Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to mankind. Despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine, approximately 164,000 measles-related deaths were recorded in 2008. The inherent restricted host tropism of MV means that the development of authentic rodent models will be a valuable research tool in testing new vaccines and antivirals. In addition to the receptor requirement, mouse innate immunity has been shown to inhibit MV growth. In this thesis, the contributions of several key components of the mouse innate immune system on the inhibition of MV replication were examined. The transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), which normally plays a key role in mediating innate immune signaling, contributed relatively little in inhibiting MV replication both in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, the JAK/STAT pathway and the double-stranded RNA inducible protein kinase, PKR, played more important roles in controlling virus replication. The resurgence of measles in areas where the virus was once thought to be eradicated makes the development of anti-MV treatments essential. Concurrent to the development of an animal model to better study its pathogenesis, we wanted to look at the effect of MV inhibitors on its replication. The MV fusion inhibitor, carbobenzoxy-D-phenylalanine-L-phenylalanine-glycine (ZfFG), was developed in the past to study fusion; however, its mechanism of action has not yet been elucidated. To examine this, spontaneous ZfFG-resistant mutants were generated and characterized. Mutations were found in the HRB region of the fusion (F) protein, and when these were modeled using published paramyxovirus F crystal structures, data suggested that ZfFG targeted a small pocket present between the head and stalk regions of its pre-fusion conformation. An authentic mouse model of measles developed from findings in this study may allow for in vivo efficacy testing of ZfFG in the future.

Measles is one of the most contagious diseases known to mankind. Despite the availability of a safe and effective vaccine, approximately 164,000 measles-related deaths were recorded in 2008. The inherent restricted host tropism of MV means that the development of authentic rodent models will be a valuable research tool in testing new vaccines and antivirals. In addition to the receptor requirement, mouse innate immunity has been shown to inhibit MV growth. In this thesis, the contributions of several key components of the mouse innate immune system on the inhibition of MV replication were examined. The transcription factor interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3), which normally plays a key role in mediating innate immune signaling, contributed relatively little in inhibiting MV replication both in vitro and in vivo. In contrast, the JAK/STAT pathway and the double-stranded RNA inducible protein kinase, PKR, played more important roles in controlling virus replication. The resurgence of measles in areas where the virus was once thought to be eradicated makes the development of anti-MV treatments essential. Concurrent to the development of an animal model to better study its pathogenesis, we wanted to look at the effect of MV inhibitors on its replication. The MV fusion inhibitor, carbobenzoxy-D-phenylalanine-L-phenylalanine-glycine (ZfFG), was developed in the past to study fusion; however, its mechanism of action has not yet been elucidated. To examine this, spontaneous ZfFG-resistant mutants were generated and characterized. Mutations were found in the HRB region of the fusion (F) protein, and when these were modeled using published paramyxovirus F crystal structures, data suggested that ZfFG targeted a small pocket present between the head and stalk regions of its pre-fusion conformation. An authentic mouse model of measles developed from findings in this study may allow for in vivo efficacy testing of ZfFG in the future.

[Truncated abstract] Atopic asthma pathogenesis is driven by the combined effects of airway inflammation generated during responses to viral infections and aeroallergens, and both of these pathways are regulated by dendritic cells (DC) that differentiate locally from monocytic precursors. These DC normally exhibit a sentinel phenotype characterised by active antigen sampling but attenuated presentation capability, which limits the intensity of local expression of adaptive immunity. How this tight control of airway DC functions is normally maintained and why it breaks down in some atopics leading to immunopathological changes in airway tissues, is unknown. In the airway mucosa, DC are intimately associated with airway epithelial cells (AEC), which are a source of a range of both pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators. A few studies have previously examined the effects of AEC-derived surface-expressed and soluble mediators upon the function of pre-differentiated DC, although there is a dearth of information as to the extent of AEC-conditioning of DC during their generation from incoming monocytic precursors within the airways. Therefore, this study was designed to test the hypothesis that signals from adjacent AEC contribute to regulation of local differentiation of airway mucosal DC, especially in the context of allergic airway disease. A direct co-culture model was developed containing the AEC line 16HBE 14o- as a surrogate for primary AEC, and purified peripheral blood monocytes derived from atopic patients in a GM-CSF/IL-4-enriched cytokine milieu. Cells were cultured for 5 days, at which time the phenotype and functional attributes of the monocyte-derived DC (MDDC) generated in the presence of AEC (AEC-MDDC) were compared to the control MDDC population generated without AEC contact (Ctrl- MDDC). ... In parallel, an attenuation of mRNA boosting for 7 out of 12 selected Th2-asscociated genes as well as IL-13 protein, was observed in AEC-MDDC supplemented cultures compared to ctrl-MDDC supplemented cultures. The data collected in the initial characterisation of the AEC-MDDC in Chapter 3 and further analysis of their gene expression profiles by microarray suggest a number of DC-associated factors could be involved in directing a potential bias against Th2 immunity within the T-cell recall response. These include increased expression of IL- 12 subunit mRNA and the enhanced levels of surface MHC Class II, CD80, ICAM-1 and SLAM. Further to Th1/Th2 modulation, a number of T-regulatory (Treg) genes were differentially expressed in the AEC-MDDC-re-activated CD4+ T-cells, and members of the chemokine and metallothionein families were elevated in the same population. Collectively the results of this study suggest that in the context of the atopic airway microenvironment where there is an abundance of Th2-related mediators, healthy AEC arm locally maturing DC with an arsenal of anti-microbial defences that can be rapidly employed in response to encounter with inhaled pathogens, in particular viruses. In this way, the DC are maintained in an ideal functional phenotype to efficiently mobilise both innate and Th1-polarised adaptive immune defences against infection, whilst achieving tight control of potentially-damaging Th2 immunity to aeroallergens, thus contributing to the maintenance of immunological homeostasis within the respiratory tract.

Visual sub-modalities, such as colour, form and motion perception, are analysed in parallel by three visual “pathways” – the parvocellular (PC), magnocellular (MC) and koniocellular (KC) pathways. This thesis aims to further elucidate some properties of the subcortical pathways for colour vision. The experimental animal used throughout is a New World monkey, the common marmoset Callithrix jacchus. (For complete abstract open document)

Cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) are ubiquitous in nature, having evolved over many millenia with their hosts. While in healthy hosts most infections with CMV are asymptomatic, the virus can cause severe disease in immunocompromised hosts. Thus, the increase in organ transplantation and the HIV/AIDS pandemic have established human CMV (HCMV) as a clinically important pathogen. Indeed, HCMV infections are now the major cause of morbidity and mortality among immunocompromised patients, which has led to more research targeting CMV for effective anti-viral treatment. The discovery that cytomegaloviruses encode several genes which are involved in immune escape has prompted a new area of research, aimed at understanding immune escape mechanisms for exploitation as potential anti-viral therapeutics. By targeting the viral proteins directly, or their receptors in the host, it may be possible to treat CMV disease by agonistic/antagonistic therapy. The first part of this thesis describes the first demonstration of anti-NK1.1 staining in situ to identify NK cells using a modified in vivo perfusion/fixation method. Using this method, we have compared the acute NK1.1+ cellular response to wild-type MCMV infection in the visceral organs of genetically susceptible intra-NK complex recombinant BALB.B6-CT6 (Cmv1s, NK1.1+) mice with resistant C57B⁄J (Cmv1r, NK1.1+) and BALB.B6-Cmv1r mice (Cmv1r, NK1.1+). Expression of viral antigens and the consequences of infection on other cellular subsets, were also analyzed in this study. The data show that in susceptible mice (Cmv1s) MCMV infection is predominent in the marginal zone of splenic white pulp, resulting in local changes in various cellular constituents, including macrophages, NK cells and DC. In the liver, distinct foci of infection were comprised of large numbers of macrophages and NK1.1+ cells surrounding infected cytomegalic cells. In resistant mice (Cmv1r), 6 MCMV infection predominantly affected the red-pulp of the spleen and was associated with increased accumulation of NK1.1+ cells and macrophages at sites of viral infection

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2007. / Title from PDF of title page. Document formatted into pages; contains 90 pages. Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--University of South Florida, 2007. / Includes vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 70-84). Also available online.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Oklahoma. / Bibliography: leaves 137-158.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Full text release at OhioLINK's ETD Center delayed at author's request