680 research outputs found
THE HORSE HOLOBIONT IN A STRESSFUL WORLD FROM MICROBES TO ECOSYSTEMS
No full textManuscript Habilitation à diriger des recherche
Genome-wide association and pathwaybased analysis for milk fatty acids profile in dairy cattle
No full textFatty acids (FA) profile has a great impact on the nutritional and technological quality of milk and dairy products. Genome wide associations (GWAS) and gene-set enrichment analyses
were conducted for 65 milk FA. Milk samples from 1152 Italian Brown Swiss cows reared in 85 herds were used. Animals were genotyped with the Illumina BovineSNP50 Bead
Chip v.2. A single marker regression model was applied for GWAS using the GenABEL R package and the GRAMMAR-GC approach. A gene-set enrichment analysis was run on GWAS
results, using the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway databases,
to reveal ontologies/pathways associated with the phenotypes of interest.
In total 175 SNPs were significant (p<5x10-5) spanning all Bos taurus autosomes (BTAs). The highest signals were detected on BTA26 (~22.98 Mbp) and
on BTA8 (~3.66 Mbp). Four sub-regions were detected on BTA26 associated with 8 traits. The region 26a corresponded to only 1 SNP (~9.87 Mbp) which was associated to both
C10:1 and C14:1 indices. The regions 26b, 26c and 26d contained multiple SNPs. In particular, the region 26b included 4
SNPs (~14.66-16.71 Mbp) associated to C14:1 index and C14:1 cis-9. In the region 26c (~18.17-22.98 Mbp), signals were detected for C14:1 index, C10:1 index, C14:1 cis-9,
monounsaturated FA, C18:1 cis-9, C10:0, C12:0 and C14:0. Finally, 6 SNP in the region 26d (~25.09-31.58 Mbp) were associated to C14:1 index and C14:1 cis-9. The high signal on BTA8 (Hapmap40047-BTA-119117) was significantly associated to C18:1 trans-16. Gene-set enrichment analyses showed significant results (Fisher’s exact test, false discovery rate <.05) for 20 FA traits. In particular, C12:0 was associated with the
highest number of overrepresented categories/pathways,including several connected to the regulation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity and protein phosphorylation.
The considerably large number of enriched GO and KEGG terms for C12:0 suggested that such phenotype might have a relevant biological role in the regulation of processes
affecting milk fat composition. These findings might be helpful for follow-up studies designed to shed more light into the molecular mechanisms underlying FA synthesis and metabolism
in the bovine mammary gland. The new insights could contribute to set up selective breeding programs aiming to obtain a healthier milk FA composition.
Acknowledgements
The research was funded by Trento Province (Italy), the Italian Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders’ Association (ANARB,Verona, Italy), and the Superbrown Consortium of Bolzano and Trento
SNP co-association and network analyses for bovine milk fatty acid profile
No full textNutritional and technological value of milk is largely influenced by milk fat quantity and fatty acid (FA) profile. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the regulation
of milk fat synthesis and secretion in the bovine mammary gland remain largely unknown. In the present study, we exploited an Association Weight Matrix (AWM) approach to
build gene networks for bovine milk FA profile aiming to i) increase the knowledge about the functional relationships among set of genes affecting milk fat content and composition,
ii) describe the biological functions regulating milk fat synthesis and secretion and iii) identify key transcription factors (TFs) controlling these mechanisms. The results of single-
marker genome wide association studies (GWAS) across 65 FA and fat content in milk samples, as well as the genotypes for 37,568 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) from
a cohort of 1152 Italian Brown Swiss cows were used. An AWM-approach based on SNP co-associations allowed to predict a network of 791 genes related to milk FA profile. This
network provided new insights into the crosstalk between distinct molecular pathways (e.g. mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), lipid metabolism and hormone signaling) that
were not detectable when analyzing individual SNP alone. In parallel, we focused on the TFs and their potential target genes within the AWM-derived network to identify the optimal
subset of TFs spanning the majority of the network topology. Results highlighted BTB Domain and CNC Homolog 2 (BACH2), E2F Transcription Factor 3 (E2F3), and Lysine
Demethylase 5A (KDM5A) as key regulators of milk FA metabolism. Functional analyses of the target genes by ClueGo confirmed that ontologies/pathways related to MAPK
activity, cholesterol biosynthesis, hormonal signaling and reproduction were enriched (right-sided hypergeometric test, false discovery rate <0.05). In summary, our approach
allowed to identify key regulators undetectable by the standard GWAS approach and provided novel insights into the physiological and cellular processes required for the synthesis and secretion of milk FA,
improving the understanding of bovine mammary gland functionality. The new knowledge might help to develop selection strategies to improve milk quality for human consumption.
Acknowledgements
The research was funded by Trento Province (Italy), the Italian Brown Swiss Cattle Breeders Association (ANARB,Verona, Italy), and the Superbrown Consortium of Bolzano and Trento
Dietary unsaturated fatty acids affect the mammary gland integrity and health in lactating dairy cows
No full textBackground. Information about the effects of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) supplementation on the health and integrity of the mammary gland in lactating dairy cows is lacking. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of unprotected dietary UFA on the global expression pattern of genes in the mammary gland tissue of grazing dairy cows, and to translate this information into relevant biological knowledge.
Methods. Twenty-eight Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were randomly assigned to 4 different concentrated UFA-sources for 23 days after which all cows were switched to a non-UFA-supplemented concentrate for an additional 28 days. On the last day of both periods, mammary gland biopsies were taken to study genome-wide differences in gene expression on Bovine Genome Arrays.
Results. Supplementation with UFA reduced the concentration of short chain fatty acids (FA), C16 FA and saturated FA in the milk, whereas that of trans-FA increased. One major finding was that canonical pathways associated with remodelling and immune functions of the mammary gland were predominantly down-regulated during UFA supplementation and negatively correlated with the concentration of milk trans-FA.
Conclusions. Supplementing grazing dairy cows with unprotected dietary UFA can affect the remodelling and immune functions of the mammary gland with potential consequences for its integrity and health, as well as milk quality
Neuroplasticity of spinal cord neurons based on piezoelectric stimulation and electrophysiological analysis after stem cell-derived progenitor transplant
No full textRepair strategies in the context of spinal cord injury cover a broad amount of fields. Different approaches have been considered ranging from the chemical, mechanical, pharmacological, material sciences, electrical and chemical engineering sphere. There is much interest in combinational therapies since many approaches yield promising results yet none is beneficial enough in functional terms. There is also a necessity of properly evaluate the improvement these therapies pose from a functional point of view and do it with sufficient resolution to target and invest in strategies with higher potential. This thesis is born with the interest of contributing to the spinal cord injury field at those two levels. On one side, I have developed an injury model and techniques to test the efficacy of a therapy for spinal cord repair as compared to controls. On the other, I have proposed a combinational therapy in the form of a scaffold that combines biomaterials and electrical fields to stimulate regeneration In the first part of this thesis, I have developed an animal model to test effectiveness of treatment by analyzing the electromyography signal of the intercostal muscles. The respiratory system is a good test bench, usually neglected in regeneration studies. I have used a mix of engineering approaches from signal processing to animal physiology analysis to provide the test with enough resolution to identify improvement. Then, I have proved the efficacy of the model by using a stem cell therapy. In the second part of the thesis, I have tested piezoelectric polymers as a useful platform to deliver electrical fields to neurons. I have shown the resulting increase in neuronal growth upon exposure to alternating electrical fields, in concrete, in neuronal branching. These results encourage the use of biocompatible piezoelectric polymers which are very versatile in nature, as a source for combinational therapies. Future studies will translate this in vitro model into an in vivo treatment which will be assessed with the strategy explained in the first part.Ph. D.Includes bibliographical referencesby Maria Nuria Royo Gasco
Author Correction: Modulating the immune response to SARS-CoV-2 by different nanocarriers delivering an mRNA expressing trimeric RBD of the spike protein: COVARNA Consortium
Get PDFCorrection to: npj Vaccines (2024) 9:53; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41541-024-00838-8, published online 06 March 2024 http://hdl.handle.net/10261/353891
1 Pág.In this article, the author name Núria López-Bigas was incorrectly written as Nuria López-Vigas. The original article has been corrected.Peer reviewe
Alteration of gene expression in mammary gland tissue of dairy cows in response to dietary unsaturated fatty acids
No full textMecanismos moleculares implicados en los posibles efectos de los compuestos fenólicos en la disminución del riesgo de enfermedades cardiovasculares
No full textThe objective of the present review is to evaluate the possible association between phenolic compounds and cardiovascular disease, proposing that their regular consumption in Western diets could be beneficial for protecting patients against cardiovascular disease. An extensive research of scientific literature was performed in the following electronic specialized databases (PubMed central (PMC)-NBCI, Elsevier Journal, Scielo Spain, Scirus, Science Direct, Web of Science), including studies in animals, cells, and humans, to establish the effect of polyphenols in the prevention and development of cardiovascular disease was conducted. The in vitro , animal and human studies show the potential ability of polyphenols to act against cardiovascular disease as a result of their antioxidant effect and vasodilatation and their capacity to improve lipid profile while reducing the concentration of low-density lipoproteins. Polyphenols consumption in Western diets could be beneficial for protecting patients against cardiovascular disease
LA ADOPCIÓN CHINA EN EL ALFABETO DE LOS PÁJAROS DE NURIA BARRIOS
Get PDFIn the novel El alfabeto de los pájaros by Nuria Barrios, the author creates a child’s fantasy world using literary language and symbolism to show the psychological adjustment of an adopted child named Nix to her family environment. In order to talk about her adoption, Nix and her mother invent stories that they tell each other, using a repetitive, musical and symbolic language. By using these techniques, Barrios creates an atmosphere of self-discovery for the girl and her mother where they are able to tell the story of Nix’s origin in a new way so that Nix can adapt emotionally to her position as adopted daughter. This article analyzes how the author presents the psychological process of adoption through the use of literary language.
Resumen
En la novela El alfabeto de los pájaros de Nuria Barrios, la autora crea un mundo infantil de fantasía a través del uso del lenguaje y del simbolismo para mostrar el ajuste psicológico de una niña llamada Nix a su ambiente familiar. Para poder hablar de su adopción, Nix y su madre inventan historias que se cuentan, utilizando un lenguaje repetitivo, musical y simbólico. Así, recurriendo a estas técnicas, Barrios crea un ambiente de autodescubrimiento para la niña y su madre, en donde ambas pueden contar la historia del origen de Nix de una forma nueva para que ella se adapte emocionalmente a su posición como hija adoptiva. Considerando lo anterior, este artículo analizará cómo la autora presenta el proceso psicológico de la adopción mediante el uso del lenguaje literario
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