Publications

an early 'classical' swine h1n1 influenza virus shows similar pathogenicity to the 1918 pandemic virus in ferrets and mice.	the 1918 pandemic influenza virus has demonstrated significant pathogenicity in animal models and is the progenitor of 'classical' swine and modern seasonal human h1n1 lineages. here we characterize the pathogenicity of an early 'classical' swine h1n1 influenza a virus isolated in 1931 compared to the pathogenicity of the 1918 pandemic virus and a seasonal h1n1 virus in mice and ferrets. a/swine/iowa/31 (sw31) and the 1918 influenza viruses were uniformly lethal in mice at low doses and produced ...	2009	19733889
the delayed phase of cisplatin-induced emesis is mediated by the area postrema and not the abdominal visceral innervation in the ferret.	the anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin induces an acute (approximately 24 h) and delayed (approximately 24-72 h+) emetic response in humans; whereas the mechanism mediating the acute phase has been characterised, the delayed phase is relatively poorly understood. we have used nerve lesions (abdominal vagus, vx; greater splanchnic nerve, gsnx) and area postrema ablation (apx) in the ferret model of cisplatin (5 mg/kg, i.p.) delayed emesis and demonstrated that vx and vx+gsnx did not sig ...	2009	19733218
measurement of neutralizing antibody responses against h5n1 clades in immunized mice and ferrets using pseudotypes expressing influenza hemagglutinin and neuraminidase.	neutralizing antibody is associated with the prevention and clearance of influenza virus infection. microneutralization (mn) and hemagglutination inhibition (hi) assays are currently used to evaluate neutralizing antibody responses against human and avian influenza viruses, including h5n1. the mn assay is somewhat labor intensive, while hi is a surrogate for neutralization. moreover, use of replication competent viruses in these assays requires biosafety level 3 (bsl-3) containment. therefore, a ...	2009	19732860
sensory and motor innervation of the crural diaphragm by the vagus nerves.	during gastroesophageal reflux, transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation and crural diaphragm (cd) inhibition occur concomitantly. modifying vagus nerve control of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation is a major focus of development of therapeutics for gastroesophageal reflux disease, but neural mechanisms that coordinate the cd are poorly understood.	2010	19732773
bacterial and parasitic diseases of ferrets.	the domestic ferret, mustela putorius furo, is a popular companion animal and is used in biomedical research. when compared with other companion mammals, primary bacterial and parasitic infections are less common in domestic ferrets. in countries such as the united states, pet ferrets are generally kept indoors, and the risk for exposure to primary bacterial and parasitic infectious agents is low. companion, breeding, and working ferrets are commonly kept outdoors in other parts of the world, pl ...	2009	19732708
vaccination focusing immunity on conserved antigens protects mice and ferrets against virulent h1n1 and h5n1 influenza a viruses.	immunization against conserved virus components induces broad, heterosubtypic protection against diverse influenza a viruses, providing a strategy for controlling unexpected outbreaks or pandemics until strain-matched vaccines become available. this study characterized immunization to nucleoprotein (np) and matrix 2 (m2) by dna priming followed by parenteral or mucosal boosting in mice and ferrets. dna vaccination followed by boosting with antigen-matched recombinant adenovirus (rad) or cold-ada ...	2009	19729082
immune response to and histopathology of campylobacter jejuni infection in ferrets (mustela putorius furo).	campylobacter jejuni is 1 of the most common enteric bacterial pathogens worldwide. the mechanisms of pathogenesis remain obscure, in part because of limitations of small animal models. young ferrets develop diarrhea when fed c. jejuni, but their pathology and the immune response after infection have not been examined in detail. in the present study, we examined the pathogenesis of c. jejuni cg8421 and associated immune responses in ferrets. after oral infection with c. jejuni cg8421, 86.7% of t ...	2009	19712577
use of animal models to understand the pandemic potential of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses.	it has been 40 years since the last influenza pandemic and it is generally considered that another could occur at any time. recent introductions of influenza a viruses from avian sources into the human population have raised concerns that these viruses may be a source of a future pandemic strain. therefore, there is a need to better understand the pathogenicity of avian influenza viruses for mammalian species so that we may be better able to predict the pandemic potential of such viruses and dev ...	2009	19695381
successful treatment of a retrobulbar adenocarcinoma in a ferret (mustela putorius furo).		2009	19684347
partial direct contact transmission in ferrets of a mallard h7n3 influenza virus with typical avian-like receptor specificity.	avian influenza viruses of the h7 subtype have caused multiple outbreaks in domestic poultry and represent a significant threat to public health due to their propensity to occasionally transmit directly from birds to humans. in order to better understand the cross species transmission potential of h7 viruses in nature, we performed biological and molecular characterizations of an h7n3 virus isolated from mallards in canada in 2001.	2009	19682381
phosphodiesterase inhibition increases creb phosphorylation and restores orientation selectivity in a model of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.	fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (fasd) are the leading cause of mental retardation in the western world and children with fasd present altered somatosensory, auditory and visual processing. there is growing evidence that some of these sensory processing problems may be related to altered cortical maps caused by impaired developmental neuronal plasticity.	2009	19680548
in vitro and in vivo characterization of new swine-origin h1n1 influenza viruses.	influenza a viruses cause recurrent outbreaks at local or global scale with potentially severe consequences for human health and the global economy. recently, a new strain of influenza a virus was detected that causes disease in and transmits among humans, probably owing to little or no pre-existing immunity to the new strain. on 11 june 2009 the world health organization declared that the infections caused by the new strain had reached pandemic proportion. characterized as an influenza a virus ...	2009	19672242
memogain is a galantamine pro-drug having dramatically reduced adverse effects and enhanced efficacy.	memogain (gln-1062) is an inactive pro-drug of galantamine, the latter being a plant alkaloid approved for the treatment of mild to moderate alzheimer's disease. memogain has more than 15-fold higher bioavailability in the brain than the same doses of galantamine. in the brain, memogain is enzymatically cleaved to galantamine, thereby regaining its pharmacological activity as a cholinergic enhancer. in animal models of drug-induced amnesia, memogain produced several fold larger cognitive improve ...	2010	19669943
corynebacterium mustelae sp. nov., isolated from a ferret with lethal sepsis.	a non-lipophilic coryneform bacterium, strain 3105(t), was isolated from various tissues of a ferret with lethal sepsis. the strain was characterized by phenotypic and chemotaxonomic methods, which suggested an assignment of the isolate to the genus corynebacterium. strain 3105(t) exhibited the following peculiar features that made it possible to differentiate it phenotypically from all other corynebacteria: its distinctive 'humid cellar'-like odour, strong adherence to agar and a greenish-beige ...	2010	19661496
microliths in the parotid of ferret investigated by electron microscopy and microanalysis.	the present investigation is an attempt to determine the occurrence, elemental composition and formation of microliths in the parotid of ferret. parotids from four normal ferrets were examined by electron microscopy and x-ray microanalysis. crystalline microliths were found in phagosomes of acinar cells, which occasionally contained secretory material, and in phagosomes situated between mitochondria of striated ductal cells. crystalline microliths and microliths that consisted of granular materi ...	2009	19659902
(r)-(3-amino-2-fluoropropyl) phosphinic acid (azd3355), a novel gabab receptor agonist, inhibits transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation through a peripheral mode of action.	gastroesophageal reflux disease (gerd) affects >10% of the western population. conventionally, gerd is treated by reducing gastric acid secretion, which is effective in most patients but inadequate in a significant minority. we describe a new therapeutic approach for gerd, based on inhibition of transient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation (tlesr) with a proposed peripherally acting gaba(b) receptor agonist, (r)-(3-amino-2-fluoropropyl)phosphinic acid (azd3355). azd3355 potently stimulated re ...	2009	19648470
the edinger-westphal nucleus represents different functional cell groups in different species.	in all vertebrates, including humans, the edinger-westphal nucleus (ew) forms a circumscribed cell group dorsomedial to the oculomotor nucleus (niii). traditionally the ew is considered the location of parasympathetic preganglionic neurons of the ciliary ganglion, mediating pupillary constriction and accommodation. in a comparative study in rat, ferret, monkey, and human, the location of cholinergic neurons within and around the niii, which includes motoneurons of the extra-ocular muscles and th ...	2009	19645879
zanamivir-resistant influenza viruses with a novel neuraminidase mutation.	the neuraminidase inhibitors zanamivir and oseltamivir are marketed for the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza and have been stockpiled by many countries for use in a pandemic. although recent surveillance has identified a striking increase in the frequency of oseltamivir-resistant seasonal influenza a (h1n1) viruses in europe, the united states, oceania, and south africa, to date there have been no reports of significant zanamivir resistance among influenza a (h1n1) viruses or any other hum ...	2009	19641000
beta-carotene affects oxidative stress-related dna damage in lung epithelial cells and in ferret lung.	beta-carotene (bc) was found to enhance lung cancer risk in smokers. this adverse effect was unexpected because bc was thought to act as an anti-oxidant against cigarette smoke-derived radicals. these radicals can directly or indirectly damage dna, leading to the formation of pro-mutagenic dna lesions such as 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dg) and 3-(2-deoxy-beta-d-erythro-pentafuranosyl)pyrimido[1,2-alpha]purin-10(3h)-one deoxyguanosine (m(1)dg). later, it was suggested that high co ...	2009	19638427
effects of beta-carotene supplementation on adipose tissue thermogenic capacity in ferrets (mustela putorius furo).	we previously described that the intake of pharmacological doses of beta-carotene (bc) resulted in higher body weight gain in the ferret (mustela putorius furo), an animal model that resembles human subjects in terms of intestinal bc absorption and metabolism. these results were some way unexpected considering the condition of bc as a vitamin a precursor and the previous data in rodents showing these compounds as thermogenic activators. here, we aimed to characterise in the ferret whether the me ...	2009	19631020
abnormal axons in the albino optic tract.	there have been suggestions that the misrouting of axons at the optic chiasm leading to the abnormal ratio of crossed to uncrossed axons in the optic tract of albinos is a consequence of abnormal timing of ganglion cell axon outgrowth. the sequence of genesis of ganglion cell classes and their axon outgrowth is correlated with the deep-to-superficial distribution of their axons by size in the mammalian optic tract. optic tract axon order in albino and normally pigmented ferrets was, therefore, e ...	2009	19628745
dynamics of spectro-temporal tuning in primary auditory cortex of the awake ferret.	we previously characterized the steady-state spectro-temporal tuning properties of cortical cells with respect to broadband sounds by using sounds with sinusoidal spectro-temporal modulation envelope where spectral density and temporal periodicity were constant over several seconds. however, since speech and other natural sounds have spectro-temporal features that change substantially over milliseconds, we study the dynamics of tuning by using stimuli of constant overall intensity, but alternati ...	2009	19619629
disruption of neuroendocrine stress responses to acute ferret odor by medial, but not central amygdala lesions in rats.	investigations of the neural pathways associated with responses to predators have implicated the medial amygdala (mea) as an important region involved in defensive behaviors. to our knowledge, however, the involvement of the mea in neuroendocrine responses to predator odor exposure has not been investigated. therefore, the present study examined the effects of mea disruption in rats exposed to ferret or control odor on hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenocortical (hpa) axis activation. bilateral lesions ...	2009	19615352
mapping the micromechanical properties of cryo-sectioned aortic tissue with scanning acoustic microscopy.	although the gross mechanical properties of ageing tissues have been extensively documented, biological tissues are highly heterogeneous and little is known concerning the variation of micro-mechanical properties within tissues. here, we use scanning acoustic microscopy (sam) to map the acoustic wave speed (a measure of stiffness) as a function of distance from the outer adventitial layer of cryo-sectioned ferret aorta. with a 400 mhz lens, the images of the aorta samples matched those obtained ...	2009	19603080
das181 inhibits h5n1 influenza virus infection of human lung tissues.	das181 is a novel candidate therapeutic agent against influenza virus which functions via the mechanism of removing the virus receptor, sialic acid (sia), from the adjacent glycan structures. das181 and its analogues have previously been shown to be potently active against multiple strains of seasonal and avian influenza virus strains in several experimental models, including cell lines, mice, and ferrets. here we demonstrate that das181 treatment leads to desialylation of both alpha2-6-linked a ...	2009	19596886
sensory activity differentially modulates n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor subunits 2a and 2b in cortical layers.	activity-dependent modulation of n-methyl-d-aspartate (nmda) receptors containing selective nr2 subunits has been implicated in plastic processes in developing and adult sensory cortex. aiming to reveal differential sensitivity of nr2 subunits to sustained changes in sensory activity, we utilized four paradigms that blocked, reinstated, or initiated sensory visual activity. laminar prevalence of n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor subunit 2a- (nr2a)- and n-methyl-d-aspartate receptor subunit 2b- (nr2b ...	2009	19596055
visual influences on ferret auditory cortex.	multisensory neurons are now known to be widespread in low-level regions of the cortex usually thought of as being responsible for modality-specific processing. the auditory cortex provides a particularly striking example of this, exhibiting responses to both visual and somatosensory stimulation. single-neuron recording studies in ferrets have shown that each of auditory fields that have been characterized using physiological and anatomical criteria also receives visual inputs, with the incidenc ...	2009	19595754
removal of either n-glycan site from the envelope receptor binding domain of moloney and friend but not akv mouse ecotropic gammaretroviruses alters receptor usage.	three n-linked glycosylation sites were removed from the envelope glycoproteins of friend, moloney, and akv mouse ecotropic gammaretroviruses: gs1 and gs2, in the receptor binding domain; and gs8, in a region implicated in post-binding cell fusion. mutants were tested for their ability to infect rodent cells expressing 4 cat-1 receptor variants. three mutants (mo-gs1, mo-gs2, and fr-gs1) infect nih 3t3 and rat xc cells, but are severely restricted in mus dunni cells and lec8, a chinese hamster c ...	2009	19584017
pandemic influenza. ferrets shed light on new virus's severity and spread.		2009	19574354
pathogenesis and transmission of swine-origin 2009 a(h1n1) influenza virus in ferrets.	the swine-origin a(h1n1) influenza virus that has emerged in humans in early 2009 has raised concerns about pandemic developments. in a ferret pathogenesis and transmission model, the 2009 a(h1n1) influenza virus was found to be more pathogenic than a seasonal a(h1n1) virus, with more extensive virus replication occurring in the respiratory tract. replication of seasonal a(h1n1) virus was confined to the nasal cavity of ferrets, but the 2009 a(h1n1) influenza virus also replicated in the trachea ...	2009	19574348
transmission and pathogenesis of swine-origin 2009 a(h1n1) influenza viruses in ferrets and mice.	recent reports of mild to severe influenza-like illness in humans caused by a novel swine-origin 2009 a(h1n1) influenza virus underscore the need to better understand the pathogenesis and transmission of these viruses in mammals. in this study, selected 2009 a(h1n1) influenza isolates were assessed for their ability to cause disease in mice and ferrets and compared with a contemporary seasonal h1n1 virus for their ability to transmit to naïve ferrets through respiratory droplets. in contrast to ...	2009	19574347
the pig as a mixing vessel for influenza viruses: human and veterinary implications.	influenza a viruses are highly infectious respiratory pathogens that can infect many species. birds are the reservoir for all known influenza a subtypes; and novel influenza viruses can emerge from birds and infect mammalian species including humans. because swine are susceptible to infection with both avian and human influenza viruses, novel reassortant influenza viruses can be generated in this mammalian species by reassortment of influenza viral segments leading to the "mixing vessel" theory. ...	2008	19565018
naturally occurring influenza infection in a ferret (mustela putorius furo) colony.	tissue samples from 2 juvenile ferrets (mustela putorius furo) from a colony that was undergoing an outbreak of respiratory disease were submitted to the iowa state university veterinary diagnostic laboratory. microscopic examination of lung samples revealed bronchointerstitial pneumonia with necrotizing bronchiolitis. influenza a virus was detected in sections of formalin-fixed lung by immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assay. a field investigation of the p ...	2009	19564504
prepandemic h5n1 influenza vaccine adjuvanted with as03: a review of the pre-clinical and clinical data.	universal and timely administration of a prepandemic vaccine is considered to be one of the most effective measures to reduce the incidence of pandemic influenza infection and consequently its morbidity and mortality.	2009	19555313
a trivalent virus-like particle vaccine elicits protective immune responses against seasonal influenza strains in mice and ferrets.	there is need for improved human influenza vaccines, particularly for older adults who are at greatest risk for severe disease, as well as to address the continuous antigenic drift within circulating human subtypes of influenza virus. we have engineered an influenza virus-like particle (vlp) as a new generation vaccine candidate purified from the supernatants of sf9 insect cells following infection by recombinant baculoviruses to express three influenza virus proteins, hemagglutinin (ha), neuram ...	2009	19554101
preclinical evaluation of a replication-deficient intranasal deltans1 h5n1 influenza vaccine.	we developed a novel intranasal influenza vaccine approach that is based on the construction of replication-deficient vaccine viruses that lack the entire ns1 gene (deltans1 virus). we previously showed that these viruses undergo abortive replication in the respiratory tract of animals. the local release of type i interferons and other cytokines and chemokines in the upper respiratory tract may have a "self-adjuvant effect", in turn increasing vaccine immunogenicity. as a result, deltans1 viruse ...	2009	19543385
a chimeric measles virus with canine distemper envelope protects ferrets from lethal distemper challenge.	cdv infects a broad range of carnivores, and over the past decades it has caused outbreaks in a variety of wild carnivore populations. since the currently available live-attenuated vaccine is not sufficiently safe in these highly susceptible species, we produced a chimeric virus combining the replication complex of the measles moraten vaccine strain with the envelope of a recent cdv wild type isolate. the resulting virus did not cause disease or immunosuppression in ferrets and conferred protect ...	2009	19540272
chemotactic properties and absence of the formyl peptide receptor in ferret (mustela putorius furo) neutrophils.	this study describes a chemotaxis assay of ferret polymorphonuclear cells (pmns). the optimal conditions for this chemotaxis assay were investigated for three chemoattractants: zymosan activated serum (zas), recombinant human interleukin-8 (rhil-8) and n-formyl-met-leu- phe (fmlf). in this study, ferret polymorphonuclear cells (pmns) reacted to zas and rhil-8, but not fmlf. the optimal concentration of zas and rhil-8 were 5% and 100 ng/ml, respectively. the optimal incubation time of each reagen ...	2010	19539964
zoonotic potential of highly pathogenic avian h7n3 influenza viruses from pakistan.	h5 and h7 avian influenza viruses can become highly pathogenic in chickens after interspecies transmission. these viruses have transmitted directly to humans from birds in eurasia and africa (h5n1), the netherlands (h7n7), and canada (h7n3). here we report antigenic, sequence, and phylogenetic analyses of h7n3 viruses isolated from chickens in pakistan from 1995 to 2002. we compared the pathogenic and zoonotic potential of the pakistani viruses in avian and mammalian hosts. in chickens, all of t ...	2009	19535120
ucp1 and oxidative capacity of adipose tissue in adult ferrets (mustela putorius furo).	the main mass of brown adipose tissue is located in the interscapular region in rodents, while certain species, such as humans, have a tissue that resembles the brown depot, but in different locations. ferrets have been described as a useful model in different studies because of their similarity with humans. here we have characterised the oxidative capacity (cytochrome c oxidase activity) and the pattern of ucp1 production in different adipose tissue depots (retroperitoneal, inguinal and intersc ...	2009	19535042
rabies in ferret badgers, southeastern china.	ferret badger-associated human rabies cases emerged in china in 1994. we used a retrospective epidemiologic survey, virus isolation, laboratory diagnosis, and nucleotide sequencing to document its reemergence in 2002-2008. whether the cause is spillover from infected dogs or recent host shift and new reservoir establishment requires further investigation.	2009	19523299
morphological study of the lingual papillae in the ferret (mustela putorius furo).	we used four ferrets (mustela putorius furo) and observed these animals dorsal tongue surface morphology via scanning electron microscope and light microscope. in this investigation, we focused on the food habits and discussed the morphology of the lingual papillae from the viewpoint of comparative anatomy. the ferret has conically-shaped filiform papillae in the posterior, middle and anterior region of the tongue body, and circular-distributed filiform papillae in the lingual apex region. the f ...	2009	19522302
the expression of heat shock protein 70 in the dental pulp following trauma.	traumatic dental injuries vary in severity from mild concussion to avulsion. all organisms respond to stress by inducing the synthesis of a group of proteins known generically as heat shock proteins. the activation of these proteins is an essential cellular mechanism designed to protect against a variety of environmental stresses. it is probable that the production of these proteins is increased in the cells of the traumatized dental pulp, however, this has not as yet been demonstrated. the degr ...	2009	19519864
characterization of antibodies against ferret immunoglobulins, cytokines and cd markers.	ferret igg and igm were purified from normal serum, while ferret iga was purified from bile. the estimated molecular weights of the immunoglobulin gamma, alpha and mu heavy chains were found to be 54kda, 69kda and 83kda, respectively. for immunological (elisa) quantification of ferret immunoglobulins, we identified and characterized polyclonal antibodies towards ferret igg, igm and iga. we also identified 22 monoclonal antibodies (mabs) raised mostly against human cd markers which cross-reacted ...	2009	19505731
the identification of a novel phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, 1-ethyl-5-{5-[(4-methyl-1-piperazinyl)methyl]-1,3,4-oxadiazol-2-yl}-n-(tetrahydro-2h-pyran-4-yl)-1h-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-4-amine (eppa-1), with improved therapeutic index using pica feeding in rats as a measure of emetogenicity.	clinical utility of phosphodiesterase 4 (pde4) inhibitors as anti-inflammatory agents has, to date, been limited by adverse effects including nausea and emesis, making accurate assessment of emetic versus anti-inflammatory potencies critical to the development of inhibitors with improved therapeutic indices. in the present study we determined the in vitro and in vivo anti-inflammatory potencies of the first-generation pde4 inhibitor, rolipram, the second-generation inhibitors, roflumilast and ci ...	2009	19498103
reassortment between avian h5n1 and human h3n2 influenza viruses in ferrets: a public health risk assessment.	this study investigated whether transmissible h5 subtype human-avian reassortant viruses could be generated in vivo. to this end, ferrets were coinfected with recent avian h5n1 (a/thailand/16/04) and human h3n2 (a/wyoming/3/03) viruses. genotype analyses of plaque-purified viruses from nasal secretions of coinfected ferrets revealed that approximately 9% of recovered viruses contained genes from both progenitor viruses. h5 and h3 subtype viruses, including reassortants, were found in airways ext ...	2009	19493997
effects of calcitonin, calcitonin gene-related peptide, human recombinant bone morphogenetic protein-2, and parathyroid hormone-related protein on endodontically treated ferret canines.	the purpose of this study was to determine whether human recombinant bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhbmp-2), calcitonin gene-related peptide (cgrp), calcitonin (ct), or parathyroid hormone-related protein (pthrp) promoted reparative tertiary dentin or osteodentin formation in ferret canines.	2009	19482187
gsk's novel split-virus adjuvanted vaccines for the prevention of the h5n1 strain of avian influenza infection.	although influenza pandemics occur infrequently, they are unpredictable. given that humans had not been previously exposed to the novel h5n1 strain, few (if any) individuals have any degree of immunity to the strain. glaxosmithkline plc (gsk) has developed two inactivated split h5n1 vaccines adjuvanted with gsk's proprietary oil-in-water emulsion as03: gsk-1562902a (produced in dresden, germany) and gsk-1557484a (produced in québec, canada). the vaccines principally use an a/vietnam strain virus ...	2009	19479667
re: in support of ferrets.		2009	19472524
somatosensory and multisensory properties of the medial bank of the ferret rostral suprasylvian sulcus.	in ferret cortex, the rostral portion of the suprasylvian sulcus separates primary somatosensory cortex (si) from the anterior auditory fields. the boundary of the si extends to this sulcus, but the adjoining medial sulcal bank has been described as "unresponsive." given its location between the representations of two different sensory modalities, it seems possible that the medial bank of the rostral suprasylvian sulcus (mrss) might be multisensory in nature and contains neurons responsive to st ...	2009	19466399
lipid vesicle size of an oral influenza vaccine delivery vehicle influences the th1/th2 bias in the immune response and protection against infection.	previous studies, using parenteral administration of antigen in lipid vesicles, have indicated a possible role for vesicle size in determining the th1/th2 bias of the resulting immune response. we have also demonstrated that the incorporation of bile salts into lipid vesicles (bilosomes) allows successful induction of mucosal and systemic immunity via the oral route. the following study was therefore carried out to determine whether size could also influence the th1/th2 bias in the immune respon ...	2009	19464545
evaluation of vaccines for h5n1 influenza virus in ferrets reveals the potential for protective single-shot immunization.	as part of influenza pandemic preparedness, policy decisions need to be made about how best to utilize vaccines once they are manufactured. since h5n1 avian influenza virus has the potential to initiate the next human pandemic, isolates of this subtype have been used for the production and testing of prepandemic vaccines. clinical trials of such vaccines indicate that two injections of preparations containing adjuvant will be required to induce protective immunity. however, this is a working ass ...	2009	19457991
a plant-produced influenza subunit vaccine protects ferrets against virus challenge.	influenza a viruses are of major concern for public health, causing worldwide epidemics associated with high morbidity and mortality. vaccines are critical for protection against influenza, but given the recent emergence of new strains with pandemic potential, and some limitations of the current production systems, there is a need for new approaches for vaccine development.	2008	19453491
a cell-based h7n1 split influenza virion vaccine confers protection in mouse and ferret challenge models.	in recent years, several avian influenza subtypes (h5, h7 and h9) have transmitted directly from birds to man, posing a pandemic threat.	2009	19453487
chloroquine is effective against influenza a virus in vitro but not in vivo.	chloroquine is an inexpensive and widely available 9-aminoquinolone used in the management of malaria. recently, in vitro assays suggest that chloroquine may have utility in the treatment of several viral infections including influenza.	2007	19453426
preparation of genetically engineered a/h5n1 and a/h7n1 pandemic vaccine viruses by reverse genetics in a mixture of vero and chicken embryo cells.	in case of influenza pandemic, a robust, easy and clean technique to prepare reassortants would be necessary.	2007	19453414
infection with human h1n1 influenza virus affects the expression of sialic acids of metaplastic mucous cells in the ferret airways.	glycans terminating in sialic acids serve as receptors for influenza viruses. in this study ferrets were infected with influenza virus a/new caledonia/20/99, and the in situ localization of sialic acids linked alpha2-3 and alpha2-6 in the airways was investigated in infected and non-infected animals by use of sialic acid detecting lectins and a monoclonal antibody towards the sialyl-tn antigen. the goblet cells in the bronchi from non-infected ferrets expressed sialyl alpha 2-6gal glycans, while ...	2009	19447147
investigation of the biological indicator for vaccine efficacy against highly pathogenic avian influenza (hpai) h5n1 virus challenge in mice and ferrets.	to investigate the biological indicator for vaccine efficacy against hpai h5n1 virus challenge of varying clades, two inactivated whole-virus h5n1 vaccines containing the hemagglutinin (ha) and neuraminidase (na) genes of either clade 2.2 a/em/korea/w149/06 (rgkoreaw149/06 x pr8) or clade 2.5 a/ck/korea/es/03 (rgkoreaes223n/03xpr8) virus in the background of a/pr/8/34 (h1n1) were generated by reverse genetics. administration of the vaccines (2-dose 1.77, 3.5, 7.5 or 15microg of ha) elicited high ...	2009	19446184
generation of candidate human influenza vaccine strains in cell culture - rehearsing the european response to an h7n1 pandemic threat.	although h5n1 avian influenza viruses pose the most obvious imminent pandemic threat, there have been several recent zoonotic incidents involving transmission of h7 viruses to humans. vaccines are the primary public health defense against pandemics, but reliance on embryonated chickens eggs to propagate vaccine and logistic problems posed by the use of new technology may slow our ability to respond rapidly in a pandemic situation.	2007	19432631
detection of group c rotavirus in juvenile ferrets (mustela putorius furo) with diarrhea by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction: sequencing and analysis of the complete coding region of the vp6 gene.	nine juvenile ferrets (mustela putorius furo) with a history of diarrhea were severely dehydrated and had distended abdomens and thin-walled small intestines that contained gas and fluid. histologically, small intestines exhibited acute superficial atrophic enteritis. transmission electron microscopy of the small intestine showed rotavirus-like particles within apical vacuoles. reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (rt-pcr) was negative for group a rotavirus. a group c rotavirus-specif ...	2009	19429992
paradoxical effects of the hypnotic zolpidem in the neonatal ferret.	hypnotic drugs designed to treat insomnia in adults are now increasingly used in children, but the effects of these compounds on neonatal sleep are poorly understood. we investigated the hypnotic effects of the commonly prescribed non-benzodiazepine sleep agent zolpidem (ambien) on sleep architecture and electroencephalographic (eeg) activity in the neonatal ferret. six ferret kits were surgically prepared for eeg/electromyographic (emg) recordings using techniques adopted for use in neonatal an ...	2009	19428639
neoplasitic diseases in ferrets in japan: a questionnaire study for 2000 to 2005.	the objective of this study was to collect epidemiological data on neoplasms in pet ferrets in japan. a questionnaire to collect information was made available to japanese veterinary practitioners through the web site of the japanese society of exotic pet medicine. completed questionnaires were returned from 29 practices, and 945 neoplasms met the criteria for inclusion in the study. neoplasms were found in every organ system except the respiratory system; the endocrine (418; 44.2%), integumenta ...	2009	19420840
the mouse model for influenza.	a major challenge in influenza research is the selection of an appropriate animal model that accurately reflects the disease and protective immune response to influenza infection in humans. ferrets are exquisitely susceptible to infection with human influenza viruses and are widely believed to be the ideal small animal model for influenza research. mice have also been used for influenza vaccine research for decades. although human influenza viruses generally cause disease in mice only if they ar ...	2009	19412911
the ferret model for influenza.	a major challenge in influenza research is the selection of an appropriate animal model that accurately reflects the disease and protective immune response to influenza infection in humans. ferrets are exquisitely susceptible to infection with human influenza viruses and are widely believed to be the ideal small animal model for influenza research. mice have also been used for influenza vaccine research for decades. ferrets are used as an animal model for the study of influenza because they are ...	2009	19412910
immunogenicity and protective efficacy of a live attenuated h5n1 vaccine in nonhuman primates.	the continued spread of highly pathogenic h5n1 influenza viruses among poultry and wild birds, together with the emergence of drug-resistant variants and the possibility of human-to-human transmission, has spurred attempts to develop an effective vaccine. inactivated subvirion or whole-virion h5n1 vaccines have shown promising immunogenicity in clinical trials, but their ability to elicit protective immunity in unprimed human populations remains unknown. a cold-adapted, live attenuated vaccine w ...	2009	19412338
molecular development of the lateral geniculate nucleus in the absence of retinal waves during the time of retinal axon eye-specific segregation.	when retinal waves are inhibited binocularly, eye-specific segregation of retinal axons is disrupted, and retinal axons from the two eyes remain intermingled in the lateral geniculate nucleus (lgn). this effect of binocular retinal wave inhibition is mediated by the lack of activity-dependent competition between retinal axons from the two eyes, but it is unknown whether this effect is also mediated by the developmental arrest of the lgn in an immature state. here we find developmental markers of ...	2009	19409202
single- and multiple-clade influenza a h5n1 vaccines induce cross protection in ferrets.	the rapid evolution, genetic diversity, broad host range, and increasing human infection with avian influenza a (h5n1) viruses highlight the need for an efficacious cross-clade vaccine. using the ferret model, we compared induction of cross-reactive immunity and protective efficacy of three single-clade h5n1 vaccines and a novel multiple-clade h5n1 vaccine, with and without mf59 adjuvant. reverse genetics (rg) was used to generate vaccine viruses containing the hemagglutinin (ha) and neuraminida ...	2009	19406182
assessment of cytologic evaluation of preputial epithelial cells as a diagnostic test for detection of adrenocortical disease in castrated ferrets.	to determine whether results of cytologic evaluation of preputial epithelial cells correspond to results of a serum endocrine hormone assay and clinical signs associated with adrenocortical disease in castrated ferrets.	2009	19405901
minimal molecular constraints for respiratory droplet transmission of an avian-human h9n2 influenza a virus.	pandemic influenza requires interspecies transmission of an influenza virus with a novel hemagglutinin (ha) subtytpe that can adapt to its new host through either reassortment or point mutations and transmit by aerosolized respiratory droplets. two previous pandemics of 1957 and 1968 resulted from the reassortment of low pathogenic avian viruses and human subtypes of that period; however, conditions leading to a pandemic virus are still poorly understood. given the endemic situation of avian h9n ...	2009	19380727
characterization of spindle cell component of ferret (mustela putorius furo) adrenal cortical neoplasms - correlation to clinical parameters and prognosis.	adrenal cortical epithelial tumours are common in ferrets. a variant tumour type with prominent spindle cell proliferation has been identified. we characterized these variant tumours with light microscopy and immunohistochemical analysis and correlate these features to clinical parameters and prognosis. we classified 24 ferret adrenal cortical masses with recognizable spindle cell proliferation obtained from the amc and afip databases, based on percentage of spindle cells present and features of ...	2004	19379299
opportunities for the replacement of animals in the study of nausea and vomiting.	nausea and vomiting are among the most common symptoms encountered in medicine as either symptoms of disease or side effects of treatments. developing novel anti-emetics and identifying emetic liability in novel chemical entities rely on models that can recreate the complexity of these multi-system reflexes. animal models (especially the ferret and dog) are the current gold standard; however, the selection of appropriate models is still a matter of debate, especially when studying the subjective ...	2009	19371333
development of a live-attenuated influenza b deltans1 intranasal vaccine candidate.	we discovered a unique, single amino acid mutation in the influenza b m1 protein promoting viral growth of ns1 truncation mutants in vero cells. due to this mutation, we were able to generate an influenza b virus lacking the complete ns1 open reading frame (deltans1-b virus) by reverse genetics, which was growing to titers of 8log(10)tcid(50)/ml in a vero cell culture-based micro-carrier fermenter. the deltans1-b vaccine candidate was attenuated in ifn-competent hosts such as human alveolar epit ...	2009	19366569
regional patterns of cerebral cortical differentiation determined by diffusion tensor mri.	the morphology of axonal and dendritic arbors in the immature cerebral cortex influences the degree of anisotropy in water diffusion. this enables cortical maturation to be monitored by the noninvasive technique of diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging (dti). herein, we utilized dti of postmortem ferret brain to quantify regional and temporal patterns in cortical maturation. we found that diffusion anisotropy within the isocortex decreases over the first month of life, coinciding closely i ...	2009	19363145
isolation and genetic characterization of h5n2 influenza viruses from pigs in korea.	due to dual susceptibility to both human and avian influenza a viruses, pigs are believed to be effective intermediate hosts for the spread and production of new viruses with pandemic potential. in early 2008, two swine h5n2 viruses were isolated from our routine swine surveillance in korea. the sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of surface proteins revealed that the sw/korea/c12/08 and sw/korea/c13/08 viruses were derived from avian influenza viruses of the eurasian lineage. however, although ...	2009	19359528
canine distemper virus selectively inhibits apoptosis progression in infected immune cells.	morbillivirus infections are characterized by severe leukopenia and immune suppression that develop even before the onset of clinical signs. to characterize in more detail the fate of the immune cells during the critical first week, we evaluated the overall viability, level of apoptosis, cell cycle status, and extent of infection in different immune tissues of ferrets inoculated with a lethal canine distemper virus (cdv) strain. initial experiments with mdck cells, a canine epithelial cell line, ...	2009	19357171
prion protein library of recombinant constructs for structural biology.	a survey of plasmids for 51 prion protein constructs from bank vole, cat, cattle, chicken, dog, elk, ferret, frog, fugu, horse, human, pig, sheep, turtle, and wallaby, and for 113 mouse prion protein constructs and variants thereof, is presented. this includes information on the biochemistry of the recombinant proteins, in particular on successful and unsuccessful expression attempts. the plasmid library was generated during the past 12 years in the context of nmr structure determination and bio ...	2009	19348007
radiographic measurement of cardiac size in 64 ferrets.	as ferrets can suffer from a wide variety of cardiac disorders, indicators for detecting cardiac abnormalities on plain chest radiography are necessary. a total of 64 ferrets without heart disease underwent radiography in the right lateral (rl) and ventrodorsal positions (vd), and the lengths of the rl-sixth dorsal vertebra (6th dv), rl- and vd-long axis (la) and rl- and vd-short axis (sa), rl- and vd- vertebral heart size, vd-length of the eighth costa (lec) and vd-thoracic width at the eighth ...	2009	19346707
intranasal vaccination with 1918 influenza virus-like particles protects mice and ferrets from lethal 1918 and h5n1 influenza virus challenge.	influenza vaccines capable of inducing cross-reactive or heterotypic immunity could be an important first line of prevention against a novel subtype virus. influenza virus-like particles (vlps) displaying functional viral proteins are effective vaccines against replication-competent homologous virus, but their ability to induce heterotypic immunity has not been adequately tested. to measure vlp vaccine efficacy against a known influenza pandemic virus, recombinant vlps were generated from struct ...	2009	19321609
adult deafness induces somatosensory conversion of ferret auditory cortex.	in response to early or developmental lesions, responsiveness of sensory cortex can be converted from the deprived modality to that of the remaining sensory systems. however, little is known about capacity of the adult cortex for cross-modal reorganization. the present study examined the auditory cortices of animals deafened as adults, and observed an extensive somatosensory conversion within as little as 16 days after deafening. these results demonstrate that cortical cross-modal reorganization ...	2009	19307553
cryptococcosis in domestic animals in western australia: a retrospective study from 1995-2006.	a retrospective study of cryptococcosis in domestic animals residing in western australia was conducted over an 11-year-period (from 1995 to 2006) by searching the data base of murdoch university veterinary teaching hospital and the largest private clinical pathology laboratory in perth. cryptococcosis was identified in 155 animals: 72 cats, 57 dogs, 20 horses, three alpacas, two ferrets and a sheep. there was no seasonal trend apparent from the dates of diagnosis. taking into account the common ...	2009	19306217
contrast independence of cardinal preference: stable oblique effect in orientation maps of ferret visual cortex.	the oblique effect was first described as enhanced detection and discrimination of cardinal orientations compared with oblique orientations. such biases in visual processing are believed to originate from a functional adaptation to environmental statistics dominated by cardinal contours. at the neuronal level, the oblique orientation effect corresponds to the numerical overrepresentation and narrower tuning bandwidths of cortical neurons representing the cardinal axes. the anisotropic distributi ...	2009	19302161
characterization of brain development in the ferret via mri.	animal models with complex cortical development are useful for improving our understanding of the wide spectrum of neurodevelopmental challenges facing human preterm infants. mri techniques can define both cerebral injury and alterations in cerebral development with translation between animal models and the human infant. we hypothesized that the immature ferret would display a similar sequence of brain development [both gray (gm) and white matter (wm)] to that of the preterm human infant. we des ...	2009	19287340
the public health impact of avian influenza viruses.	influenza viruses with novel hemagglutinin and 1 or more accompanying genes derived from avian influenza viruses sporadically emerge in humans and have the potential to result in a pandemic if the virus causes disease and spreads efficiently in a population that lacks immunity to the novel hemagglutinin. since 1997, multiple avian influenza virus subtypes have been transmitted directly from domestic poultry to humans and have caused a spectrum of human disease, from asymptomatic to severe and fa ...	2009	19276438
regulation of antiarrhythmic drug propafenone effects on the c-type kv1.4 potassium channel by pho and k+.	the effects of the antiarrhythmic drug propafenone at c-type kv1.4 channels in xenopus laevis oocytes were studied with the two-electrode voltage-clamp technique. defolliculated oocytes (stage v-vi) were injected with transcribed crnas of ferret kv1.4 delta n channels. during recording, oocytes were continuously perfused with control solution or propafenone. propafenone decreased the currents during voltage steps. the block was voltage-, use-, and concentration- dependent manners. the block was ...	2009	19270818
trans-species amplification of prp(cwd) and correlation with rigid loop 170n.	chronic wasting disease (cwd) is an efficiently transmitted spongiform encephalopathy of cervids. whether cwd could represent a threat to non-cervid species remains speculative. here we show that brain homogenates from several cwd-susceptible non-cervid species, such as ferrets and hamsters, support amplification of prp(cwd) by spmca, whereas brain homogenates from cwd-resistant species, such as laboratory mice and transgenic mice expressing human prp(c) [tg(huprp) mice], do not. we also investi ...	2009	19269662
crosstalk between adipose-derived stem/stromal cells and vocal fold fibroblasts in vitro.	to explore adipose-derived stem cell/fibroblast interactions as a potential remodeling pathway for vocal fold scar.	2009	19263411
alcian blue and pyronine y histochemical stains permit assessment of multiple parameters in pulmonary disease models.	utilization of a combined alcian blue and pyronine y histochemical method for the assessment of multiple parameters in the respiratory tract of various species is described. acidic mucins were deep blue (sialylated mucins), red (sulfated mucins), or variably purple (mixture of sialylated/sulfated mucins), and differential mucus production was readily detected in a murine respiratory syncytial virus vaccine model of pulmonary inflammation. elastic fibers stained red in the walls of pulmonary arte ...	2009	19261646
vestibular syndrome due to a choroid plexus papilloma in a ferret.	a 6-year-old, castrated male ferret (mustela putorius furo) was presented with progressive neurological signs consisting of a right-sided head tilt and ataxia. neurological examination revealed hemiparesis and absence of proprioception on the right side, consistent with central vestibular syndrome. measurement of blood glucose excluded hypoglycemia due to insulinoma. contrast-enhanced computed tomography revealed the presence of an intracranial mass, consistent with either granuloma or neoplasia ...	2009	19258423
the sparseness of neuronal responses in ferret primary visual cortex.	various arguments suggest that neuronal coding of natural sensory stimuli should be sparse (i.e., individual neurons should respond rarely but should respond reliably). we examined sparseness of visual cortical neurons in anesthetized ferret to flashed natural scenes. response behavior differed widely between neurons. the median firing rate of 4.1 impulses per second was slightly higher than predicted from consideration of metabolic load. thirteen percent of neurons (12 of 89) responded to <5% o ...	2009	19244512
interdependent encoding of pitch, timbre, and spatial location in auditory cortex.	because we can perceive the pitch, timbre, and spatial location of a sound source independently, it seems natural to suppose that cortical processing of sounds might separate out spatial from nonspatial attributes. indeed, recent studies support the existence of anatomically segregated "what" and "where" cortical processing streams. however, few attempts have been made to measure the responses of individual neurons in different cortical fields to sounds that vary simultaneously across spatial an ...	2009	19228960
progress and prospects: techniques for site-directed mutagenesis in animal models.	in the past 2 years, new gene-targeting approaches using adeno-associated virus and designer zinc-finger nucleases have been successfully applied to the production of genetically modified ferrets, pigs, mice and zebrafish. gene targeting using these tools has been combined with somatic cell nuclear transfer and germ cell transplantation to generate gene-targeted animal models. these new technical advances, which do not require the generation of embryonic stem cell-derived chimeras, will greatly ...	2009	19225549
experimental infection of pigs with the human 1918 pandemic influenza virus.	swine influenza was first recognized as a disease entity during the 1918 "spanish flu" pandemic. the aim of this work was to determine the virulence of a plasmid-derived human 1918 pandemic h1n1 influenza virus (reconstructed 1918, or 1918/rec, virus) in swine using a plasmid-derived a/swine/iowa/15/1930 h1n1 virus (1930/rec virus), representing the first isolated influenza virus, as a reference. four-week-old piglets were inoculated intratracheally with either the 1930/rec or the 1918/rec virus ...	2009	19224986
vaginocervical stimulation of ferrets induces release of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone.	abstract vaginocervical stimulation of ovariectomized estradiol-primed ferrets (which are reflex ovulators) with a glass rod in the presence of a neck-gripping male induced an increase in plasma luteinizing hormone (lh) from undetectable levels (</=0.50 ng/ml) before stimulation, to 2.4 +/- 0.43 ng/ml 75 min after stimulation (stimulated females). forty-eight h after stimulation plasma lh returned to baseline levels (post-stimulated females). a significant decrease in the number of perikarya con ...	1991	19215443
effect of naloxone on the pulsatile secretion of luteinizing hormone in gonadectomized male and female ferrets before and after oestradiol replacement.	abstract intravenous infusions of the opioid receptor antagonist, naloxone, caused a significant rise in luteinizing hormone (lh) pulse frequency in male and female ferrets which had been gonadectomized 10 days earlier while in breeding condition; mean lh concentrations and lh pulse amplitudes were not affected. by contrast, naloxone failed to stimulate lh pulse frequency, or other lh parameters in gonadectomized ferrets of either sex which received daily injections of a low dose of oestradiol. ...	1990	19215408
steroidal control of behavioural, neuroendocrine and brain sexual differentiation: studies in a carnivore, the ferret.		1990	19215366
shift of chloride reversal potential in neurons of the accessory optic system in albinotic rats.	albinism affects the anatomy and physiology of the visual system in mammals. behavioural, anatomical and in vivo electrophysiological investigations revealed that the optokinetic reflex is abnormal and retinal slip neurons in the nucleus of the optic tract and the dorsal terminal nucleus of the accessory optic system (not-dtn) lack direction selectivity and have a reduced dendritic tree in albinotic rats and ferrets. earlier investigations show a disturbed chloride homeostasis and a depolarizing ...	2009	19214490
human ha and polymerase subunit pb2 proteins confer transmission of an avian influenza virus through the air.	the influenza virus genes that confer efficient transmission of epidemic and pandemic strains in humans have not been identified. the rapid spread and severe disease caused by the 1918 influenza pandemic virus makes it an ideal virus to study the transmissibility of potentially pandemic influenza strains. here, we used a series of human 1918-avian h1n1 influenza reassortant viruses to identify the genetic determinants that govern airborne transmission of avian influenza viruses. we have demonstr ...	2009	19211790
the effect of the breeding season, cryopreservation and physiological extender on selected sperm and semen parameters of four ferret species: implications for captive breeding in the endangered black-footed ferret.	in the present investigation, comparative baseline information on selected sperm characteristics of ejaculate spermatozoa of the domestic (mustela putorius furo), fitch (mustela sp.) and black-footed ferrets (mustela nigripes) and the siberian polecat (mustela eversmanni) are presented. the main emphasis was to establish differences and similarities among these species in relation to semen and sperm quality during the breeding season, in cryopreservation success and in supporting sperm motility ...	2009	19210927
effect of sex, intrauterine position and androgen manipulation on the development of brain aromatase activity in fetal ferrets.	abstract experiments were conducted to explore the possible relationship between testicular androgen secretion and the development of brain aromatase activity in fetal ferrets. aromatase activity in the preoptic+mediobasal hypothalamus and temporal lobe was similar in fetuses of both sexes between embryonic days 26 and 36 even though whole body androgen content was invariably higher in males than females. whole body androgen content was significantly higher in females located caudally (downstrea ...	1989	19210439
pathogenesis of h5n1 influenza virus infections in mice and ferret models differs according to respiratory tract or digestive system exposure.	epidemiologic, clinical, and laboratory data suggest that h5n1 influenza viruses are transmitted through and predominantly affect the respiratory system of mammals. some data suggest digestive system involvement. however, direct evidence of alimentary transmission and infection in mammals is lacking.	2009	19210164