6th Annual Judith Ramaley Celebration of Research and Creative Scholarship
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Poster #44 Molecular Characterization of the ITS2 Gene from Infected Ungulates Christine Hanley, Jessica Sand, Kelly Skluzacek, Joseph Waldbillig Faculty Mentor: Kimberly Bates Lungworms of the genus Dictyocaulus are parasites that are found in in many species of ungulates, including cattle (Bos primigenius), white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus). These parasites are important because they are capable of causing bronchitis, pneumonia, and even death in infected populations (Schnieder et. al, 1995). It is assumed that cattle can be infected by deposition of infective larvae on pasture by wild ungulates. Discovery of genetic distinctions between lungworms found in cattle and deer may provide direction for preventative measures that would decrease instances of cross infection. Adult lungworms were collected from the lungs of cattle in Mississippi, Missouri, Wisconsin, and New Zealand. Additionally, white-tailed deer and red deer lungworm samples were collected from Minnesota and New Zealand, respectively. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the second internal transcribed spacers of ribosomal DNA (ITS2) was amplified. In a previous experiment performed in our lab, the DNA was subjected to restriction fragment length polymorphism which showed distinct DNA banding patterns between cattle and white-tailed deer, cattle and red deer, and white-tailed deer and red deer, indicating that they may be separate species. In order to determine the total genetic differences between the three isolates, it was determined that DNA sequencing was necessary. Currently, lungworm ITS2 DNA obtained from PCR is being cloned into a bacterial plasmid for replication. After cloning the DNA will be excised from the plasmid and sent off site for sequencing. When the sequencing data is obtained, it will be analyzed to determine if the isolates are separate species. |
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