We are also grateful for support from the Heiser Program for Rese

We are also grateful for support from the Heiser Program for Research in Leprosy and Tuberculosis of The New York Community Trust. “
“Lymphocyte adhesion and subsequent trafficking across endothelial barriers are essential steps in various immune-mediated disorders of the CNS, including MS. The molecular mechanisms underlying these processes, however, are still unknown. Phospholipase D1 (PLD1), an enzyme that generates phosphatidic acid through hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine

and additionally yields choline as a product, Panobinostat clinical trial has been described as regulator of the cell mobility. By using PLD1-deficient mice, we investigated the functional significance of PLD1 for lymphocyte adhesion and migration in vitro and after myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)35–55-induced EAE, a model of human MS. The lack of PLD1 reduced chemokine-mediated static adhesion of lymphocytes to the endothelial adhesion molecules vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) in vitro, and was accompanied by a decreased migratory capacity in both blood brain barrier and cell migration models. Importantly, Daporinad solubility dmso PLD1 is also relevant for the recruitment of immune cells into

the CNS in vivo since disease severity after EAE was significantly attenuated in PLD1-deficient mice. Furthermore, PLD1 expression could be detected on lymphocytes in MS patients. Our findings suggest a critical function of PLD1-dependent intracellular signaling cascades in regulating lymphocyte trafficking during autoimmune CNS inflammation. “
“The IgE Fcε3 domain is an active immunotherapeutic target for asthma and other allergic diseases. However, previous methods for preparing IgE fusion protein vaccines are complex. Antigen 43 (Ag43) is a surface PKC inhibitor protein found in Escherichia

coli that contains α and β subunits (the α subunit contains multiple T epitopes). Here we constructed a novel Ag43 surface display system (Ag43 system) to express Ag43 chimeric proteins to disrupt immune tolerance against IgE. The Ag43 system was constructed from the E. coli strain Tan109, in which the Ag43 gene was deleted and a recombinant plasmid (pETAg43) expressing a partial Ag43 gene was introduced. The Fcε3 domain of the IgE gene was then subcloned into plasmid pETAg43, resulting in a recombinant plasmid pETAg43/Fcε3, which was used to transform Tan109 for Ag43/Fcε3 surface expression. Thereafter, Ag43/Fcε3 was investigated as an asthma vaccine in a mouse model.

2 ml min−1; injection volume: 3 μl) Preparative HPLC was perform

2 ml min−1; injection volume: 3 μl). Preparative HPLC was performed on a Shimadzu LC-8a series HPLC system with PDA. For MS/MS measurements either an Exactive Orbitrap mass spectrometer with an electrospray ion source (Thermo Fisher Scientific) or a TSQ Quantum AM Ultra (Thermo Fisher Scientific) were used. NMR spectra were recorded on a Bruker Avance DRX 600 instrument (Bruker BioSpin GmbH, Rheinstetten, Germany). Spectra were normalised

to the residual solvent signals. GDC-0068 in vitro The crude extract was separated by size-exclusion chromatography using Sephadex LH-20 (GE Healthcare Bio-Sciences AB, Uppsala, Sweden) and methanol as an eluent. The metabolite-containing fractions were further purified by preparative HPLC

(Phenomenex Synergi 4 μm Fusion-RP 80A, 250 × 21.2 mm, (Phenomenex, Aschaffenburg, Germany) gradient mode MeCN/0.01% (v/v) TFA 50/50 in 30 min to MeCN/0.01% (v/v) TFA 83/17, MeCN 83% for 10 min, flow rate 10 ml min−1). Antifungal activities were studied by agar diffusion tests. Fifty microlitres of a solution of bongkrekic acid (1 mg ml−1 in methanol as a stock solution and respective AZD0530 concentration dilutions) were filled in agar holes of 9-mm diameter (PDA, seeded with 100 μl of a spore suspension containing 5.8 × 106 spores ml−1). After incubation at 30 °C for 24 h the inhibition zone was measured. The MIC was read as the lowest concentration giving an inhibition zone. Antibacterial activity was tested as described before.[40] Fifty microlitres of a solution of each compound (1 mg ml−1 in methanol) were filled in agar holes of 9-mm diameter. The following inhibition

zones were measured: Enacyloxin IIIa (5): Pseudomonas aeruginosa 22 mm, Escherichia coli 23 mm; iso-enacyloxin IIIa (6): P. aeruginosa 20 mm, E. coli 21 mm. To analyse the biosynthetic potential of the fungus-associated bacteria we subjected genomic DNA of B. gladioli pv. cocovenenans HKI 10521 to shotgun sequencing. Bioinformatic mining of the genome data revealed the presence of several gene Fenbendazole clusters putatively coding for various polyketide and non-ribosomal peptide assembly lines indicating that the biosynthetic capabilities had previously been underestimated. Besides the already identified gene cluster encoding the biosynthetic machinery for production of bongkrekic acid,[18] a cluster putatively coding for the biosynthesis of toxoflavin was found based on homology search. The genes show high homology to the recently identified toxoflavin (tox) biosynthetic genes of Burkholderia glumae (Fig. 1b).[41-44] The genes toxA-toxE encode a methyltransferase, a GTP cyclohydrolase II, a WD-repeat protein, a toxoflavin biosynthesis-related protein (TRP-2) and a deaminase, respectively. Several regulatory (toxJ, toxM, toxR) and transport-related genes (toxF-toxI) could be identified as well indicating an identical architecture of both gene loci (Fig. 1b).

Failures of these regulatory mechanisms contribute to the develop

Failures of these regulatory mechanisms contribute to the development of inflammatory bowel disease. In this study we demonstrate that the frequency of CD8+ Foxp3+ T cells is reduced in the peripheral blood of patients with ulcerative colitis. As these cells might play a currently underestimated role in the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis, we have investigated human and murine CD8+ Foxp3+ T cells generated by this website stimulating

naive CD8+ T cells in the presence of transforming growth factor-β and retinoic acid, mediators that are abundantly produced in the intestinal mucosa. These CD8+ Foxp3+ fully competent regulatory T cells show strong expression of regulatory molecules CD25, Gpr83 and CTLA-4 and exhibit cell–cell contact-dependent immunosuppressive activity in vitro. Our study illustrates a previously unappreciated critical role of CD8+ Foxp3+ T cells in controlling potentially dangerous T cells and in the maintenance of intestinal homeostasis. Regulatory T cells are believed to play a crucial role in the bowel’s adjustments to microbial antigens and in the modulation of tissue-damaging Daporinad immune reactions; therefore, these cells are regarded as a promising

new therapeutic target.1 The most prominent population of regulatory T cells is the CD4+ subset. Various populations of thymically or peripherally induced regulatory T cells, such as CD4+ CD25+ T cells,2 CD4+ CD45RBlow T cells,3 type 1 regulatory T (Treg1) cells,4 and type 3 helper T (Th3) cells,5 have been Ketotifen described for the control of intestinal inflammation. However, less attention has been given to the inhibitory capability of CD8+ T cells, and, although several types of CD8+ regulatory T cells with various phenotypes seem to exist in humans and in experimental animals,6–11 the nature of the primary CD8+ regulatory T cells and the mechanisms underlying their generation remain elusive. Some populations of CD8+ regulatory T cells are believed

to be involved in the control of mucosal immune responses. An experimental model mimicking inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) uses the injection of CD4+ CD45RBhigh T cells into syngeneic mice deficient in the recombination activation gene 2 (Rag-2) to generate inflammation of the gut mucosa. In this model, Ménager-Marcq et al. demonstrated that CD8+ CD28− T cells, but not CD8+ CD28+ T cells, freshly isolated from the spleen or the gut efficiently prevent the development of colitis.12 In addition, Ho et al. identified a subset of CD8+ regulatory T cells characterized by CD8+ CD44−CD103high expression.13 Adoptive transfer of CD4+ T cells from mice that over-express tumour necrosis factor-α into immunodeficient Rag−/− mice induces ileitis, but co-transfer of CD8+ CD44−CD103+ T cells from wild-type mice attenuates the ileitis histology.

53–19 41 sec) and 19 81 sec for passages

53–19.41 sec) and 19.81 sec for passages DAPT (range = 18.31–20.59 sec). The average duration of the Canadian speaker’s stimuli was 17.33 sec for target word lists (range = 16.85–17.80 sec) and 20.24 sec for passages (range = 18.77–21.53 sec). An important consideration is how the speakers used in this work compare with those in the cross-accent experiments of Schmale and Seidl (2009). As noted earlier, the 9-month-olds’ failure to recognize words across a native and a Spanish-accented speaker in Schmale and Seidl may have been owing to the accents varying on several suprasegmental and subphonemic dimensions. In contrast, the speakers used here were predicted to deviate primarily on vowel implementation. Thus,

an examination of acoustic and perceptual differences between these speakers increases

our understanding of the type of variation present in these stimuli, and may shed light on the causes of the 9-month-olds’ failure in previous work. Acoustic measurements and analyses of variance (ANOVAs) with F1 and F2 in /ae/ and /I/ as dependent measures and talker (North Midland-American speaker [“MidW”], and either Spanish-accented speaker (“Span”) or Southern Ontario Canadian speaker [“Can”]) support the prediction that talkers would differ on vowel implementation, see Figure 1, particularly with respect to the backing of /ae/ by the Canadian speaker.2 These dialectal accents Inhibitor Library datasheet were chosen because they should diverge minimally, unlike in nonnative speech, which should diverge at other levels (including general characteristics, such as fluency, and subphonemic characteristics, such as coarticulation). This claim is supported by an investigation of the rate of speech, voicing, and coarticulation of the three speakers, which show that Mannose-binding protein-associated serine protease the MidW and Can speakers differ less than the MidW and Span speakers, as evident in Figure 2. First, nonnative speakers lack

the fluency that characterizes native speakers, which affects global characteristics, including speech rate (although individual variation exists; naturally, a comparison with someone who stutters would not reveal this native advantage). For example, Span exhibited a relatively constant speech rate, whereas the native speakers differ less from each other by talking much slower when uttering words in isolation (I) than within passages (P); ANOVAs with rate as outcome and talker (Midwestern and either Canadian or Spanish) and type (passage, isolation) as factors confirm that the interaction talker × type is much larger in the MidW-Span comparison, F(1, 156) = 32.01 for MidW-Span; 5.34 for MidW-Can. As for consonants, the Spanish-accented speaker produces the /k/ in candle and kingdom with a much shorter VOT than either of the English-speaking speakers, and the VOT differs more, F(1, 78) = 120.72, than in the comparison among the native talkers, F(1, 78) = 27.87.

Results: The scores for tubular dilatation, interstitial volume,

Results: The scores for tubular dilatation, interstitial volume, and α-SMA expression following UUO were significantly reduced by combination therapy compared with monotherapy with either aliskiren or MZR. Combination therapy also caused a significant decrease in the number of ED-1 positive cells and expression of TGF-β1 gene compared with monotherapy with either drug (both p < 0.05). Combination therapy also decreased the expression of OPN and MCP-1 gene (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Combination therapy with aliskiren and MZR provides increased

renal protection against renal fibrosis and UUO-induced inflammation. YOKORO MIYUKI1, UEDA SEIJI1, OBARA NANA1, NAKAYAMA YOSUKE1, ANDO RYOTARO1, SUZUKI MAKIKO2, KIMOTO MASUMI2, OKUDA SEIYA1 1Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Midostaurin mouse Kurume; 2Department of Nutritional EPZ-6438 clinical trial Science, Faculty of Health and Welfare Science, Okayama Prefectural University Introduction: NG, NG-Dimethyl-L-arginine (asymmetric dimethylarginine: ADMA) is an endogenous competitive inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase (NOS). Plasma ADMA concentrations have been reported to increase in chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular

disease. In this study, we investigated the metabolism of ADMA in circulating blood cell populations to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of elevation of plasma ADMA. In addition, we determined ADMA concentrations of the blood cells in healthy volunteers and patients who have atherosclerosis or undergo hemodialysis. Methods: Platelets, leukocytes and erythrocytes were prepared from rat blood by centrifugation. The expression of DDAHs (DDAH1 and DDAH2 isoforms), ADMA-degrading enzymes and PRMT1, which methylates specifically arginine residues in protein moiety and especially produces ADMA-containing proteins, were determined by RT-PCR and western blotting. DDAH enzymatic activity was measured in Bay 11-7085 blood cell lysates by measuring the formation of citrulline from ADMA. ADMA-containing protein was identified by LC/MS/MS

following 2-D electrophoresis. ADMA concentrations in patients were determined by HPLC. Results: We found that PRMT1 and DDAH1 were expressed in erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets. DDAH activity occurred predominantly in erythrocyte fraction. We also identified catalase as a major ADMA-containing protein in erythrocyte, confirmed by GST-pull down assay to bind to PRMT1 in vitro. In patients at high risk for cardiovascular disease, erythrocyte ADMA concentrations were about three times as high as those in healthy subjects. Conclusion: These results indicate that ADMA metabolic system exists in erythrocyteis, which has the potentials for maintenance of their homeostasis and presumably modulating plasma ADMA. While further evidence is needed, erythrocyte ADMA concentration might become highly sensitive biomarker.

(FV1:1), hepato- & splenomegalia Colectomized Also suffered from

(FV1:1), hepato- & splenomegalia Colectomized Also suffered from Neurofibromatosis Recklinghausen Gingival hypertrophia Acne Colectomi and ileostomia due to pancolitis; Bone marrow transplantation may 2010 Colectomized years ago Chronic pulmonary aspergillosis, died from respiratory insufficiency December 2011 Died February 2008 1994 diagnosed as Crohn’s disease, colectomized, BMN 673 recurrent severe pulmonary infections incl B. cepasia, Severe pulmonary insufficiency. Home oxygen treatment. CGD diagnosed post mortem Severe acne Proctocolitis with

fistulae. Colostomized Severe parodontitis. Total tooth extraction done deletion splice site del 75_76 GTc c.682+1G>A p.Tyr26HisfsX26 Del exon 7 p.Trp193_Gly228del [16] Novel Diagnosed in 2012 Recurrent mucocutaneus abscesses, chronic gingivitis but no pulmonary symptoms An overview of the clinical status for all patients is presented in Table 1. The clinical history of six of the patients has previously been described in detail[19-22]. Genomic DNA was isolated from whole blood collected in EDTA with the Wizard Genomic DNA isolation kit from Promega (Nacka, Sweden). Custom synthesized primers were ordered from Invitrogen (Taastrup, Denmark). The 5′-fluorescently labelled oligonucleotides

were ordered from Applied Biosystems (Stockholm, Sweden). The Gene Scan Selleck Erismodegib analysis was performed as previously described [20, 23]. The ratio of functional genes to pseudogenes was determined by calculating the peak areas corresponding to the two fragments differing by only 2 bp. The five genes encoding the components of the NADPH oxidase complex were analysed in a sequential pattern with amplification and sequencing methods previously described [20, 24]. The molecular background of the Danish patients diagnosed with CGD and followed in the clinic was investigated, this cohort includes 27 patients. Sixteen of 27 patients (59%) had autosomal recessive mutations located in Monoiodotyrosine either NCF1 or CYBA. No mutations were observed in NCF2 or NCF4. Eleven patients had an X-linked mutation of the CYBB gene (Table 1). The present ages of the patients range from 14 to 60 years. Three

different mutations were found in a group of six patients. Patients 3, 4, 5 and 6 are related and harbour the same missense mutation p.Ala124Val in exon 6 of CYBA. Patients 1 and 2 are unrelated and both have a mutation in the 5′ splice site in intron 4, leading to the deletion of exon 4 in the mRNA transcript (Fig. 1). The deletion of exon 4 does not change the reading frame. At present, both patients are without symptoms even though their DHR test is negative. Patient 2 is only heterozygous for the splice site mutation but harbours a deletion of exon 6 on the other allele. In accordance with this finding, carrier status for the splice site mutation was only detected in the mother (Fig. 1). Ten different mutations were detected in the 11 patients with X-linked CGD. Patients 8 and 9 are brothers and have the same missense mutation p.Pro56Leu.

As his clinical symptoms gradually subsided, the antibiotic treat

As his clinical symptoms gradually subsided, the antibiotic treatment was terminated by day 11 and aspirin was reduced to 5 mg/kg per day on day 12, when the serum CRP level decreased to the normal range. However, on the 13th day of illness,

he developed a fever of 39 °C and a systemic rash. As drug-induced erythema exsudativum multiforme was suspected, aspirin was discontinued. He was then treated with hydrocortisone (5 mg/kg) for 7 days. PI3K targets His erythema gradually subsided and left pigmentation on the trunk. He was discharged on day 21 with no signs of CAA with a WBC of 7700/mm3, ANC of 2310/mm3 and CRP of 0.1 mg/dl. He was scheduled for follow-up appointments at the outpatient clinic on day 25. Laboratory findings showed agranulocytosis, although

he had no clinical symptoms. On the 30th day of illness, he developed high fever and fatigue. He was then referred to Kagoshima University Hospital. At referral, bone marrow aspiration showed a nucleated cell count of 15.5 × 104/mm3, normocellularity, no phagocytosis of granulocytes and no leukaemic cells. Normal development up to the early myelocyte stage was observed. Flow cytometric Decitabine cost analysis showed high levels of early myeloid precursor marker profiles (CD13+/CD33+/CD71+/HLADR−), but low expression of late stage/mature myeloid markers (CD16 and CD11b) (Fig. 2A). Furthermore, we observed that immunoglobulin G (IgG) was bound to premature CD13-positive myeloid cells (Fig. 2B). The patient was diagnosed with febrile neutropenia and was treated with Cefozopran. His fever slowly subsided when the peripheral blood WBC gradually increased on day 33. On the 38th day of illness, he was discharged with complete recovery after an increase in leukocytes. The presence of known anti-neutrophil antibodies (HNA1a, HNA1b, HNA null,

HNA2, HNA3, HNA4 and non-HLA antigen 9a) was not detected by flow cytometry. The drug lymphocyte stimulation tests (DLST) for immunoglobulin, P-type ATPase aspirin, PAPM/BP and FMOX were evaluated using the conventional method [13] by a commercial laboratory testing service company (SRL, Inc. Tokyo, Japan). Briefly, the patient’s mononuclear cells and antigen solution were incubated for 48 h. They were then pulsed for an additional 24 h with 3H-thymidine. After washing and lysing the cells, incorporation of 3H-thymidine was measured. The stimulation index (SI) was calculated using the following formula, and an SI value beyond 180% was defined as positive: SI = 3H-thymidine incorporation with antigen/3H-thymidine incorporation without antigen. The SI of PAPM/BP was 397%, while the others were negative (Veniron; lot SSV700 99%, aspirin 97%, FMOX 149%). Subjects.  We studied the KS patient with neutropenia (case A), another KS patient without neutropenia (case B) as a disease control (obtained at 18 days after onset of KS) and three healthy age-matched controls (case C through E) with no evidence of infection, inflammation, allergy, medication or previous blood transfusion (Table 1).

Background: Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a novel reg

Background: Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a novel regulator of the renin-angiotensin system that counteracts the adverse effects of angiotensin II. ACE2 activity predicts adverse events and myocardial Ipilimumab supplier dysfunction in non-transplant patients with heart failure however there is limited data on the role of ACE2 in kidney transplant recipients. Methods: This is an ongoing prospective cohort study of patients with end-stage kidney disease undergoing kidney transplantation. Blood

collection is performed weekly for 12 weeks and then monthly for 12 months. Serum is transported on ice and aliquots frozen at −70°C. ACE2 enzyme activity was measured using an ACE2-specific quenched fluorescent substrate assay. The rate of substrate cleavage is expressed as pmol of substrate cleaved per mL of plasma per minute. Values below are expressed as mean ACE2 enzyme activity ± Standard https://www.selleckchem.com/products/azd-1208.html Deviation. Results: Analysis of pre-transplant ACE2 plasma activity (n = 12) demonstrated a baseline level of 18.4 ± 13.2 which increased significantly at week one (53.0 ± 27.9) (P < 0.05). ACE2 activity in

subsequent weeks gradually reduced towards the baseline level – Week 2 = 31.8 ± 11.5; Week 3 = 33.2 ± 21.1; Week 4 = 30.0 ± 15.2; Week 6 = 26.2 ± 15.7; and Week8 = 20.1 ± 8.5. Further analysis of

continuing samples are in progress. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates a significant surge in ACE2 during the critical early post-transplant period with physiological and immunological changes. The clinical implications of this early rise in ACE2 and compensatory regulatory role will be the focus of follow up studies. 258 THE PREFERENCES ID-8 AND PERSPECTIVES OF NEPHROLOGISTS ON PATIENTS’ ACCESS TO KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW A TONG1,2, CS HANSON1,2, JR CHAPMAN3, F HALLECK4, K BUDDE4, C PAPACHRISTOU4, JC CRAIG1,2 1The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales; 2The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, New South Wales; 3Westmead Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; 4Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany Aim: To describe nephrologists’ attitudes to patients’ access to kidney transplantation. Background: While kidney transplantation can offer improved survival and quality of life outcomes, up to 70% of patients requiring renal replacement therapy remain on dialysis. Moreover disparities in access to kidney transplantation are apparent, in part attributable to differences in transplant education, screening, and patient eligibility for kidney transplantation. Methods: Electronic databases were searched to July 2013.

Recently, other self lipids including β-GlcCer and β-GalCer, as w

Recently, other self lipids including β-GlcCer and β-GalCer, as well as some pollen-derived lipids, were shown to be recognized by type II NKT cells.[30,

43-45] Interestingly, lysophosphatidylethanolamine induced following hepatitis B virus infection may be a self antigen for a subset of type II NKT cells.[46] We recently identified another phospholipid lysophosphatidylcholine to be effective in stimulating type II NKT cells both in vitro and in vivo (I. Maricic, manuscript in preparation). Previously, lysophosphatidylcholine MAPK inhibitor was reported to activate human type II NKT cells in lymphomas.[47] These findings identify some redundancy and an overlapping TCR repertoire among type II NKT cells that recognize self lipids. It will be interesting to determine whether most self lipids that activate type I NKT cells differ from or are similar to those that activate type II NKT cells upon antigen presentation in vivo. The finding that a number

of microbial lipids preferentially activate AZD2014 molecular weight type I NKT cells begs that the following question be addressed – can a semi-invariant TCR bias the recognition of microbial antigens by type I NKT cells? Future studies using altered lipid ligands and individual mutations in key residues of TCR α and β chains may unravel some of these features of lipid recognition. Recent insights from the crystal structure of a type II NKT cell TCR that recognizes sulphatide and lysosulphatide suggested the presence of a distinct recognition motif for TCR recognition between the type I and type II NKT cell subsets.[30, 48, 49] How are these differences in antigen recognition between type I and II NKT cells selected and maintained, and what are the consequences of this differential antigen recognition by these NKT cell subsets in health and in disease? For example, it is clear that type II NKT cells reactive to sulphatide still develop in mice that are deficient in enzymes required for the synthesis of sulphatide.[27, 28] Other self lipids may either compensate for the selection of sulphatide-reactive TCR or may not be essential for the development of type

II NKT cells. Additional studies are needed to resolve whether self lipids are required for the development of NKT cells in general. During immune responses, T cells and B cells migrate Leukocyte receptor tyrosine kinase and recirculate between blood and peripheral lymphoid tissues before activation by antigens. In tissues such as lymph nodes and spleen, T cells are recruited by chemokines to sites of interaction with resident antigen-presenting DCs. Upon subsequent exposure to antigens, T cells proliferate and differentiate into effector T cells (Teff) that migrate to sites of infection to eliminate pathogens. Hence, many lymphocytes at different stages of activation are recruited to different peripheral lymphoid sites to carry out their functions.

Both nematodes have a direct life cycle, and infection occurs by

Both nematodes have a direct life cycle, and infection occurs by ingestion of free-living infective third-stage

larvae (L3); T. retortaeformis colonizes the small intestine, and G. strigosum inhabits the stomach. In the host, nematodes develop into adults and reproduce sexually, and eggs are shed through the rabbit faeces; the prepatent period is about 11 days for T. retortaeformis and 42 days for G. strigosum (23–26). For our laboratory infections, third-stage infective larvae of T. retortaeformis were kindly provided by Dr Dominique Kerboeuf (INRA, France), while G. strigosum larvae were extracted by culturing faeces from rabbits initially infected with adult parasites collected from our free-living population of rabbits in Tayside, Scotland (10). The laboratory experiments were designed as primary monospecific infections of rabbits with 5500 T. retortaeformis

MDV3100 in vitro or 650 G. strigosum third-stage larvae (L3). The infection doses (force of infection) were estimated following Cattadori et al. (27) and based on the intensity of adult nematodes in a free-living rabbit population monitored from 1977 to 2003. Outbred, 60-day-old New Zealand White male rabbits, free of helminths and other parasites or pathogens (Harlan, Hillcrest, UK), were housed in individual cages with food and water ad libitum and a 12-h light cycle. Following a 1-week acclimation period, the individuals were orally challenged by gavage with a mineral water solution (5 mL) of L3 nematodes or mineral water for the controls. Abiraterone Groups of six individuals (four infected

and two controls, eight infected and four controls at day 60) were euthanized with Euthatal™ (Merial, Harlow, UK), and post-mortem analysis carried out at days 4, 7, 14, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 and 120 post-infection (DPI); for G. strigosum, the first two sampling points (day 4 and 7) were not collected. These points were chosen to quantify the immune response at time intervals Demeclocycline that correspond to the different developmental stages of these helminths, L3, L4, immature and adults (25,26) but also to closely follow changes in the immune response during the infection period. For T. retortaeformis single infection, the small intestine (SI) was divided into four equal sections, SI-1 to SI-4 from the duodenum to the ileum. Each section was further divided into four equal segments; segments 1 and 3 were stored in PBS (pH 7·4), for nematode counts, and segments 2 and 4 were processed. To quantify mucosal cytokine expression, five pieces of tissue (5 × 5 cm) were collected from segment 2 and stored in RNAlater (Sigma, St Louis, MO, USA) at −80°C. We selected the mucosa tissue because we were interested in a cytokine response at the site of infection and how this was related to nematode abundance. Here, we focus on SI-1, where most of the parasites were found.