Brucella species are small, Gram-negative, facultative coccobacilli, most lacking a capsule, endospores, or native plasmids. They are intracellular within the host organism, and show environmental persistence outside the host. They survive extremes in temperature, pH, and humidity, and in frozen and aborted materials. They infect many species, but with some specificity.

PRRSV is a small, enveloped RNA virus. It contains a single-stranded, positive-sense, RNA genome with a size of approximately 15 kilobases. The genome contains nine open reading frames. PRRSV is a member of the genus Arterivirus, family Arteriviridae, order Nidovirales. Subclinical infections are common, with clinical signs occurring sporadically in a herd. Clinical signs include reproductive failure in sows such as abortions and giving birth to stillborn or mummified fetuses, and cyanosis of

L-Glutamate is the major excitatory neurotransmitter in the mammalian CNS, acting through both ligand gated ion channels (ionotropic receptors) and G-protein coupled (metabotropic) receptors. As such the glutamate receptors play a vital role in the mediation of excitatory synaptic transmission. The ionotropic glutamate receptors are multimeric assemblies of four or five subunits, and are subdivided into three groups (AMPA, NMDA and Kainate receptors) based on their pharmacology structural si

This gene encodes a member of the Rho family of small GTPases, which cycle between inactive GDP-bound and active GTP-bound states and function as molecular switches in signal transduction cascades. Rho proteins promote reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton and regulate cell shape, attachment, and motility. The protein encoded by this gene is prenylated at its C-terminus, and localizes to the cytoplasm and plasma membrane. It is thought to be important in cell locomotion. Overexpression

The HB9 homeobox transcription factor regulates gene expression during embryonic development and also in specific adult tissues. HB9 gene mutations are implicated in Curriano syndrome, which is characterized by a triad consisting of a presacral tumor, sacral agenesis and anorectal malformation. In human bone marrow cells, HB9 expression directly correlates with CD34 expression. Furthermore, HB9 expression increases in CD34+ cells that are treated with IL-3 and granulocyte macrophage-colony-s