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Biomedical subjects

J F Maddox

Publications and source records attributed to J F Maddox.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Globally dispersed Y chromosomal haplotypes in wild and domestic sheep.

To date, investigations of genetic diversity and the origins of domestication in sheep have utilised autosomal microsatellites and variation in the mitochondrial genome. We present the first analysis of both domestic and wild sheep using genetic markers residing on the ovine Y chromosome. Analysis of a single nucleotide polymorphism (oY1) in the SRY promoter region revealed that allele A-oY1 was present in all wild bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis), two subspecies of thinhorn sheep (Ovis dalli), European Mouflon (Ovis musimon) and the Barbary (Ammontragis lervia). A-oY1 also had the highest frequency (71.4%) within 458 domestic sheep drawn from 65 breeds sampled from Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. Sequence analysis of a second locus, microsatellite SRYM18, revealed a compound repeat array displaying fixed differences, which identified bighorn and thinhorn sheep as distinct from the European Mouflon and domestic animals. Combined genotypic data identified 11 male-specific haplotypes that represented at least two separate lineages. Investigation of the geographical distribution of each haplotype revealed that one (H6) was both very common and widespread in the global sample of domestic breeds. The remaining haplotypes each displayed more restricted and informative distributions. For example, H5 was likely founded following the domestication of European breeds and was used to trace the recent transportation of animals to both the Caribbean and Australia. A high rate of Y chromosomal dispersal appears to have taken place during the development of domestic sheep as only 12.9% of the total observed variation was partitioned between major geographical regions.

Alleles↗

Systematic screening of sheep skin cDNA libraries for microsatellite sequences.

65,000 sheep skin cDNA clones were gridded in high density on to nylon membranes and screened for (CA)n and (GA)n repeat containing clones. 296 dinucleotide repeat-containing clones were identified with approximately 85% non-redundancy. Clones were single-pass 5' sequenced and we compared the Expressed Sequence Tag (EST) sequences to the Swiss-Prot database to ascertain their identity and/or putative function. We then aligned the ESTs against the human genomic sequence to determine the locations of human orthologous sequences. Finally, we developed a subset of polymorphic microsatellite markers and positioned them on the ovine linkage map.

Animals↗

A genome scan for quantitative trait loci affecting resistance to Trichostrongylus colubriformis in sheep.

A genome linkage scan was carried out using a resource flock of 1029 sheep in six half-sib families. The families were offspring of sires derived by crossing divergent lines of sheep selected for response to challenge with the intestinal parasitic nematode Trichostrongylus colubriformis. All animals in the resource flock were phenotypically assessed for worm resistance soon after weaning using a vaccination/challenge regime. After correcting for fixed effects using a least squares linear model the faecal egg count data obtained following the first challenge and the faecal egg count data obtained after the second challenge were designated Trait 1 and Trait 2, respectively. A total of 472 lambs drawn from the phenotypic extremes of the Trait 2 faecal egg count distribution were genotyped with a panel of 133 microsatellite markers covering all 26 sheep autosomes. Detection of quantitative trait loci (QTL) for each of the faecal egg count traits was determined using interval analysis with the Animap program with recombination rates between markers derived from an existing marker map. No chromosomal regions attained genome-wide significance for QTL influencing either of the traits. However, one region attained chromosome-wide significance and five other regions attained point-wise significance for the presence of QTL affecting parasite resistance.

Analysis of Variance↗

Increased 15-HPETE production decreases prostacyclin synthase activity during oxidant stress in aortic endothelial cells.

Selenium (Se) is an integral component of glutathione peroxidase and is able to detoxify peroxides that can affect arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, thereby influencing eicosanoid biosynthesis. This study investigated the effects of oxidant stress, a consequence of Se deficiency, on eicosanoid formation and important key enzyme expression in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). Bovine aortic endothelial cells cultured in Se-deficient media and stimulated with tumor necrosis factor alpha or H2O2 produced significantly less prostacyclin (PGI(2)) and more 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, 15-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (15-HPETE), and thromboxane than Se-supplemented BAEC. Additionally, reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting determined that the mRNA and protein levels of the eicosanoid forming enzymes cyclooxygenase-1 (COX1), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), and PGI synthase were not significantly changed. The addition of 15-HPETE to Se-supplemented BAEC inhibited the production of PGI(2) suggesting that the accumulation of lipid hydroperoxides during Se-deficiency may be the underlying factor in the altered eicosanoid production during Se deficiency. Furthermore, inhibition of COX and addition of PGH(2) to Se-deficient or Se-supplemented BAEC still resulted in lower PGI(2) formation by Se-deficient cells. Together, these results suggest that Se deficiency modifies eicosanoid production by affecting the activity of key enzymes, particularly PGI synthase, rather than their transcription or translation.

Animals↗

An enhanced linkage map of the sheep genome comprising more than 1000 loci.

A medium-density linkage map of the ovine genome has been developed. Marker data for 550 new loci were generated and merged with the previous sheep linkage map. The new map comprises 1093 markers representing 1062 unique loci (941 anonymous loci, 121 genes) and spans 3500 cM (sex-averaged) for the autosomes and 132 cM (female) on the X chromosome. There is an average spacing of 3.4 cM between autosomal loci and 8.3 cM between highly polymorphic [polymorphic information content (PIC) > or = 0.7] autosomal loci. The largest gap between markers is 32.5 cM, and the number of gaps of > 20 cM between loci, or regions where loci are missing from chromosome ends, has been reduced from 40 in the previous map to 6. Five hundred and seventy-three of the loci can be ordered on a framework map with odds of > 1000 : 1. The sheep linkage map contains strong links to both the cattle and goat maps. Five hundred and seventy-two of the loci positioned on the sheep linkage map have also been mapped by linkage analysis in cattle, and 209 of the loci mapped on the sheep linkage map have also been placed on the goat linkage map. Inspection of ruminant linkage maps indicates that the genomic coverage by the current sheep linkage map is comparable to that of the available cattle maps. The sheep map provides a valuable resource to the international sheep, cattle, and goat gene mapping community.

Animals↗

Increased neutrophil adherence and adhesion molecule mRNA expression in endothelial cells during selenium deficiency.

Leukocyte aggregation and activation on endothelial cells (EC) are important preliminary events in leukocyte migration into tissue and subsequent inflammation. Thus, an increase in leukocyte adherence has the potential to affect inflammatory disease outcome. Selenium (Se) is an integral part of the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and plays an important role in the maintenance of the redox state of a cell. Se supplementation in the bovine has been shown to improve the outcome of acute mastitis caused by coliform bacteria, in part by enhancing the speed of neutrophil migration into the affected mammary gland. However, the mechanisms by which Se modulates neutrophil migration have not been elucidated. Therefore, an in vitro model of Se deficiency in primary bovine mammary artery EC was used to examine the impact of Se status on the adhesive properties of EC. The effect of Se on functional activities was examined by measuring neutrophil adherence to Se-deficient and Se-supplemented EC. Se-deficient EC showed significantly enhanced neutrophil adherence when stimulated with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) for 4 or 24 h, interleukin-1 for 12 h, or H2O2 for 20 min (P < 0.05). To determine the mechanisms underlying these changes in neutrophil adherence, the expression of EC adhesion molecules, ICAM-1, E-selectin, and P-selectin were examined at the molecular level by a competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results revealed higher mRNA expression for E-selectin and ICAM-1 in Se-deficient EC stimulated with TNF-alpha for 3 and 6 h, and greater expression of P-selectin mRNA in Se-supplemented EC with 3-h TNF-alpha stimulation. These studies provide new information to establish the role of Se nutrition in the initiation of leukocyte adherence to endothelium.

Animals↗

Isolation and characterization of marsupial IL5 genes.

The genomic nucleotide sequence and chromosomal position of the interleukin 5 (IL5) gene has been described for the model marsupial Macropus eugenii (tammar wallaby). A 272 base pair genomic IL5 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product spanning exon 3, intron 3, and exon 4 was generated using stripe-faced dunnart (Sminthopsis macroura) DNA. This PCR product was used to isolate a genomic lambda clone containing the complete IL5 gene from a tammar wallaby EMBL3 lambda library. Sequencing revealed that the tammar wallaby IL5 gene consists of four exons separated by three introns. Comparison of the marsupial coding sequence with coding sequences from eutherian species revealed 61 to 69% identity at the nucleotide level and 48 to 63% identity at the amino acid (aa) level. A polymorphic complex compound microsatellite was identified within intron 2 of the tammar wallaby IL5 gene. This microsatellite was also found in other marsupials including the swamp wallaby, tree kangaroo, stripe-faced dunnart, South American opossum, brushtail possum, and koala. Fluorescence in situ hybridization using DNA from the IL5 clone on tammar wallaby chromosomes indicated that the IL5 gene is located on Chromosome 1.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Progress and expectations for helminth vaccines.

The large amount of scientific progress made in the last 5 years has allowed a more rational approach to the design of nematode vaccines to develop. Successful experimental trials have been published using two different approaches, one aiming to boost acquired host immunity through vaccination with natural immunogens, the other affecting parasite viability by targeting parasite molecules crucial for nutrition or survival in the host. The individual or combined action of these two vaccination procedures will need to be evaluated with respect to their potential effects on animal health and productivity in the field. To this effect, more data are required concerning the level and duration of immunity of the vaccine-induced protection using acceptable adjuvant systems. In addition, the age at which vaccination is effective and the effect of vaccination on highly susceptible or temporarily immunosuppressed individuals will need to be considered. In the case of gastrointestinal nematodes, the level of pasture contamination with infective larvae is dependent on the worm burdens in the host animal and, in turn, affects the buildup of natural resistance in the host. An appreciation of these complex interactive factors is best achieved through computer simulation models using the powerful simulation software that has recently become available. Further animal trials will need to be performed to establish the necessary data to incorporate into the models and to adapt the model outcomes to the trial results. These epidemiologic and simulation studies should be pursued in parallel with vaccine development so that a better appreciation is gained of the requirements of a successful commercial vaccine.

Animals↗