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Ann Cullinane

Publications and source records attributed to Ann Cullinane.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Real-time reverse transcription PCR for detection and quantitative analysis of equine influenza virus.

Equine influenza is a cause of epizootic respiratory disease of the equine. The detection of equine influenza virus using real-time Light Cycler reverse transcription (RT)-PCR technology was evaluated over two influenza seasons with the analysis of 171 samples submitted for viral respiratory disease. Increased sensitivity was found in overall viral detection with this system compared to Directigen Flu A and virus isolation, which were 40% and 23%, respectively, that of the RT-PCR. The assay was also evaluated as a viable replacement for the more traditional methods of quantifying equine influenza virus, 50% egg infectious dose and 50% tissue culture infectious dose. There was a significant positive correlation (P<0.05) between the quantitative RT-PCR and both of these assays.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Attenuation of equine influenza viruses through truncations of the NS1 protein.

Equine influenza is a common disease of the horse, causing significant morbidity worldwide. Here we describe the establishment of a plasmid-based reverse genetics system for equine influenza virus. Utilizing this system, we generated three mutant viruses encoding carboxy-terminally truncated NS1 proteins. We have previously shown that a recombinant human influenza virus lacking the NS1 gene (delNS1) could only replicate in interferon (IFN)-incompetent systems, suggesting that the NS1 protein is responsible for IFN antagonist activity. Contrary to previous findings with human influenza virus, we found that in the case of equine influenza virus, the length of the NS1 protein did not correlate with the level of attenuation of that virus. With equine influenza virus, the mutant virus with the shortest NS1 protein turned out to be the least attenuated. We speculate that the basis for attenuation of the equine NS1 mutant viruses generated is related to their level of NS1 protein expression. Our findings show that the recombinant mutant viruses are impaired in their ability to inhibit IFN production in vitro and they do not replicate as efficiently as the parental recombinant strain in embryonated hen eggs, in MDCK cells, or in vivo in a mouse model. Therefore, these attenuated mutant NS1 viruses may have potential as candidates for a live equine influenza vaccine.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Comparison of sensitivities of virus isolation, antigen detection, and nucleic acid amplification for detection of equine influenza virus.

Four seronegative foals aged 6 to 7 months were exposed to an aerosol of influenza strain A/Equi/2/Kildare/89 at 10(6) 50% egg infective doses (EID(50))/ml. Nasopharyngeal swabs were collected for 10 consecutive days after challenge. Virus isolation was performed in embryonated eggs, and the EID(50) was determined for all positive samples. The 50% tissue culture infective dose was determined using Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells. Samples were also tested by an in vitro enzyme immunoassay test, Directigen Flu A, and by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) using nested primers from the nucleoprotein gene and a single set of primers from the matrix gene. RT-PCR using the matrix primers and virus isolation in embryonated eggs proved to be the most sensitive methods for the detection of virus. The Directigen Flu A test was the least sensitive method. The inclusion of 2% fetal calf serum in the viral transport medium inhibited the growth of virus from undiluted samples in MDCK cells but was essential for the maintenance of the virus titer in samples subjected to repeated freeze-thaw cycles.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Is thyroid hormone suppression therapy prothrombotic?

The purpose of this study was to determine whether chronic thyroid hormone suppression therapy (THST) is prothrombotic. We obtained blood samples from 14 thyroid cancer patients while on THST and after they had become hypothyroid for radioiodine whole-body scanning and therapy. Prothrombin fragment 1 + 2, fibrinogen, factor VIII, antithrombin, tissue plasminogen activator antigen (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1), PAI-1/tPA, and C-reactive protein were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in the hyper- than in the hypothyroid state, whereas protein C and plasmin-antiplasmin complexes were significantly lower during the hyperthyroid period. When the 10 female patients were hyperthyroid, their levels of prothrombin fragment 1 + 2, fibrinogen, protein S, antithrombin, tPA, PAI-1, and PAI-1/tPA were significantly higher (P </= 0.05) than in healthy female controls, whereas when the female patients were hypothyroid, their antithrombin and plasmin-antiplasmin were lower and their protein S was higher than in controls. Factor II, plasminogen, and D-dimer were not significantly affected by the thyroid status in either assessment. In conclusion, we found evidence that the majority of patients treated with THST have a prothrombotic profile.

Adult↗