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eimeria infection in camels (camelus dromedarius) in yazd province, central iran.this study was carried out during the winter of 2008 to the summer 2010 to determine the rate of infection of eimeria spp. in dromedary camels in yazd province, iran at that period. a total of 305 faecal samples were taken per recta from live and slaughtered, apparently healthy camels 9 months to 23 years old. using saturated zinc sulfate solution floatation technique, samples were prepared and investigated microscopically to detect eimeria spp. oocysts. results revealed that the overall frequen ...201222543606
arthroscopic approach and intraarticular anatomy of the stifle in south american camelids.to describe a cranial arthroscopic approach to the stifle of south american camelids and to report our clinical experience with camelid stifle arthroscopy.201222463108
arthroscopy of the fetlock joint of the dromedary camel.to describe a technique for arthroscopy of the fetlock joint of the dromedary camel, and the problems that could occur during and after arthroscopy.201222450956
reflections: neurology and the humanities. the girl with the dromedary gait. 201222435115
epidural ketamine in the dromedary camel.to evaluate the clinical and physiological effects of epidural injection of ketamine in camels.201222420374
dental health in northern chile's atacama oases: evaluating the middle horizon (ad 500-1000) impact on local diet.as one of the few areas apt for horticulture in northern chile's arid landscape, the prehistory of the atacama oases is deeply enmeshed with that of the inter-regional networks that promoted societal development in the south central andes. during the middle horizon (ad 500-1000), local populations experienced a cultural apex associated with a substantial increase in inter-regional interaction, population density, and quantity and quality of mortuary assemblages. here, we test if this cultural pe ...201222411074
regional and circadian variations of sweating rate and body surface temperature in camels (camelus dromedarius).it was the aim of this study to investigate the regional variations in surface temperature and sweating rate and to visualize body thermal windows responsible for the dissipation of excess body heat in dromedary camels. this study was conducted on five dromedary camels with mean body weight of 450 ± 20.5 kg and 2 years of age. sweating rate, skin and body surface temperature showed significant (p < 0.001) circadian variation together with the variation in ambient temperature. however, daily mean ...201222776794
generation of diversity by somatic mutation in the camelus dromedarius t-cell receptor gamma variable domains.in jawed vertebrates the v-(d)-j rearrangement is the main mechanism generating limitless variations of antigen-specific receptors, immunoglobulins (igs), and t-cell receptors (tcrs) from few genes. once the initial diversity is established in primary lymphoid organs, further diversification occurs in igs by somatic hypermutation, a mechanism from which rearranged tcr genes were thought to be excluded. here, we report the locus organization and expression of the t-cell receptor gamma (tcrg) gene ...201222961631
disulfide linkage engineering for improving biophysical properties of human vh domains.to enhance their therapeutic potential, human antibody heavy chain variable domains (v(h)s) would benefit from increased thermostability. the highly conserved disulfide linkage that connects cys23 and cys104 residues in the core of v(h) domains is crucial to their stability and function. it has previously been shown that the introduction of a second disulfide linkage can increase the thermostability of camelid heavy-chain antibody variable domains (v(h)hs). using four model domains we demonstrat ...201222942392
generation and characterization of non-competitive furin-inhibiting nanobodies.the pc (proprotein convertase) furin cleaves a large variety of proproteins and hence plays a major role in many pathologies. therefore furin inhibition might be a good strategy for therapeutic intervention, and several furin inhibitors have been generated, although none are entirely furin-specific. to reduce potential side effects caused by cross-reactivity with other proteases, dromedary heavy-chain-derived nanobodies against catalytically active furin were developed as specific furin inhibito ...201222920187
presence, distribution and steroidogenic effect of the peptides orexin a and receptor 1 for orexins in the testis of the south american camelid alpaca (vicugna pacos).the orexins a (oxa) and b are peptides discovered in the rat hypothalamus and successively found in some peripheral organs of the mammalian body. they binds two protein g-coupled receptors defined receptor 1 (ox1r) and 2 for orexins, the first of which is highly specific for oxa while the second binds both the peptides with equal affinity. this work aimed to detect the presence of oxa and ox1r in the testis of the south american camelid alpaca (vicugna pacos) and investigate the role played by t ...201222909972
generation of single domain antibody fragments derived from camelids and generation of manifold constructs.immunizing a camelid (camels and llamas) with soluble, properly folded proteins raises an affinity-matured immune response in the unique camelid heavy-chain only antibodies (hcabs). the peripheral blood lymphocytes of the immunized animal are used to clone the antigen-binding antibody fragment from the hcabs in a phage display vector. a representative aliquot of the library of these antigen-binding fragments is used to retrieve single domain antigen-specific binders by successive rounds of panni ...201222907350
nanobodies as structural probes of protein misfolding and fibril formation.the deposition of peptides and proteins as amyloid fibrils is a common feature of nearly 50 medical -disorders affecting the brain or a variety of other organs and tissues. these disorders, which include alzheimer's disease, parkinson's disease, the prion diseases, and type ii diabetes, have an enormous impact on the public health and economy of the modern world. extensive research is therefore taking place to determine the underlying molecular mechanisms and determinants of the pathological con ...201222886275
nanobody-based chromatin immunoprecipitation.chromatin immunoprecipitation (chip), followed by microarray hybridization (chip-chip) or high-throughput sequencing (chip-seq), is becoming a widely used powerful method for the analysis of the in vivo dna-protein interactions at genomic scale.the success of chip largely depends on the quality of antibodies. although polyclonal antibodies have been successfully used for chip, their production requires regular immunization and they exhibit high aspecificity and batch to batch variability. these ...201222886272
characterization of single-domain antibodies with an engineered disulfide bond.camelidae single-domain antibodies (vhhs) represent a unique class of emerging therapeutics. similar to other recombinant antibody fragments (e.g., fabs, scfvs), vhhs are amenable to library screening and selection, but benefit from superior intrinsic biophysical properties such as high refolding efficiency, high solubility, no tendency for aggregation, resistance to proteases and chemical denaturants, and high expression, making them ideal agents for antibody-based drug design. despite these fa ...201222886266
improvement of single domain antibody stability by disulfide bond introduction.the successful medical application of single domain antibodies largely depends on their functionality. this feature is partly determined by the intrinsic stability of the single domain. therefore a lot of research has gone into the elucidation of rules to uniformly increase stability of antibodies. recently, a novel intra-domain disulfide bond was independently discovered by two research groups, after either rational design or careful investigation of the naturally occurring camelid antibody rep ...201222886265
stable expression of chimeric heavy chain antibodies in cho cells.camelid single domain antibodies fused to noncamelid fc regions, also called chimeric heavy chain antibodies (chcab), offer great potential as therapeutic and diagnostic candidates due to their relatively small size (80 kda) and intact fc. in this chapter, we describe two approaches, limiting dilution and minipools, for generating nonamplified chinese hamster ovary cell lines stably expressing chcab in suspension and serum-free cultures using a stringent antibiotic selection. neither of the prot ...201222886259
preparation of a naïve library of camelid single domain antibodies.the preparation of antibody libraries starting from lymphocytes recovered from immunized members of the camelidae enables to collect binders that underwent somatic maturation. however, the time and costs necessary to prepare a library for each new antigen may urge to look for alternatives such as those offered by large one-pot libraries. here we describe how to obtain a suitable naïve library using material from nonimmunized llamas. despite the lack of somatic maturation, the selection based on ...201222886246
introduction to heavy chain antibodies and derived nanobodies.the immune response of infected or immunized dromedaries contains a diverse repertoire of conventional and heavy chain-only antibodies, both functional in antigen binding. by definition, a heavy chain antibody is devoid of a light chain and in the case of the heavy chain antibodies in camelids the ch1 domain is also missing. consequently a camelid heavy chain antibody associates with its cognate antigen via a single domain, the variable heavy chain domain of a heavy chain antibody or vhh. an ant ...201222886243
echocardiography of the normal camel (camelus dromedaries) heart: technique and cardiac dimensions.echocardiography and intra-cardiac dimensions have not previously been reported in adult camels despite its potential application for medical purpose. the aim of this study was to describe the results of a prospective study, aiming to report normal cardiac appearance and normal chamber dimensions in adult camels (camelus dromedarius).201222862855
seminal plasma components in camelids and comparisons with other species.camelid semen is characterized by a highly viscous, low-volume ejaculate with a low concentration of spermatozoa that exhibit low progressive motility. the viscous seminal plasma is currently the major impediment to the development of assisted reproductive technologies (arts) in camelids. to advance arts such as sperm cryopreservation and artificial insemination in camelids, it is necessary to identify the cause of the viscosity and gain an understanding of the role of seminal plasma components ...201222827394
characterization of ovarian follicular dynamics in dromedary camels (camelus dromedarius).ovarian follicular dynamics was monitored by transrectal ultrasonography, for a period of 60 to 90 days, and its correlation with plasma estradiol-17β (e2) and progesterone (p4) were studied in seventeen, multiparous, non-lactating, 12 to 20-year-old dromedary camels. the average number of follicles recruited (12.77 ± 0.93) in each wave between animals varied (p < 0.001). the number of follicles recruited during different follicular waves was highly repeatable (0.95) within individual animals. t ...201222819287
a preliminary microbiological assessment of process hygiene of traditional outdoor camel slaughter in sahrawi refugee camps.the aim of this study was to investigate the hygiene performance of a camel (camelus dromedarius) slaughtering process as carried out with the traditional method in the sahrawi refugee camps located in southwestern algeria. the camel slaughtering process in this region differs significantly from that carried out in commercial abattoirs. slaughtering is performed outdoors in desert areas, and dehiding of the carcass is approached via the dorsoventral route rather than the classic ventrodorsal rou ...201223043838
survey of the camel urinary proteome by shotgun proteomics using a multiple database search strategy.we report the first survey of the dromedary camel urinary proteome. proteins retained from ultrafiltration of urine were analysed by gelc-ms/ms (sds-page followed by lc-ms/ms). in the absence of a complete camel genome sequence, the number of protein identifications was maximised by searching three primary sequence databases: swiss-prot, alpaca and camel est. this search strategy enabled the identification of 1274 peptide sequences, of which 735 were found in at least two independent samples. fu ...201223001906
camel heavy chain antibodies against prostate-specific membrane antigen.prostate-specific membrane antigen (psma), a type ii integral membrane glycoprotein, is highly overexpressed in all forms of prostate cancer tissues. it has also been demonstrated in a wide range of neovasculature of non-prostatic solid tumors, including bladder, pancreas, lung, kidney, colorectal, and gastric cancers. given the unique expression of psma, it is considered an alluring target for antibody-based imaging and therapy of cancer. in the present study, the production and characterizatio ...201223244321
sonographic monitoring of early follicle growth induced by melatonin implants in camels and the subsequent fertility.the present study examined the effect of melatonin implants on follicle growth in dromedary camels two months ahead of their natural breeding season (december to march). female camels (n = 6) were treated with melatonin implants at the dose rate of 1 implant per 28 kg body weight sc. control camels (n = 6) were administered an sc placebo implant of 8 ml vitamin a. ovarian ultrasonography was performed at weekly interval upto 7 weeks. camels were mated with virile stud when a follicle (≥10 mm) wa ...201223396356
morphological characteristics of the vallate papillae of the one-humped camel (camelus dromedarius).in this study, the morphology of the vallate papillae of camel was investigated using gross, light and scanning electron microscopy as well as immunohistochemistry. vallate papillae were arranged along an identical line on each side of the lingual torus and revealed remarkable individual differences. however, each papilla - round or flat, small or large, single or paired - was surrounded by a prominent groove and an annular pad. based on our findings, postnatal development and formation of new p ...201223137354
prevalence of cryptosporidium spp. in camels and involved people in yazd province, iran.although infection of dromedary camels with cryptosporidium spp. is rare in iran, it is considered a zoonotic threat to the keepers and herders of camels. thus we investigated the prevalence of cryptosporidium in these two hosts in yazd province, a semi-arid region in center of iran.201223133476
clinical, ultrasonographic, and pathologic findings in 70 camels (camelus dromedarius) with johne's disease.this study evaluated the use of ultrasonography for the diagnosis of johne's disease in camels (camelus dromedarius). seventy camels with confirmed johne's disease were examined by ultrasonography and subsequent necropsy; 15 healthy camels were included as controls. the most outstanding findings were visible enlargement of the mesenteric lymph nodes in 52 (74%) camels. lesions had either echogenic (26%; n = 18) or anechoic (69%; n = 48) capsule and the contents were either anechoic (21%; n = 15) ...201223115369
selection and characterization of recombinant dromedary antiovalbumin antibody fragments that do not cross-react with ovalbumin-related protein x: use for immunoaffinity.ovalbumin-related protein x (ovax) and ovalbumin are two very close ovalbumin-related serpins. as primary data on ovax remain recent, information about possible cross-reaction of available antiovalbumin antibodies with ovax is still missing. using labeled purified ovax and dot ligand blotting, we identified 49 recombinant dromedary antiovalbumin single domain antibody (sdab) fragments that were unable to bind ovax. discrimination between ovax and ovalbumin was confirmed for two of the correspond ...201223181906
mandibular fracture in single-humped camels.to report the causes and classification of mandibular fractures in dromedary camels and outcome after treatment.201122380676
determination of testicular blood flow in camelids using vascular casting and color pulsed-wave doppler ultrasonography.we describe the vasculature of the camelid testis using plastic casting. we also use color pulsed-wave doppler ultrasonography to measure testicular blood flow and compare the differences between testicular blood flow in fertile and infertile camelids. the testicular artery originates from the ventral surface of the aorta, gives rise to an epididymal branch, and becomes very tortuous as it approaches the testis. within the supratesticular arteries, peak systolic velocity (psv) was higher in fert ...201121941690
nanobody stabilization of g protein-coupled receptor conformational states.remarkable progress has been made in the field of g protein-coupled receptor (gpcr) structural biology during the past four years. several obstacles to generating diffraction quality crystals of gpcrs have been overcome by combining innovative methods ranging from protein engineering to lipid-based screens and microdiffraction technology. the initial gpcr structures represent energetically stable inactive-state conformations. however, gpcrs signal through different g protein isoforms or g protei ...201121782416
transmigration of beta amyloid specific heavy chain antibody fragments across the in vitro blood-brain barrier.previously selected amyloid beta recognizing heavy chain antibody fragments (vhh) affinity binders derived from the camelid heavy chain antibody repertoire were tested for their propensity to cross the blood-brain barrier (bbb) using an established in vitro bbb co-culture system. of all tested vhh, ni3a showed highest transmigration efficiency which is, in part, facilitated by a three amino acid substitutions in its n-terminal domain. additional studies indicated that the mechanism of transcellu ...201121683126
an anti-hapten camelid antibody reveals a cryptic binding site with significant energetic contributions from a nonhypervariable loop.conventional anti-hapten antibodies typically bind low-molecular weight compounds (haptens) in the crevice between the variable heavy and light chains. conversely, heavy chain-only camelid antibodies, which lack a light chain, must rely entirely on a single variable domain to recognize haptens. while several anti-hapten vhhs have been generated, little is known regarding the underlying structural and thermodynamic basis for hapten recognition. here, an anti-methotrexate vhh (anti-mtx vhh) was ge ...201121557375
analysis and modeling of the variable region of camelid single-domain antibodies.camelids have a special type of ab, known as heavy chain abs, which are devoid of classical ab light chains. relative to classical abs, camelid heavy chain abs (cabs) have comparable immunogenicity, ag recognition diversity and binding affinities, higher stability and solubility, and better manufacturability, making them promising candidates for alternate therapeutic scaffolds. rational engineering of cabs to improve therapeutic function requires knowledge of the differences of sequence and stru ...201121525384
ptaa and b10: new approaches to amyloid detection in tissue-evaluation of amyloid detection in tissue with a conjugated polyelectrolyte and a fibril-specific antibody fragment.we analysed the suitability of two little known substances for the detection of amyloid in surgical pathology specimens, that is the conjugated polyelectrolyte polythiophene acetic acid (ptaa) and the camelid antibody domain b10.201121401323
histological and immunohistochemical studies on the epididymal duct in the dromedary camel (camelus dromedarius).this study was conducted to underscore the spatial distribution of some biologically active proteins within the epididymal duct in the dromedary camel. paraffin-embedded sections from different regions of epididymis were stained by conventional histological techniques and by immunohistochemistry. a battery of primary antibodies against six proteins (s100, alpha smooth muscle actin [α-sma], connexin-43 [cx43], galactosyltransferase [galtase], angiotensin converting enzyme [ace], and vascular endo ...201122254157
biological activity of camel milk casein following enzymatic digestion.the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of enzymatic hydrolysis with digestive enzymes of camel whole casein and beta-casein (β-cn) on their antioxidant and angiotensin converting enzyme (ace)-inhibitory properties. peptides in each hydrolysate were fractionated with ultra-filtration membranes. the antioxidant activity was determined using a trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (teac) scale. after enzymatic hydrolysis, both antioxidant and ace-inhibitory activities of camel whole ...201121910944
evaluation of glycoproteins purified from adult and larval camel ticks (hyalomma dromedarii) as a candidate vaccine.in order to identify antigens that can help prevent camel tick infestations, three major glycoproteins (glps) about 97, 66 and 40 kda in size were purified from adult and larval egyptian ticks, hyalomma (h.) dromedarii, using a single-step purification method with con-a sepharose. the purified glps were evaluated as vaccines against camel tick infestation in rabbits. the rabbits received three intramuscular inoculations of glps (20 µg/animal) on days 0, 14, and 28. in the immunoblot analysis, se ...201121897098
Diagnostic Value of Animal-Side Antibody Assays for Rapid Detection of Mycobacterium bovis or Mycobacterium microti Infection in South American Camelids.Tuberculosis (TB) in South American camelids (SAC) is caused by Mycobacterium bovis or Mycobacterium microti. Two serological methods, rapid testing (RT) and the dual-path platform (DPP) assay, were evaluated using naturally infected SAC. The study population included 156 alpacas and 175 llamas in Great Britain, Switzerland, and the United States. TB due to M. bovis (n = 44) or M. microti (n = 8) in 35 alpacas and 17 llamas was diagnosed by gross pathology examination and culture. Control animal ...201122012976
histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical study of the lymph nodes of the one humped camel (camelus dromedarius).prescapular, femoral, mesenteric, mediastinal and splenic lymph nodes from nine camels of one to 12 years of age were studied. there were no obvious structural differences between these different lymph nodes or between the ages. the lymph nodes were surrounded by a capsule formed of two layers, an outer thicker layer of connective tissue and an inner thinner layer mainly of smooth muscles. trabeculae extended from the inner layer of the capsule dividing the parenchyma characteristically into inc ...201122169326
Functional organization of hsp70 cluster in camel (Camelus dromedarius) and other mammals.Heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70) is a molecular chaperone providing tolerance to heat and other challenges at the cellular and organismal levels. We sequenced a genomic cluster containing three hsp70 family genes linked with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class III region from an extremely heat tolerant animal, camel (Camelus dromedarius). Two hsp70 family genes comprising the cluster contain heat shock elements (HSEs), while the third gene lacks HSEs and should not be induced by heat shock ...201122096537
isolation and culture of preantral follicles for retrieving oocytes for the embryo production: present status in domestic animals.the development of efficient ovarian preantral follicle (pf) isolation and culture systems provide a large number of oocytes for the manipulation and embryo production. it also helps for understanding the mechanisms of follicle and oocyte development. isolation and culture protocols for pfs were developed for many domestic species like cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, pig, horse, camel, dog and cats; however, embryo production from oocytes derived from in vitro grown pfs was reported only in pigs, ...201122008238
reference values for the genitalia of male dromedary before and after puberty using caliper and ultrasonography in subtropics.the aim of the present study was to characterize the dynamic changes of the testes and the pelvic genitalia in vivo in male dromedary. eighty-one clinically healthy male dromedaries aged 1.5 to 12 years were assigned for the present study. testicular length, breadth, and depth as well as epididymal head and tail were measured using caliper and ultrasonography. the pelvic genitalia, including bulbourethral gland, prostate, and pelvic urethra were examined using ultrasonography. the results reveal ...201122056018
south american camelid illegal traffic detection by means of molecular markers.south american camelids comprise the wild species guanaco and vicuña and their respective domestic relatives llama and alpaca. the aim of the present study was to determine by dna analysis to which of these species belong a herd of camelids confiscated from a llama breeder but alleged to be alpacas by the prosecution, and to evaluate the usefulness of mitochondrial and autosomal dna markers to solve judicial cases involving camelid taxa. cytochrome b and cytochrome oxidase i mitochondrial genes ...201121982877
Advanced colorectal cancer with double-hump camel-like appearance. 201121951098
Inhibitory Effects of Native/Recombinant Full-Length Camel Lactoferrin and its N/C lobes on Hepatitis C Virus Infection of Huh7.5 Cells.Lactoferrin was suggested to have anti-viral activity against hepatitis C virus (HCV). The objective of this study was to compare effects of recombinant camel lactoferrin (rcLf), native camel lactoferrin (ncLf), and their N/C fragments on HCV infection in Huh7.5 cells. ncLf was purified from camel milk, and N/C-lobes were proteolytically generated. rcLf and its fragments were synthesized by Bac-to-Bac baculovirus expression system. All proteins but the C-lobe of rcLf were soluble. The inhibitory ...201122052996
A molecular survey on cystic echinococcosis in Sinnar area, Blue Nile state (Sudan).Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonosis caused by the cestodes of the Echinococcus species. Its life cycle involves dogs and other canids as definitive hosts for the intestinal tapeworm, as well as domestic and wild ungulates as intermediate hosts for the tissue-invading metacestode (larval) stage. The disease has a special impact on disadvantaged pastoralist communities and is listed now among the three top priority neglected tropical disease (NTD). Therefore, CE is a neglected disease even in ...201122040487
effects of undenatured whey protein supplementation on cxcl12- and ccl21-mediated b and t cell chemotaxis in diabetic mice.long and persistent uncontrolled diabetes tends to degenerate the immune system and leads to an increased incidence of infection. whey proteins (wps) enhance immunity during early life and have a protective role in some immune disorders. in this study, the effects of camel wp on the chemotaxis of b and t cells to cxcl12 and ccl21 in diabetic mice were investigated.201122070978
camelus dromedarius putative cytochrome p450 enzyme cyp2e1: complete coding sequence and phylogenetic tree.this study determined the full-length sequence of cyp2e1, one of six cytochrome p450 genes previously examined in camel tissues by western blotting and semi-quantitative pcr. the camelus dromedarius cyp2e1 has an open reading frame of 1,473 bp, and the cdna encodes a protein of 490 amino acid residues with a molecular weight of 54.8 kda. the deduced amino acid sequence showed the highest identity with bos taurus (88%), sus scrofa (87%), and homo sapiens (83%). in a phylogenetic analysis, the c. ...201121964519
botulinum neurotoxins and botulism: a novel therapeutic approach.specific treatment is not available for human botulism. current remedial mainstay is the passive administration of polyclonal antibody to botulinum neurotoxin (bont) derived from heterologous species (immunized animal or mouse hybridoma) together with supportive and symptomatic management. the antibody works extracellularly, probably by blocking the binding of receptor binding (r) domain to the neuronal receptors; thus inhibiting cellular entry of the holo-bont. the antibody cannot neutralize th ...201122069720
occurrence of gastrointestinal helminths in bactrian camel in iran.a study on naturally acquired gastrointestinal helminthic parasites in bactrian camel was carried out in ardabil province, northwest of iran, which is the main site of this species in iran. this species has importance in iran due to its low population. a total of 25 faecal samples (25% of population) were examined by clayton lane method to determine the egg count of different types of helminths in different age groups. helminth eggs were found in 13 (52%) of the faecal samples (0-191 e ...201122041757
prevalence of neospora caninum and toxoplasma gondii antibodies in sera from camels (camelus dromedarius) in riyadh province, saudi arabia.from april to december 2010, blood samples were collected from 412 healthy camels in riyadh province, saudi arabia and used to evaluate serological screening for neospora caninum and toxoplasma gondii infection by an indirect fluorescent antibody test (ifat). of the 412 camels, antibodies to n. caninum were found in sixteen in titers of 1:20 and in seven in titers of 1:40 using whole n. caninum tachyzoites as ifat slide (vmrd inc., pullman, wa 99163, usa). antibodies to t. gondii were found in n ...201121980764
molecular identification of animal isolates of echinococcus granulosus from iran using four mitochondrial genes.mitochondrial genes have more power than nuclear genes in reconstructing phylogenetic relationships among closely related species because of their faster sequence evolution. the aim of this study was to use the complete or near-complete sequences from three mitochondrial genes (cox1, nad1 and atp6) and partial sequences of the 12s rrna gene to infer relationships among isolates of echinococcus granulosus from iran. two hundred and twenty-nine isolates of e. granulosus were collected from cattle, ...201122166311
impact of albumin on drug delivery - new applications on the horizon.over the past decades, albumin has emerged as a versatile carrier for therapeutic and diagnostic agents, primarily for diagnosing and treating diabetes, cancer, rheumatoid arthritis and infectious diseases. market approved products include fatty acid derivatives of human insulin or the glucagon-like-1 peptide (levemir(®) and victoza(®)) for treating diabetes, the taxol albumin nanoparticle abraxane(®) for treating metastatic breast cancer which is also under clinical investigation in further tum ...201121959118
affinity transfer to a human protein by cdr3 grafting of camelid vhh.vhh is the binding domain of the igg heavy chain. some vhhs have an extremely long cdr3 that contributes to antigen binding. we studied the antigen binding ability of cdr3 by grafting a cdr3 from an antigen-binding vhh onto a nonbinding vhh. cab-ca05-(1ri8), the cdr3-grafted vhh, had an antigen-binding ability. to find a human scaffold protein acceptable for vhh cdr3 grafting, we focused on the conserved structure of vhh, especially the n-terminal and c-terminal amino acid residues of the cdr3 l ...201121910150
home and other nontraffic injuries among children and youth in a high-income middle eastern country: a trauma registry study.a trauma registry in the united arab emirates was used to ascertain nontraffic injuries of 0- to 19-year-olds. the registry's value for prevention was assessed. a total of 292 children and youth with nontraffic injuries were admitted for >24 hours at surgical wards of the main trauma hospital in al ain region during 36 months in 2003-2006. injuries were analyzed by external cause, location, body part, and severity. nontraffic represented 60% (n = 292) of child and youth injuries. incidence/100 0 ...201122199149
camel bite injuries in united arab emirates: a 6 year prospective study.purpose: to prospectively study the incidence, mechanism, distribution of injury, and outcome of patients admitted to al-ain hospital with camel bite injuries in al-ain, united arab emirates. methodology: all patients admitted to al-ain hospital with a camel bite were prospectively studied during the period of october 2001-october 2007. patient's demography, mechanism of injury including behaviour of the camel, distribution and severity of injury, and outcome were studied. results: 33 patients w ...201122186231
dual beneficial effect of an interloop disulfide bond for single domain antibody fragments.functional heavy-chain antibodies (hcabs) in camelids have their antigen-binding fragment comprised in a single domain, named vhh (variable domain of heavy-chain of hcab). the vhh harbors remarkable amino acid substitutions in the framework region-2 (fr-2) to generate an antigen-binding domain that functions in absence of a light chain partner. the substitutions provide a more hydrophilic, hence more soluble, character to the vhh but decrease the intrinsic stability of the domain. here we invest ...201122128183
generation and characterization of a functional nanobody against the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2; angiogenesis cell receptor.vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (vegfr2) is an important tumor-associated receptor and blockade of the vegf receptor signaling can lead to the inhibition of neovascularization and tumor metastasis. nanobodies are the smallest intact antigen binding fragments derived from heavy chain-only antibodies occurring in camelids. here, we describe the identification of a vegfr2-specific nanobody, named 3vgr19, from dromedaries immunized with a cell line expressing high levels of vegfr2. we ...201122208996
prevalence study of bovine viral diarrhea virus by evaluation of antigen capture elisa and rt-pcr assay in bovine, ovine, caprine, buffalo and camel aborted fetuses in iran.abstract: bovine viral diarrhea virus is a pestivirus in the family flaviviridae that cause abortions and stillbirths in livestock and its traditional diagnosis is based on cell culture and virus neutralization test. in this study, for more sensitive, specific detection and determined the prevalence of virus in aborted bovine, ovine, caprine, buffalo and camel fetuses the antigen capture elisa and rt-pcr were recommended. from the total of 2173 aborted fetuses, 347 (15.96%) and 402 (18.49%) were ...201122018096
ultrastructure features of camel cornea - collagen fibril and proteoglycans.introduction  the uniform distribution of collagen fibrils and proteoglycans maintain the transparency of normal cornea. we describe the ultrastructural features of camel cornea including collagen fibrils and proteoglycans (pgs). methods  camel corneas (of 6-, 8-, and 10-month-old animals) were fixed in 2.5% glutaraldehyde containing cuprolinic blue in sodium acetate buffer and processed for electron microscopy. the 'analysis ls professional' program was used to analyze the collagen fibril diame ...201122051149
enhancement of polymeric immunoglobulin receptor transcytosis by biparatopic vhh.the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pigr) ensures the transport of dimeric immunoglobulin a (diga) and pentameric immunoglobulin m (pigm) across epithelia to the mucosal layer of for example the intestines and the lungs via transcytosis. per day the human pigr mediates the excretion of 2 to 5 grams of diga into the mucosa of luminal organs. this system could prove useful for therapies aiming at excretion of compounds into the mucosa. here we investigated the use of the variable domain of came ...201122022593
chondrosarcoma in a dromedary camel (camelus dromedarius).a 4-year 10-month-old, intact female dromedary camel had progressive left carpal joint swelling and lameness for 7 months. radiographs showed multifocal lytic lesions in the carpal and proximal metacarpal bones. surgical biopsy of the synovial capsule and carpal bones suggested neoplasia, and the camel was subsequently euthanized. at necropsy, a white to pale pink, firm, multilobulated, soft tissue mass was located on the palmar aspect of the left carpal joint. two smaller masses were present on ...201121908303
analysis and comparison of proteomic profiles of tear fluid from human, cow, sheep, and camel eyes.to investigate the tear proteome profiles of human, cow, sheep, and camel comparatively and to explore the difference of tear protein profiles among different species.201122025569
an overview of brucellosis.brucellosis is the most important zoonotic disease caused by brucella species comprising gram negative, facultative, intracellular pathogens. the true incidence of human brucellosis is unknown for most countries of the world including bangladesh. but brucellosis is not uncommon in our country. due to its increasing incidence in many countries of the world it is an important issue now days. domestic animals such as cattle, goats, sheep, pigs, camel, buffalo and dogs serve as a reservoir hosts. tr ...201122081201
Nanobodies®: new ammunition to battle viruses.In 1989, a new type of antibody was identified, first in the sera of dromedaries and later also in all other species of the Camelidae family. These antibodies do not contain a light chain and also lack the first constant heavy domain. Today it is still unclear what the evolutionary advantage of such heavy chain-only antibodies could be. In sharp contrast, the broad applicability of the isolated variable antigen-binding domains (VHH) was rapidly recognized, especially for the development of thera ...201121939690
Immunohistochemical studies on the poll gland of the dromedary camel (Camelus dromedarius) during the rutting season.The poll glands are subcutaneous exocrine glands located on the back of the neck behind the ears in male camels. The function of poll glands is not well known, though they are thought to play a role during the rutting season. The presence, location and degree of immunolocalization of microfilaments and intermediate filament systems: actin and cytokeratins (Cks) and also S100 protein were studied in the poll glands in sexually mature one-humped camels during the rutting season. These proteins wer ...201121855116
Nanobody-coupled microbubbles as novel molecular tracer.Camelid-derived single-domain antibody-fragments (~15kDa), called nanobodies, are a new class of molecular tracers that are routinely identified with nanomolar affinity for their target and that are easily tailored for molecular imaging and drug delivery applications. We hypothesized that they are well-suited for the design of targeted microbubbles (µBs) and aimed to develop and characterize eGFP- and VCAM-1-targeted µBs. Anti-eGFP (cAbGFP4) and anti-VCAM-1 (cAbVCAM1-5) nanobodies were site-spec ...201122197777
The antiplatelet activity of camel urine.For centuries, camel urine has been used for medicinal purposes and anecdotally proclaimed as a cure for a wide range of diseases. However, the apparent therapeutic actions of camel urine have yet to be subjected to rigorous scientific scrutiny. Recent preliminary studies from the authors' laboratory have indicated that camel urine possesses potent antiplatelet activity, not found in human or bovine urines, suggesting a possible role for camel urine in inhibiting platelet function. The goal of t ...201121854200
Bush Animal Attacks: Management of complex injuries in a resource-limited setting.ABSTRACT: INTRODUCTION: Though animal-related injuries and fatalities have been documented throughout the world, the variety of attacks by wild animals native to rural East Africa are less commonly described. Given the proximity of our northwestern Tanzania hospital to Lake Victoria, Lake Tanganyika, and the Serengeti National Park, and presentation of several patients attacked by bush animals and suffering a variety of complex injuries, we sought to report the pattern of attacks and surgical ...201122189007
Joe Camel in a Bottle: Diageo, the Smirnoff Brand, and the Transformation of the Youth Alcohol Market.I have documented the shift in youth alcoholic beverage preference from beer to distilled spirits between 2001 and 2009. I have assessed the role of distilled spirits industry marketing strategies to promote this shift using the Smirnoff brand marketing campaign as a case example. I conclude with a discussion of the similarities in corporate tactics across consumer products with adverse public health impacts, the importance of studying corporate marketing and public relations practices, and th ...201122095339
monoclonal antibodies for the identification and purification of vnar domains and ignar immunoglobulins from the horn shark heterodontus francisci.in addition to conventional antibodies, cartilaginous fish have evolved a distinctive type of immunoglobulin, designated as ignar, which lacks the light polypeptide chains and is composed entirely by heavy chains. ignar molecules can be manipulated by molecular engineering to produce the variable domain of a single heavy chain polypeptide (vnars). these, together with the vhh camel domains, constitute the smallest naturally occurring domains able to recognize an antigen. their special features, ...201121851231
Potent neutralization of influenza a virus by a single-domain antibody blocking m2 ion channel protein.Influenza A virus poses serious health threat to humans. Neutralizing antibodies against the highly conserved M2 ion channel is thought to offer broad protection against influenza A viruses. Here, we screened synthetic Camel single-domain antibody (VHH) libraries against native M2 ion channel protein. One of the isolated VHHs, M2-7A, specifically bound to M2-expressed cell membrane as well as influenza A virion, inhibited replication of both amantadine-sensitive and resistant influenza A viruses ...201122164266
a long life among ruminants: giraffids and other special cases.in order to investigate differences in the relative maximum longevity and other life history parameter between ruminant species, we collated data on mean body mass, maximum longevity, gestation period and newborn mass in wild ruminant and camelid species. among ruminants, giraffids (giraffe giraffa camelopardalis and okapi okapia johnstoni) have particularly high longevities, long gestation periods, and low intrauterine growth rates. a particularly high absolute and relative longevity is also ac ...201122045457
microarray-based genotyping of staphylococcus aureus isolates from camels.staphylococcus aureus is a common cause of mastitis and other diseases in camels. in order to obtain data on population structure as well as on the carriage of toxin genes and resistance markers, a collection of 45 isolates from dromedaries of dubai, united arab emirates, were genotyped. these isolates belonged to clonal complexes cc6 (twenty isolates; 44.44%), cc30 (sixteen isolates; 35.56%), cc188 (five isolates; 11.11%), cc152 (1 isolate, 2.2%) and to a previously un-described sequence type ( ...201121353401
genetic parameters for growth of fiber diameter in alpacas.the alpaca is the most important fiber producer of the south american camelid species, and is an important source of income for the andean communities. nowadays, fiber diameter is considered the main selection objective in alpaca populations throughout the world. however, fiber diameter increases with the age of the animals, and it would be preferable to select those animals that maintain a thin fiber throughout their life span. the goal of this study was to describe the genetic relationship bet ...201121357447
cloning and phylogenetic analysis of interleukin-6 (il-6) and tumor necrosis factor-a (tnf-a) from indian dromedaries (camelus dromedarius).the cdnas of two proinflammatory cytokines viz., il-6 and tnf-a from dromedarian camels were amplified by pcr using bactrian camel sequences and subsequently cloned for sequence analysis. relationship based on amino acid revealed that dromedarian camel il-6 shared 99.5% identity both at nucleotide and amino acid level with bactrian camel il-6 and in case of tnf-a, the identity of dromedarian camel was 99.4% and 99.1% at nucleotide and amino acid level, respectively with that of bactrian camel. p ...201121367455
molecular epidemiology of camel trypanosomiasis based on its1 rdna and rotat 1.2 vsg gene in the sudan.internal transcribed spacer one (its1) of the ribosomal dna is known to be a suitable target for pcr-based detection of trypanosomes. the analysis of this region provides a multi-species-specific diagnosis by a single pcr. using its1 primer-based pcr, a cross sectional study was carried out in the period from september to november 2009 on samples collected from 687 camels from geographically distinct zones in the sudan to detect all possible african trypanosomes, which can infect camels.201121375725
a content analysis of camel snus advertisements in print media.researchers have questioned whether the r.j. reynolds tobacco company is marketing camel snus as a product for nontobacco users, smokeless-tobacco users, or cigarette smokers. the objective of this study was to examine advertisements of camel snus in print media to determine the most likely audience of intent.201121385907
risk factors for symptoms of gastrointestinal illness in rural town isiolo, kenya.this study assesses risk factors for food-borne gastrointestinal illness indicated by diarrhoea and/or vomiting using 14-day recalls among children and young adults. the study was set in isiolo, a rural town of kenya, inhabited mainly by pastoralists of different ethnic groups. the preparation methods of milk at the household level were also investigated. the study was cross-sectional and involved 900 participants from randomly selected households. they were interviewed using a structured questi ...201121824377
Protocol for high-resolution electrophoresis separation of myosin heavy chain isoforms in bovine skeletal muscle.In this short communication we describe a specific protocol for SDS-PAGE separation of adult bovine myosin heavy-chain (MyHC) isoforms. The conditions defined in this protocol allow a good separation with a good reproducibility of the four MyHC isoforms (MyHC I, IIa, IIx, IIb) identified in adult skeletal muscle of this species. This procedure uses mini-gel electrophoresis system and does not involve preparation of gradient separating gels. In addition, this protocol can also be applied to the e ...201121688279
Topographical anatomy and desensitization of the pudendal nerve in adult male dromedary camels.The objectives of this study were to describe the topographical anatomy of the pudendal nerve and to develop techniques of its blocking in adult male dromedary camels. Two cadavers and 30 adult male dromedary camels were used for the description of topographical anatomy and pudendal nerve block techniques, respectively. Results revealed that the pudendal nerve arises from the ventral branches of the 2(nd) and 3(rd) sacral spinal nerves. The nerve had three divisions; dorsal, middle, and ventral. ...201121705059
The pharmacokinetics of hydrochlorothiazide in the camel. 201121906084
Effect of cigarette menthol content on mainstream smoke emissions.The 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act empowered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to study "the impact of the use of menthol in cigarettes on the public health, including such use among children, African Americans, Hispanics and other racial and ethnic minorities," and develop recommendations. Current scientific evidence comparing human exposures between menthol and nonmenthol smokers shows mixed results. This is largely because of the many differences between commercial ...201121888394
structure of a nanobody-stabilized active state of the β(2) adrenoceptor.g protein coupled receptors (gpcrs) exhibit a spectrum of functional behaviours in response to natural and synthetic ligands. recent crystal structures provide insights into inactive states of several gpcrs. efforts to obtain an agonist-bound active-state gpcr structure have proven difficult due to the inherent instability of this state in the absence of a g protein. we generated a camelid antibody fragment (nanobody) to the human β(2) adrenergic receptor (β(2)ar) that exhibits g protein-like be ...201121228869
a camel through the eye of a needle: expertise and the late recognition of asbestos-related diseases.the aim of this study is to provide new insights into the late recognition of asbestos-related diseases in contemporary societies. it addresses the role of expert culture in the identification, management, and control of asbestos risks, and examines the contribution of these processes to the late recognition and minimization of risks. after focusing first on spain, the article presents three historical case studies to illustrate some shortcomings of the expert explanatory model. first, the narro ...201121319725
hepatotoxicosis in dogs consuming a diet of camel meat contaminated with indospicine.four dogs presented with clinical signs of severe hepatic disease after consuming a commercial camel meat diet.201121323657
the camel curve: the icing on the transpulmonary thermodilution cake. 201121330879
milk production and feeding behavior in the camel (camelus dromedarius) during 4 watering regimens.camels survive and produce milk during recurrent prolonged hot and dry periods. the objective was to evaluate how different watering intervals affected milk production and feeding. eight lactating camels (camelus dromedarius) were recruited and subjected to 4 watering regimens in a latin square design experiment performed at haramaya university in ethiopia. each regimen lasted 16 d with 5 d of daily watering between periods: water was offered at 1,315 h once daily (w1); on d 4, 8, 12, and 16 (w4 ...201121338796
federated querying architecture with clinical & translational health it application.we present a software architecture that federates data from multiple heterogeneous health informatics data sources owned by multiple organizations. the architecture builds upon state-of-the-art open-source java and xml frameworks in innovative ways. it consists of (a) federated query engine, which manages federated queries and result set aggregation via a patient identification service; and (b) data source facades, which translate the physical data models into a common model on-the-fly and handl ...201121537849
effect of green buffer storage on the fertility of fresh camel semen after artificial insemination.artificial insemination (ai) is one of the most widely used reproductive technologies, and there is considerably interest in commercializing this technology in camels. storage of semen extender frozen (at -20°c) is of considerable interest to scientists working with camels, as transportation of diluents at refrigeration temperature is not always possible given the hot, arid and remote conditions that dromedary camels exist in. therefore, this study was conducted to compare the fertility of fresh ...201121545653
ovarian hydrobursitis in female camels (camelus dromedarius): clinical findings, histopathology and fertility after unilateral surgical ablation.this study was undertaken to verify the clinical signs, incidence, location, etiology and pathology of ovarian hydrobursitis in infertile female camels and estimate the fertility after unilateral surgical ablation. genital organs (n = 124) were examined in camels slaughtered at makkah abattoir during hajj of 2009. infertile female camels (n = 142) presented for management to the veterinary teaching hospital, qassim university, saudi arabia, were clinically examined and ultrasound-scanned for the ...201121550102
characterization of the microanatomy and histopathology of placentas from aborted, stillborn, and normally delivered alpacas (vicugna pacos) and llamas (lama glama).from 2002 to 2007, 101 camelid abortions and stillbirths were submitted to the veterinary diagnostic laboratory at oregon state university (84 alpacas [vicugna pacos], 13 llamas [lama glama], 4 unknown). for most cases (n = 67), a cause was not determined by routine testing. eighty-five submissions included placenta for microscopic examination, of which 55 were from abortions to unknown causes (idiopathic). microscopic features of placentas from abortion/stillbirth were compared with those from ...201121551426
nematomorph parasites drive energy flow through a riparian ecosystem.parasites are ubiquitous in natural systems and ecosystem-level effects should be proportional to the amount of biomass or energy flow altered by the parasites. here we quantified the extent to which a manipulative parasite altered the flow of energy through a forest-stream ecosystem. in a japanese headwater stream, camel crickets and grasshoppers (orthoptera) were 20 times more likely to enter a stream if infected by a nematomorph parasite (gordionus spp.), corroborating evidence that nematomor ...201121560690
retail promotions and perceptions of r.j. reynold's novel dissolvable tobacco in a u.s. test market.abstract: background: with declining cigarette sales, tobacco manufacturers have been developing and marketing new smokeless products, such as r. j. reynolds' dissolvable tobacco, camel sticks, strips and orbs. this study assessed the availability, price and point-of-purchase promotional strategies for camel dissolvables, and investigated consumer awareness, interest and perception of these products in the indiana test market. methods: a retail audit of point-of-purchase promotions was conducted ...201121569637
diagnostic evaluation of a nanobody with picomolar affinity toward the protease rgpb from porphyromonas gingivalis.porphyromonas gingivalis is one of the major periodontitis-causing pathogens. p. gingivalis secretes a group of proteases termed gingipains, and in this study we have used the rgpb gingipain as a biomarker for p. gingivalis. we constructed a naive camel nanobody library and used phage display to select one nanobody toward rgpb with picomolar affinity. the nanobody was used in an inhibition assay for detection of rgpb in buffer as well as in saliva. the nanobody was highly specific for rgpb given ...201121569755
zoonotic cases of camelpox infection in india.this study reports the first conclusive evidence of zoonotic camelpox virus (cmlv) infection in humans associated with outbreaks in dromedarian camels (camelus dromedaries) in northwest region of india during 2009. cmlv infection is usually restricted to camels and causes localised skin lesions but occasionally leads to generalised form of disease. however, the present outbreak involved camel handlers and attendants with clinical manifestations such as papules, vesicles, ulceration and finally s ...201121571451
evaluation of a nanobody phage display library constructed from a brucella-immunised camel.brucella are invasive gram-negative bacteria that multiply and survive within eukaryotic cells causing brucellosis. syrian (and middle east) health and economy sectors are still affected by this disease causing a serious national problem that needs to be solved. here, a strategy was developed to introduce a new generation of binders, known as nanobodies (nbs) in our combat against brucella. these nbs, recombinant single-domain variable fragments derived from camelid heavy-chain antibodies are ve ...201121592585
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