Biomedical subjects

C Gannon

Publications and source records attributed to C Gannon.

21 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed1975

The immune system of the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus, Linn).

The armadillo is rapidly emerging as an animal for biomedical research. A morphological study of the immune system of the armadillo was undertaken to try to demonstrate a possible defect in the morphogenesis of the lymphoid organs that could account for their susceptibility to leprosy. Blood from 20 domesticated adult armadillos revealed lymphocytes predominated among circulating leukocytes in the majority of animals, whereas in wild animals neutrophils predominated. Necropsies revealed well-developed thymus glands and the thymus-dependent areas in lymph nodes and spleens contained abundant lymphoid cells. Hence, we conclude that the susceptibility of the armadillo to leprosy cannot be explained on a morphological basis.

Age Factors↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Characterization of a 30-kDa Borrelia burgdorferi substrate-binding protein homologue.

A Borrelia burgdorferi chromosomal gene encodes a 30-kDa antigen (P30) that has considerable homology with periplasmic substrate-binding proteins of Gram-negative bacteria, and is recognized by antibodies in sera from a subset of patients with Lyme disease and from B. burgdorferi-infected mice. The p30 gene is 801 nucleotides in length and P30 contains 267 amino acids, with a predicted molecular mass of 30 kDa. The P30 amino acid region 36-258 has homology to conserved domains of the oligopeptide permease A of Gram-negative bacteria. Immunofluorescence studies using murine anti-P30 serum suggest that P30 is on the outer surface of B. burgdorferi. P30 expression could be detected in representatives of all 3 subspecies of B. burgdorferi sensu lato, but not in all of the tested strains. Antibodies to P30 were detected in sera of 18 out of 82 patients (22%) with Lyme disease, including individuals with early- or late-stage infection. Although antibodies to P30 are present in the sera of C3H/HeN mice infected with B. burgdorferi for at least 90 days, immunization with recombinant P30 does not protect mice from infection. We conclude that P30 is a putative substrate-binding protein of B. burgdorferi and is immunologically recognized in human and murine Lyme borreliosis.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison in leprosy patients of Fernandex and Mitsuda reactions using human and armadillo antigens. A double-blind study.

The Mitsuda and Fernandez reactions to bacilli prepared from lesions of human patients and bacilli from infected armadillos were studied in 112 leprosy patients. It was observed that there is no substantial difference when armadillo lepromin is used instead of human lepromin except that a larger induration occurs with the use of the armadillo lepromin in a majority of cases. The number of those reporting a burning sensation at the armadillo lepromin injection site was slightly higher in lepromatous patients; whereas the burning sensation was observed at the human lepromin injection site by the tuberculoid cases. With the significant information compiled in this study, it is concluded that lepromin prepared from bacilli obtained from infected armadillos is as effective as that prepared from bacilli obtained from the lesions of leprosy patients.

Adult↗