Ovine black coat colour is determined by the MC1R (Melanocortin 1 receptor) and ASIP (Agouti signalling peptide) genes at the Agouti and Extension loci. The black phenotype is caused by production of eumelanin by melanocytes, whereas yellow-tan or light phenotype is the result of phaeomelanin synthesis. The ovine MC1R gene has two known alleles: the wildtype (E+) and the dominant black (ED) alleles. Two missense mutations (c.218T>A and c.361G>A) constitute ED. The presence of a third allele, the e allele, is proposed and believed to give rise to phaeomelanic phenotype.

The focus of this project was to characterize the occurrence of ESBL-­?producing bacteria in two irrigation water ponds in Southern Sweden. Samples were taken from two ponds nearby each other, from which analyses were made based on levels of community and individual isolates. Community samples were used for attempts for characterization of resistance patterns in irrigation water using the Omnilog PM-­?plate system. The growth of community microbiota in the presence of the following antibiotic substances was assessed; amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, penicillin G, ampicillin, piperacillin, trimethoprim, potassium tellurite and ciprofloxacin. Isolates were pure cultured using semi-­?selective media: LB, Rainbow Agar, mEnterococcus, 0.1 TSA and VRBD. A total of 177 isolates were isolated randomly. Each isolate was identified using the Omnilog GENIII-­?system of biochemical characterization. Further, the isolates were tested on Brilliance ESBL-­?agar for their ability to grow. Out of the total number of isolates, 30 were selected, preferably Enterobacteriaceae or Pseudomonas spp., based on their high similarity to library strain during the identification in the Omnilog-­?system. These were further characterized using Etest-­?sticks. Three selected strains were picked for further analyses using exogenous isolation for attempts to simulate horizontal gene transfer, and Omnilog PM-­?panels containing various antibiotics of interest. Selections of samples were chosen for molecular tests targeting plasmid-­?borne resistance genes CTX-­?M1, CTX-­?M2 and SHV. The method for assessing community-­?resistance patterns showed ambiguous data that was difficult to interpret; further optimization is recommended. For all tested PM-­?plates, generally greatest differences between substances were found among wells with the strongest concentration of antibiotic substance. A total of 175 isolates displayed ability to grow on ESBL-­?agar. Etests confirmed ability of isolates to resist many ?-­?lactam antibiotics and many were clinically resistant to certain substances. No plasmids were transferred during exogenous isolation. During molecular tests, a few matches were found for the CTX-­?M1 gene. Isolates analyzed with Omnilog PM-­?plates showed resistance to most compounds tested. The isolates showed greatest resistance toward penicillin G, ampicillin, amikacin, kanamycin and trimethoprim. In the study, it was established that resistance among bacteria was frequently occurring in the irrigation water, and ?-­?lactamase producing bacteria was very common. Extended studies are needed to assess the frequency-­? and occurrence of horizontal gene transfer (HGF) in this environment. Although some potential corresponding data is found, it is at this point not possible to determine whether the resistances are due to antibiotics used in veterinary medicine, human medicine or one additional reason is travel and trade. in irrigation water using the Omnilog PM-­?plate system. The growth of community microbiota in the presence of the following antibiotic substances was assessed; amikacin, gentamicin, kanamycin, penicillin G, ampicillin, piperacillin, trimethoprim, potassium tellurite and ciprofloxacin. Isolates were pure cultured using semi-­?selective media: LB, Rainbow Agar, mEnterococcus, 0.1 TSA and VRBD. A total of 177 isolates were isolated randomly. Each isolate was identified using the Omnilog GENIII-­?system of biochemical characterization. Further, the isolates were tested on Brilliance ESBL-­?agar for their ability to grow. Out of the total number of isolates, 30 were selected, preferably Enterobacteriaceae or Pseudomonas spp., based on their high similarity to library strain during the identification in the Omnilog-­?system. These were further characterized using Etest-­?sticks. Three selected strains were picked for further analyses using exogenous isolation for attempts to simulate horizontal gene transfer, and Omnilog PM-­?panels containing various antibiotics of interest. Selections of samples were chosen for molecular tests targeting plasmid-­?borne resistance genes CTX-­?M1, CTX-­?M2 and SHV. The method for assessing community-­?resistance patterns showed ambiguous data that was difficult to interpret; further optimization is recommended. For all tested PM-­?plates, generally greatest differences between substances were found among wells with the strongest concentration of antibiotic substance. A total of 175 isolates displayed ability to grow on ESBL-­?agar. Etests confirmed ability of isolates to resist many ?-­?lactam antibiotics and many were clinically resistant to certain substances. No plasmids were transferred during exogenous isolation. During molecular tests, a few matches were found for the CTX-­?M1 gene. Isolates analyzed with Omnilog PM-­?plates showed resistance to most compounds tested. The isolates showed greatest resistance toward penicillin G, ampicillin, amikacin, kanamycin and trimethoprim. In the study, it was established that resistance among bacteria was frequently occurring in the irrigation water, and ?-­?lactamase producing bacteria was very common. Extended studies are needed to assess the frequency-­? and occurrence of horizontal gene transfer (HGF) in this environment. Although some potential corresponding data is found, it is at this point not possible to determine whether the resistances are due to antibiotics used in veterinary medicine, human medicine or one additional reason is travel and trade..

Rabies is a fatal zoonotic disease spread worldwide. The most common sources of infection for all animals and humans are bites from dogs or bats. The aim of this degree project was to diagnose and determine the source of infection for 11 rabies samples from São Paulo State and Minas Gerais State, Brazil. Diagnosis was made through direct immunofluorescence assay, mouse inoculation and RT-PCR. The sources of infection were determined by sequencing 234 nucleotides of the 5? end of the N-gene and align these with homologous sequences retrieved from GenBank.

Jag har i denna uppsats försökt med hjälp av en kvantitativ enkätundersökning ge en bild av högstadieelevers attityd till religionsämnet. Enkäten innehåller 14 strukturerade (med fasta svarsalternativ) attitydfrågor kopp-lade till religionskunskap. Uppsatsen innehåller dessutom en översiktlig presentation av religionsämnets ut-veckling under 1900-talet samt en kort genomgång av några böcker och uppsatser som skrivits om elevers at-tityd till religion och religionsämnet. Elevernas svarsresultat visar att religionsämnet inte anses som viktigt. Yngre elever och främst pojkarhar gene-rellt en mer negativ attityd till såväl religionskunskap som religion.

Biodiversity can be described as the total variation of life forms, where diversity ranges from gene level up to the ecosystem level. The diversity can be calculated in a number of ways, and this study use one of these methods. In this study empirical food webs have been used and analyzed, where eleven characters are defined and used as parameters to calculate the Euclidean distances between food webs that describe the variation that may exist within classes of terrestrial, marine and freshwater habitats. The class who stood out and showed the greatest diversity at the ecosystem level was the marine food webs, which showed a high value of the average euclidean distance. The other networks were not as distinctive and the average of the euclidean distance in these classes was comparatively low..

The aim of this study was to isolate and identify Lactobacillus species indigenous to the gastrointestinal microflora of Swedish horses. These lactobacilli are to be used as probiotic candidates in research concerning antibiotic-associated diarrhoea in horses. Eight horses, age 6-10 years, were selected from a riding school for collection of faeces samples. Man Rogosa Sharp medium and gram staining were used for the selection of supposed lactobacilli. We could identify 33 isolates of supposed lactobacilli. With the use of API tests 22 of these 33 isolates could be identified.

With the growth of information stored over Internet, especially in the biological field, and with discoveries being made daily in this domain, scientists are faced with an overwhelming amount of articles. Reading all published articles is a tedious and time-consuming process. Therefore a way to summarise the information in the articles is needed. A solution is the derivation of an ontology representing the knowledge enclosed in the set of articles and allowing to browse through them. In this thesis we present the tool Ontolo, which allows to build an initial ontology of a domain by inserting a set of articles related to that domain in the system.

Biologiska läkemedel är stora molekyler som har renats eller producerats från ett biologiskt ursprung. De används idag i stor utsträckning runt om i världen på grund av deras effektivitet att minska symtomen som kan uppstå vid olika mycket svåra sjukdomar. Detta arbete fokuserar på biologiska läkemedel som hämmar cytokinet tumörnekrotisk faktor (TNF). Läkemedlen används bland annat vid svåra autoimmuna sjukdomar. Vid autoimmuna sjukdomar aktiveras cellerna i immunsystemet vilket leder till utsöndring av olika cytokiner till exempel interleukin 1 och TNF.

Biologiska läkemedel är stora molekyler som har renats eller producerats från ett biologiskt ursprung. De används idag i stor utsträckning runt om i världen på grund av deras effektivitet att minska symtomen som kan uppstå vid olika mycket svåra sjukdomar. Detta arbete fokuserar på biologiska läkemedel som hämmar cytokinet tumörnekrotisk faktor (TNF). Läkemedlen används bland annat vid svåra autoimmuna sjukdomar. Vid autoimmuna sjukdomar aktiveras cellerna i immunsystemet vilket leder till utsöndring av olika cytokiner till exempel interleukin 1 och TNF.

Oxytocin is today widely spoken of as a "feel good" hormone. Recent research has increased interest in the hormone and its role in social and sexual interactions, as well as its importance for complex behavioral patterns. There is evidence that oxytocin is released during physical contact and is said to suppress anxiety and stress. In animals and humans, oxytocin, which is a neuropeptide and likewise a hormone, is necessary for parturition and lactation. Synthesis of oxytocin occurs in brain neurons and in specific organs involved in reproduction.

Purpose The purpose of this study is to evaluate the treatment results and adverse drug effects for 14 dogs receiving a new paclitaxel preparat named Paccal vet. The evaluated dogs are chosen to enter a pharmacogenomical study. Therefore, this paper intends to give an introduction to pharmacogenomics. Finally this study also aims at finding the homologue genesequenses in dogs to seven genes that are important for metabolism of paclitaxel in humans. Materials and metods The dogs went through 2-4 cycles of paclitaxel treatment, they received a new water-soluble formula named Paccal vet, at dosages of 100-150mg/m2. Treatment results and adverse effects are listed for each dog in table 1.

We chose to base our literature study on the meme phenomena. The meme is a portion of culture that is spread among us from mind to mind. Every time we learn something by copying others we use information that has been passed on from a previous person, that information can be seen as a meme. The theoretical frame for our methodology in our exam paper is founded on Forsberg och Wengström research on literature studies. Our aim is to describe to the reader in depth what a meme is and how they could be helpful in an academic and pedagogical setting. Our study will show how memes are seen predominantly as graphic designs and as artifacts for cultural representation parallel to their imagery.

Mammary tumors are the most frequent type of tumors in bitches in Sweden. Many studies have been published concerning mammary tumors, but there is still much to be learned about this disease. One has, since some time ago, had the knowledge that addition to or removal of methyl groups to genes can inhibit or activate gene-expression. Methylation and demethylation is a normal phenomenon in the body and it is essential for the development and survival of the individual. The risk of developing a tumor disease is increased if the global methylationstatus is changed; if oncogenes demethylates (activates) or if tumor suppressor genes methylates (inactivates). In the human medicine one has seen that there are differences in methylationstatus between different tumors. In this study tumor and normal tissue from ten dogs were examined with regard to methylationstatus.

Nematode-transmitted plant viruses (such as nepoviruses) cause great economically losses in commercially important plants such as tomatoes, grapevines and raspberries all over the world. To avoid spread of the viruses the interest in mapping the viruses has increased. One of the important nepoviruses infecting European red raspberries (Rubus idaeus) is Tomato black ring virus (TBRV). TBRV has earlier been confirmed in raspberry samples from Belarus by ELISA and the aim of this bachelor degree project was to confirm these results by amplifying, cloning and sequencing the coat protein (CP) gene of the virus. In total eight viral cDNA samples, from two different raspberry samples, were amplified and sequenced.

AbstractThe genetic diversity in cultural plants is considered to be threatened due to global climate change and antropogenic influence. Unknowing of future conditions for cultivation, gene banks all over the world are now trying to build up costly safety nets of species and varieties that may become highly valuable owing to their specific traits and genetic heredity. Hence, in 2002 there was a national inventory, aimed at the Swedish public, asking for seeds believed to be lost. Among the resulting collected seeds were some accessions of garden bean, Phaseolus vulgaris. The objective of this particular study was to assemble a collection of unique varieties and discard possible duplicates.