Could Lyme protection be built on rabies vaccine

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Could Lyme protection be built on rabies vaccine?

The NIH has awarded a grant to immunobiologist Utpal Pal, a professor at the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, who is exploring a way of using the rabies vaccine to stimulate protection against the bacterium that causes Lyme disease. Pal is working with Matthias Schnell, director of Thomas Jefferson University’s Jefferson Vaccine Center, who has studied the concept with other viral vaccines.

The University of Maryland is leading an initiative supported by a $3.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to develop a novel, next-generation Lyme disease vaccine.

The grant is funding the efforts of tick immunobiologist Utpal Pal, PhD, to adapt the rabies vaccination platform to stimulate production of antibodies against the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria responsible for Lyme disease.

Dr. Pal is a professor in the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. He is partnering with Matthias Schnell, PhD, director of Thomas Jefferson University’s Jefferson Vaccine Center, which is known for the study and application of the rabies virus as a platform for vaccination, according to an Oct. 2 statement from the University of Maryland.

“We are using the rabies virus as a delivery platform to send in some vaccine candidates for Borrelia,” Dr. Pal explained. “For rabies, we can produce an inactivated virus that helps the body produce the antibodies needed to fight it. Since we can produce the rabies vaccine and antibody proteins safely, why not have this virus produce other types of proteins that can do something else, like fight Borrelia?”

Although proven by Dr. Schnell and colleagues to be effective for other viral vaccinations, this approach has not yet been explored for Borrelia and other tick-borne diseases.

Using proteins that Dr. Pal’s laboratory previously identified as vaccine candidates, Dr. Pal and his team hope to combine these proteins with the rabies virus to deliver long-lasting, safe, and effective immunity. Their work will include testing the four candidate proteins, along with three major types of rabies vaccine platforms that could be effective for Lyme disease.

It’s Me here, Bonnie The French Bulldog

French Bulldog

French Bulldogs, when you first meet one, you may not be sure what the fantastical little beast is who’s bringing a smile to your face. In fact, I would be a millionaire if I had a nickel every time someone asked me my Pugs name.

Not that I don’t love pugs, but French Bulldogs, also known as Frenchies, are definitely not one and anyone interested in owning a French Bulldog should be aware of the funny little spitfire they are bringing into their lives.

As you can imagine, this breed is known for being clownlike and fearless, which can be both comical and terrifying as your 20 pound friend meets large dogs head on. Of course, everyone will fall in love with them and their bat like large ears. If  they aren’t smiling, then they have the most comical of grumpy faces you’ll ever seen.

And for such a small dog, there is a lot packed into them. So, sit back and learn everything you need to know about the French Bulldog. You are going to be delighted you did, especially if it means one or two…or maybe even four…of these delightful dogs become part of your life.

The Interesting Appearance of the French Bulldog

french bulldog

Height:

Males and Females: 11 to 13 inches (27.94 to 33.02cm)

Weight:

Males: 20 to 28 pounds (9.07 to 12.70kg)

Females: 18 to 26 pounds (8.16 to 11.79 kg)

It should be noted that any French Bulldog over 28 pounds (12.70kg) is considered to be too heavy and can be disqualified against the breed standard.

Coat Colors:

Accepted Breed Standard Colors

  • White: With or without markings
  • Fawn: Ranging from light silver to dark red fawn
  • Cream: Ranging from a light apricot to a dark red apricot

Accepted Markings:

  • Brindle: Black with brindling of fawn or apricot
  • Piebald: A mostly white dog with colored markings.
  • Black Masks: Dark mask on the muzzle, nose, around the eyes. Ears can be black as well.
  • White Markings: White markings can appear anywhere on the dog.
  • Black Shadings: Shading of fur on a fawn dog that makes the dog smutty looking.

Disqualified Breed Standard Colors

These colors have become very popular over the last few years but buyers should beware with purchase these colors. First, there are not “rare” colors so they should not be more expensive. Second, some colors are linked to health problems, which we will go over in the health section of the French bulldog.

  • Black: Any solid black with no sign of brindling.
  • Blue Fawn: A fawn with a silverfish blue color to the coat.
  • Black and White: Black dog with white markings unless brindled.
  • White and Black: White dog with black markings unless brindled.
  • Tan Points: Found in blue, blue fawn or black, tan points on French Bulldogs are similar to the points Dobermans have on the eyebrows, legs, under the tail, muzzle and chest.
  • Liver: Can range from a light liver color to a deep chocolate.
  • Lilac: A light grey/brown color.
  • Blue: Light to dark greyish blue or blue/brown.
  • Merle: A coat that is mottled colors in a solid or piebald coat. Merle’s can also have miscolored eyes.

Known for being a sturdy little dog, that is exactly what you should be looking for in a French bulldog. They are a small breed of dog that should have a compact and stocky body.

When you pick them up, you should notice some weight, however, they should never be overweight or more than 28 pounds (12.70kg). The overall look should be of a square dog that is the same length as he is tall.

The back should be level and the hips should be narrower than the chest and shoulders, giving him a tapered look. The French bulldog has a short straight or corkscrew tail. The chest of the dog should be broad and is very deep.

When it comes to their head, they should have a short, broad muzzle with a definite stop. They are a brachycephalic breed, which means the muzzle is extremely short. The head should be square and the upper lips should hang over the lower.

The forehead should be slightly rounded and they should have large, round eyes that are set wide apart. For breed standard, darker eye colors and a black nose are desired, although the nose can be lighter in light colored dogs.

But one of the most important features of a French bulldog are the large, bat like ears that are set high on the head. They should form a triangle with the base wide before it narrows to the tip. They should be held so they point forward.

The coat of the French bulldog should be short and smooth. Some French bulldogs have a single coat while others have a double coat, which consists of a thicker, shorter coat. Double coated French bulldogs shed more than the single coat, however, both are considered average shedders. There should be loose skin on the dog and your French bulldog should have wrinkles around the head and shoulders.

Finally, the French bulldog comes in many different colors and color patterns, however, be aware that only a few colors are accepted for the breed standard. See above for a full list of colors.

Born To Be Wild