Biomedical subjects

Els N Meeusen

Publications and source records attributed to Els N Meeusen.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

RNAi in Haemonchus contortus: a potential method for target validation.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a method for the functional analysis of specific genes, and is particularly well developed in the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. There have been several attempts to apply this method to parasitic nematodes. In a recent study undertaken in Haemonchus contortus, Geldhof and colleagues concluded that, although a mechanism for RNAi existed, the methods developed for RNAi in C. elegans had variable efficacy in this parasitic nematode. The potential benefits of RNAi are clear; however, further studies are required to characterize the mechanism present in parasitic nematodes, and to improve culture systems for these nematodes to monitor the long-term effects of RNAi. Only then could RNAi become a reliable assay of gene function.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Chronic airway disease: deteriorating pulmonary function in sheep associated with repeated challenges of house dust mite.

The aim of this work was to characterize lung function and cellular responses in a large animal model for chronic asthma. All sheep were sensitized to house dust mite (HDM) by subcutaneous injection of HDM before lung challenges. Groups of sheep were given weekly lung challenges with either HDM (n = 12) or saline (control, n = 5) for 3 months. Post challenge, there were significant increases in lung resistance in 7 out of 12 HDM-challenged sheep, compared to control sheep. In HDM-responding sheep, there was a progressive increase in the magnitude of HDM-induced resistance throughout the trial. All HDM-challenged sheep developed BAL eosinophilia and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. In conclusion, sheep chronically challenged intralung with HDM consistently develop airway hyperresponsiveness and eosinophilia, whereas allergen-specific bronchoconstriction is observed in just over half of these sheep.

Airway Resistance↗

PubMed2002

Galectins in parasite infection and allergic inflammation.

Galectins are increasingly recognised as important immunological mediators of homeostasis and disease regulation. This paper gives an overview of current knowledge of galectin involvement in parasite infection and allergic inflammation, two very different but immunologically linked phenomena. Galectins are produced by both the parasite and the host and appear to be intimately involved in parasite establishment, as well as directing the course of infection and the immune response. Host galectins have also been shown to be active participants in the recruitment of cells to sites of inflammation and modulating the effector function of mast cells, neutrophils and eosinophils. Moreover, the ability of galectins to induce differential expression of cytokine genes in leukocytes suggests that they are able to direct the nature of an adaptive immune response, in particular towards a T2-type allergic response.

Animals↗