Kingsley Ekwemalor

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Verified

Kingsley verified their affiliation via an institutional email.

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• BSc, MS, PhD
• Professor (Associate) at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University

Neutrophils are the first line of defense and central to many disease processes in animals. A study was conducted to determine the expression on 84 genes involved in innate and adaptive responses. The modulation by extracts of the mushroom Coriolus versicolor was also determined. Blood was collected from adult female SpanishXBoer (N=10) goats, befo...

The objective of this study was to evaluate resistance and resilience to gastrointestinal parasites in goats following supplementation with probiotics. Improving resistance and resilience to gastro-intestinal parasites is essential to combating the threat to the small ruminant industry from anthelmintic resistance. Following initial screening for i...

The effects of a water extract of Sericea lespedeza (SL)(a high tannin plant), bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from gram negative bacteria, nystatin (NYS), and peptidoglycan (PGN) (both from gram positive bacteria) on transcription of Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) in bovine blood was investigated.Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are pattern recognition...

Abstract Text: Gastrointestinal parasites pose a serious threat to the global goat industry due to resistance of parasites to anthelmintic drugs. Oral administration of anthelimintics may activate genes in peripheral blood and impact goat health and production. Coriolus versicolor is a mushroom with immunostimulant properties used as a dietary supp...

The Wingless (Wnt) signaling pathway is a conserved pathway with essential roles in cellular and biological processes in mammals. Wnt signal transduction has been implicated in inflammation, innate immunity and homeostasis via Toll-like receptor and NF-kB pathways. Plant bioactive compounds are capable of modulating the Wnt signalling pathway, whic...

Programs based on antibiotics are failing to control diseases due to increase in resistance of pathogens to antibiotics. Food safety, animal welfare and public health concerns have fueled interest in the use of plant-based alternatives. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a plant (Sericea Lespedeza, SL), and pathogen associated molec...

Sheep play a significant role in agriculture, serving as a primary source of meat, milk, and wool fiber. They constitute a unique class of animals distinguished by their specialized digestive organs. As our population increases, there is a high demand for sheep meat and products from developed and developing countries. In livestock production, dise...

Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), peptidogly-can (PGN), Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (poly I:C), and CpG Oligodeoxynucleotides (ODN) are recognized by Toll-like receptors (TLR). This study aimed to investigate the effect of diverse PAMPs on the transcription of TLR signaling pathway genes in goat bl...

The objective of this study was to assess the expression and secretion of Galectins (Gal) in cow milk. Cow milk contains a range of proteins of moderate or low abundance that contribute to host defense. However, host defense proteins in milk were not fully discovered. Galectins belong to the lectin family that recognizes specific carbohydrates on c...

Galectins (GAL) constitute an evolutionarily conserved family of β-galactoside-binding proteins that are secreted. They are involved in the regulation of homeostasis, innate and adaptive immune responses to infectious challenge. The mushroom Coriolus versicolor (CV) has been reported to boost suppressed immune function, extending the survival rate...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of methionine(Met) supplementation on genes encoding Galectins (LGALS) and secretion in plasma during the periparturient period. Dairy cows are susceptible to increased incidence and severity of disease during the periparturient period. Impaired polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMNL) functions such...

The objective of this study was to assess the effect of neutrophil activation on the expression of T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein-3 (TIM-3) and its ligand Galectin 9. T cell immunoglobulin and Mucin-Domain-Containing-Protein 3 is a type I transmembrane protein involved in the regulation of cell-mediated immunity. Galectin...

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Polyinosinic-polycytidylic [poly(I:C)] acid on gene activation in goat blood. Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid is a synthetic dsRNA analogue that binds to Toll-like receptor (TLR) 3. Synthetic TLR agonists are promising immune modulators. Blood samples were collected from the jugular vein...

The objective of this study was to assess the expression and secretion of galectin gene in cow blood stimulated with Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate is a phorbol diester that activates the enzyme protein kinase C (PKC). Activated PKC is associated with regulation of inflammation. Galectins (Gal) are β-galactos...

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of two classes of oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) on the expression of genes involved in Toll-like receptor signaling in goat blood. Toll-like receptors play a critical role in initiating innate immune responses. Select synthetic oligodeoxynucleotides containing methylated CpG motifs (CpG ODN)...

The objective of this study was to detect bitter taste receptor (T2Rs) variants in three breeds of goats. The ability to taste bitter taste impacts feed intake, digestion, and rejection of potentially toxic substances. Blood was collected from three breeds of goats (Spanish, Savannah, and Boer n = 5 /breed). Genomic DNA was extracted. The concentra...

Pathogen-associated Molecular Patterns (PAMPs) are highly conserved structural motifs that are recognized by Pathogen Recognition receptors (PRRs) to initiate immune responses. Infection by these pathogens and the immune response to PAMPS such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Peptidoglycan (PGN), bacterial oligodeoxynucleotides [CpG oligodeoxynucleotid...

Neutrophils are cells of the innate immune system that have the ability to respond to stimuli. Galectin-8, a part of the family of galectins, has been shown to modulate the innate and adaptive immune system. The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of exogenous galectin-8 on global transcription in bovine neutrophils. Whole blood was c...

Galectins (Gals) are a family of animal lectins that bind β-galactosides through a carbohydrate recognition domain. Galectin-8 is a tandem-repeat galectin, secreted intracellularly and extracellularly. It is associated with neutrophil migration and has been studied as a possible therapeutic to combat inflammation. The objective of this study was to...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and peptidoglycan (PGN) on galectin-3 expression and secretion in goat blood. Meat goats are exposed to various pathogens while grazing on pasture. Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) from the outer membrane of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria such...

The objective of this study was to compare galectin gene (LGALS) expression and secretion in cow, sheep and goat blood. Ruminants succumb to infectious and metabolic diseases. Galectins (Gals) are a family of β –galactoside binding proteins that have a conserved carbohydrate recognition domain increasingly recognized for their role in inflammation....

Infectious and metabolic diseases are the significant hindrance to animal production. Galectins (Gal) are β-galactosidase binding proteins that can modulate inflammation following external and internal secretion from the cell. Galectin 9 is a tandem repeat member of Gal involved in cell activation, pathogen destruction and immunosuppression. Bindin...

Galectins (Gals) are a family of animal lectins that bind β-galactosides through a carbohydrate recognition domain. Milk somatic cell counts (SCC) are associated with increased migration of neutrophils from blood to milk in response to microbial infection resulting in Mastitis. Gal-8 is a tandem-repeat galectin, secreted intracellularly and extrace...

The objective of this study was to evaluate IgA and IgE coproantibody levels in fecal samples from periparturient sheep. Coproantibodies are present in the intestinal tract or fecal matter. They are associated with gut infections and are indicators of the local immune response. St Croix sheep are resistant to parasites in part due to their strong i...

This study evaluates the impact of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) derived from the cell wall of the Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and, peptidoglycan (PGN) from the cell wall of the gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus on galectin gene expression in cow blood. Infection by these pathogens and the immune response to pathogen-associated mo...

Galectins (GAL) are β-galactoside binding proteins that can modulate both pregnancy and the response to pathogens. Increased susceptibility to infection by pathogens is linked to periparturient immune suppression and a periparturient rise (PPR) in parasite eggs on pasture. The possible role of GAL in periparturient immune relaxation and PRR needs d...

Pathogenesis and lack of effective therapeutics pose a threat to animal and public health. Recognition of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPS) by Toll-like receptors is associated with gene activation. Galectins are sugar-binding proteins that play a role in pathogen-recognition and immune modulation. The objective of this study was to in...

The goat industry is one of the major sources of food and protein consumed worldwide. The growth of this industry is faced by challenges such as infection and pathogens. Parturition is a very dynamic period. The coincidental occurrence of periparturient immune suppression and a rise in the shedding of parasite eggs pose a challenge for animal healt...

Probiotics are viable microorganisms with beneficial health effects for humans and animals.They are formulated into many functional foods and animal feed. There is a growing research interest in the application and benefits of probiotics in ruminant production. Several recent studies have evaluated the potential of probiotics in animal nutrition an...

Galectins (Gal) are glycan-binding proteins. Galectin-8 modulates inflammatory cell adhesion, migration, proliferation, and apoptosis. The objective of this study was to determine the transcription and secretion of Gal-8 variants in blood from high (H) and low (L) SCC cows. HSCC is an early indicator of mastitis (SCC > 200,000). Clinically healthy...

Information on goat genome has led to a better understanding of the genetics of goats, its response to infection and the underlying immune response mechanism. Natural product based therapeutic can, therefore, be utilized to target genes important for goat immunity. In this chapter, we have summarized the effect of diet and dietary supplements as im...

The periparturient period in dairy cows is a crucial time influencing health, milk production and fertility. Galectins are receiving interest as therapeutic targets because of their roles in immune signaling pathways. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression and modulation of galectin genes in periparturient cows with different parities...

Galectins constitute an evolutionarily conserved family of β-galactoside-binding proteins. 14 They regulate innate and adaptive immunity and homeostasis. Expression of Galectins may regulate 15 periparturient immune suppression. Galectin gene expression was studied in goat blood during the 16 periparturient period. Body weight, body condition and F...

Galectins constitute an evolutionarily conserved family of β-galactoside-binding proteins. They regulate innate and adaptive immunity and homeostasis. Expression of Galectins may regulate periparturient immune suppression. Galectin gene expression was studied in goat blood during the periparturient period. Body weight, body condition and FAMACHA sc...

Many factors influence the gut microbiome. The gastrointestinal tract of goats is inhabited by diverse and complex microbial communities including bacteria, protozoa, fungi, archaea, and viruses. This study investigated the shifts in the bacterial community during the periparturient period. Fecal samples were collected from Five BoerXSpanish goats...

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of crude cowpea polyphenol extract (CPE) on the expression of genes involved in the inflammatory response in bovine blood in vitro. Plant-derived polyphenols in animal feeds are being used as alternatives to antibiotics to treat and prevent invading microbes. These compounds have antioxidant...

The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of galectins in cow blood and to evaluate their modulation in periparturient cows at different stages of lactation. Galectins are multipotent, evolutionarily conserved, carbohydrate- binding proteins that, by crosslinking cell surface glycoconjugates, trigger a cascade of transmembrane signaling...

The objective of this study was to evaluate resilience to parasites in Baylis and Low Country Spanish goat bloodlines. Spanish goats have adapted to the Southeastern United States. They are known for their meat, ability to thrive on forage and clear brush in harsh environments, and good fertility. About 8,000 purebred Spanish goats from 15 bloodlin...

In this study, galectin gene expression pre- and postpartum was evaluated in blood. St. Croix sheep are a breed of hair sheep that are parasite resistant and prolific and so are of interest for production. Immunosuppression during the periparturient period occurs in every organ in the sheep's body to enable the ewe support fetal growth and prevent...

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of probiotics (FASTtrack microbial pack) on the expression of Toll-like receptors (TLR) in goats. Probiotics are viable microorganisms that have positive effects on growth performance, nutrient synthesis, the microbial ecosystem, absorption, and the reduction in the incidence of intestinal infe...

The objective of this study was to assess the molecular impact of probiotic administration on genes involved in homeostasis and immunity in goat blood. Following initial screening for infection, one-week post weaning, female SpanishXBoer goats were drenched daily with the recommended doses of FASTtrak microbial pack (Conklin Company Inc., Shakopee,...

Use of probiotic supplements as a non-chemical approach to promote health has increased in animal production. The present study evaluated the effect of oral probiotic administration on growth and global gene expression profile in dairy cows. Lactating Holstein-Friesian cows received a daily dose (50 ml) of a commercial probiotic (containing Lactoba...

p class="1Body">Nystatin is an antifungal agent isolated from bacteria found in the dairy cow environment. It disrupts small platforms in the cell membrane, composed of sphingolipids and cholesterol known as lipid rafts. Pathogen recognition receptors (PRR) may be embedded in these lipid rafts. This study was conducted to evaluate the in vitro effe...

p class="1Body">Neutrophils recognize and destroy pathogens through activation of the Toll like receptor (TLR) system as part of the inflammatory response of innate immunity. The expression and modulation of genes in the TLR signaling pathway in caprine blood neutrophils was investigated. Following initial screening for infection, goats (N=15) were...

Probiotic supplements are beneficial for animal health and rumen function; and lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from gram negative bacteria have been associated with inflammatory diseases. In this study the transcriptional profile in whole blood collected from probiotics-treated cows was investigated in response to stimulation with lipopolysaccharides (LP...

Maintenance of an adequate immune response is essential to goat health. CorPet biomass is a mushroom (Coriolus versicolor) based probiotic used as an immune-stimulant in man, horses and small animals. Fifteen BoerXSpanish goats were used in a crossover design to evaluate the effect of a commercial mushroom based probiotic across two periods on resi...

Phenolic-rich forages are beneficial for animal health and nutrition. In this study, the global gene expression profile in cattle whole blood was investigated in response to stimulation with cowpea leaf phenolic extract in vitro. Whole blood from Holstein Friesian cows was treated with 10 µg/mL of CPE and untreated samples served as control. Total...

Maintenance of an adequate immune response is essential to goat health. CorPet biomass is a mushroom (Coriolus versicolor) based probiotic used as an immune-stimulant in man, horses and small animals. Fifteen BoerXSpanish goats were used in a crossover design to evaluate the effect of a commercial mushroom based probiotic across two periods on resi...

The objective of this study was to evaluate resistance and resilience to gastrointestinal parasites in goats following supplementation with probiotics. Improving resistance and resilience to gastro-intestinal parasites is essential to combating the threat to the small ruminant industry from anthelmintic resistance. Following initial screening for i...

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a water extract of Sericea Lespedeza (SL) on gene activation in ruminant (cow, sheep and goat)blood. Sericea Lespedeza (SL), a high tannin containing legume has been shown to be a useful component of feed for control of gastro intestinal nematodes in goats. Blood was collected from Four (N=4) BoerX...