Tracking the evolution of the G1/RHDVb recombinant strains introduced from the Iberian Peninsula to the Azores islands, Portugal.
- T. Almeida, A. M. Lopes, J. Abrantes
- BiologyInfection, Genetics and Evolution
- 1 August 2015
The wide utility of rabbits as models of human diseases
- P. Esteves, J. Abrantes, R. Mage
- Biology, MedicineExperimental and Molecular Medicine
- 1 May 2018
This review documents the continuing wide utility of the rabbit as a reliable disease model for development of therapeutics and vaccines and studies of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying many human diseases.
Field and experimental data indicate that the eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) is susceptible to infection with European brown hare syndrome (EBHS) virus and not with rabbit haemorrhagic…
- A. Lavazza, P. Cavadini, L. Capucci
- MedicineVeterinary Research
- 24 February 2015
The results suggest that Sylvilagus is susceptible toEBHSV infection, which occasionally evolves to EBHS-like disease; the eastern cottontail could therefore be considered a “spill over” or “dead end” host for EBHSV unless further evidence is found to confirm that it plays an active role in the epidemiology of EB HSV.
Detection of RHDV strains in the Iberian hare (Lepus granatensis): earliest evidence of rabbit lagovirus cross-species infection
- A. M. Lopes, S. Marques, J. Abrantes
- BiologyVeterinary Research
- 24 September 2014
This is the earliest evidence of RHDV affecting a species other than European rabbits, and two strains from dead Iberian hares collected in the 1990s in Portugal were sequenced and were compatible with a Lagovirus infection.
Molecular bases of genetic diversity and evolution of the immunoglobulin heavy chain variable region (IGHV) gene locus in leporids
- A. Pinheiro, D. Lanning, P. Esteves
- BiologyImmunogenetics
- 20 May 2011
The whole genome sequence of a rabbit, plus re-sequencing of additional strains and related genera, will allow further evolutionary investigations of antibody variation and help define the roles that genetic, allelic, and population diversity at antibody loci may play in host-parasite interactions.
Sequencing of modern Lepus VDJ genes shows that the usage of VHn genes has been retained in both Oryctolagus and Lepus that diverged 12 million years ago
- A. Pinheiro, I. F. D. Mera, P. Alves, C. Gortázar, J. Fuente, P. Esteves
- BiologyImmunogenetics
- 24 August 2013
The results show that the VHn genes are a conserved ancestral polymorphism that has been maintained in the leporids genome and is being used for the generation of VDJ rearrangements by both modern Lepus and Oryctolagus.
Leporid immunoglobulin G shows evidence of strong selective pressure on the hinge and CH3 domains
- A. Pinheiro, J. Woof, P. Esteves
- BiologyOpen Biology
- 1 September 2014
The newly sequenced leporid IGHG gene has an organization and structure similar to that of the European rabbit IgG and all 11 Lepus species studied share exactly the same hinge motif, suggesting its maintenance as a result of an advantageous structure or conformation.
Survey of genetic diversity of IgG in wild and domestic rabbits
- A. Pinheiro, T. Almeida, P. Esteves
- BiologyInternational Journal of Immunogenetics
- 1 October 2015
We sequenced IgG from genomic DNA of 30 wild European rabbits of O. c. algirus and O. c. cuniculus subspecies from three regions and 15 domestic O. c. cuniculus. Genetic diversity was highest within…
Sequencing of Sylvilagus VDJ genes reveals a new VHa allelic lineage and shows that ancient VH lineages were retained differently in leporids
- A. Pinheiro, J. Melo‐Ferreira, P. Esteves
- BiologyImmunogenetics
- 30 September 2014
The results show that the studied leporids employ different VH lineages in the generation of the antibody repertoire, suggesting that the leporid VH genes are subject to strong selective pressure likely imposed by specific pathogens.
An overview of the lagomorph immune system and its genetic diversity
- A. Pinheiro, Fabiana Neves, P. Esteves
- BiologyImmunogenetics
- 1 February 2016
The genetic diversity of the European rabbit immune system is discussed, the most recent advances in identifying interleukins, chemokines and chemokine receptors, Toll-like receptors, antiviral proteins, and the genes encoding fucosyltransferases that are utilized by rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus are reviewed.
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