Center for Zoonoses Research at the University of Illinois
Veterinary Student Summer Training Program
2008 Mentor Profile
Duncan Ferguson
Department Head ,
Veterinary Biosciences
Title
Project Description:
Project 1: Studies of Thyroid Hormone Metabolism and Action in Neuroprogenitor Cells
Thyroid hormone is critical to the proper sequence of development of cells in the central nervous system, and compounds in food (e.g. the plasticizer bisphenol A or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are known to influence the secretion, metabolism or action of thyroid hormone. The impact of maternal exposure to these compounds is difficult to evaluate, requiring dosing of pregnant animals, and the results do not often allow characterization of mechanisms of action. Our laboratory has obtained new neuroprogenitor stem cell derived from an NIH-approved human cell line, which would provide an alternative to animal drug/toxin testing on the processes associated with neurodevelopment, and has been funded, in part, by the Society of Toxicology and Colgate Palmolive as an in vitro alternative to animal use. We propose that the student researcher will learn techniques of stem cell culture and extraction of messenger RNA (mRNA) followed by assessment of mRNA expression with realtime reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). The proposed work will involve the evaluation of evaluating the expression of messenger RNA of key proteins associated with hormone-stimulated neurodevelopment and/or of mRNA from drug metabolizing enzymes. This work will provide important information about this new cell line regarding the ability of these cells to respond to thyroid hormone and also to metabolize xenobiotics responsible for environmentally relevant toxicities. A focused project will be developed from this area of research following discussion with an interested student. Also, candidates should be aware that the Department of Veterinary Biosciences also has funded slots for students interested in pursuing a PhD in the department if successfully selected for the Veterinary Scholars (DVM/PhD) Program.
Project 2: Refinement of Immunoassays for the Diagnosis of Canine, Feline or Equine Thyroid Disease
Thyroid disease in domestic animals (hypothyroidism in dogs and horses, hyperthyroidism in the cat) are the most common endocrinopathies. These conditions require improved diagnostic assays. For example, no widely available assay exists for feline or equine TSH and the one commercially available assay for canine TSH suffers from low diagnostic sensitivity. Thyroglobulin (Tg), a large storage protein in the thyroid gland, has been used to diagnose thyroid enlargement and cancer in humans. In this project, using peptide and immunoreagents already developed for canine, feline and equine TSH, or feline Tg, the research student will work on techniques for improvement of the sensitivity of these assays using fluorescence or luminescence –labelled immunoreagents. A focused project will be developed from this area of research following discussion with an interested student. Also, candidates should be aware that the Department of Veterinary Biosciences also has funded slots for students interested in pursuing a PhD in the department if successfully selected for the Veterinary Scholars (DVM/PhD) Program.
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