optimized lab protocols and rigorous bioinformatics tools, can...
Abstract: Background: Porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERV) are considered as the main infectious barrier in islet xenotransplantation. PERV has been shown to infect, but not cause symptomatic disease mice after transplantation. In vivo activation of have so far examined. Expression was examined adult and fetal porcine islets with or without presence known retroviral inducers transplantation rats. Methods: Isolated were cultured under normal conditions dexamethasone 5‐azacytidine...
The outer domain (OD) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 gp120 represents an attractive, if difficult, target for a beneficial immune response to HIV infection. Unlike the entire gp120, OD is structurally stable and contains surfaces that interact with both primary secondary cellular receptors. strain-specific neutralizing target, V3 loop, lies within OD, as do epitopes two cross-reactive monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), b12 2G12, contact sites number inhibitory lectins. poorly...
The rapid and continual viral escape from neutralizing antibodies is well documented in HIV-1 infection. Here we report vivo emergence of viruses with heightened sensitivity to antibodies, sometimes paralleling the development neutralization escape.Sequential envs were amplified seven infected men monitored seroconversion up 5 years after Env-recombinant infectious molecular clones generated tested for coreceptor use, macrophage tropism homologous heterologous serum, soluble CD4 monoclonal...