Project description:Aging is associated with declining immunity and inflammation as well as alterations in the gut microbiome with a decrease of beneficial microbes and increase in pathogenic ones. The aim of this study was to investigate aging associated gut microbiome in relation to immunologic and metabolic profile in a non-human primate (NHP) model. 12 old (age>18 years) and 4 young (age 3-6 years) Rhesus macaques were included in this study. Immune cell subsets were characterized in PBMC by flow cytometry and plasma cytokines levels were determined by bead based multiplex cytokine analysis. Stool samples were collected by ileal loop and investigated for microbiome analysis by shotgun metagenomics. Serum, gut microbial lysate and microbe-free fecal extract were subjected to metabolomic analysis by mass-spectrometry. Our results showed that the old animals exhibited higher inflammatory biomarkers in plasma and lower CD4 T cells with altered distribution of naïve and memory T cell maturation subsets. The gut microbiome in old animals had higher abundance of Archaeal and Proteobacterial species and lower Firmicutes than the young. Significant enrichment of metabolites that contribute to inflammatory and cytotoxic pathways was observed in serum and feces of old animals compared to the young. We conclude that aging NHP undergo immunosenescence and age associated alterations in the gut microbiome that has a distinct metabolic profile.
Project description:We investigated the effect of feeding mice a Total Western Diet formulated using the 50th percentile daily intake levels for macro and micronutrients from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with 0, 2, 5, or 10% added raw potato starch on the cecal microbiome (16S) and cecum, proximal and distal colon gene expression by RNASeq analysis.
Project description:We investigated the effect of feeding mice a Total Western Diet formulated using the 50th percentile daily intake levels for macro and micronutrients from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) with 0, 2, 5, or 10% added raw potato starch on the cecal microbiome (16S) and cecum, proximal and distal colon gene expression by RNASeq analysis.
Project description:Robust human-goat chimerism was achieved by transplanting human CD34+Lin- cord blood cells into fetal goats. We observed a broad distribution of GFP-marked human cells in non-hematopoietic organs including kidney, muscle, lung, and heart of transplant goats. Various marker techniques indicated that human genes were expressed in chimeric livers and blood.
Project description:The Alpine goat Capra aegagrus hircus is parasitized by the barber pole worm (Haemonchus contortus). This relationship results in changes that affect the gene expression of the host, the pest, and the microbiome of both. Hematological parameters indicating genes that are expressed and/or the % Composition of abundant and diverse microbial flora are reflective of infestation. We identified responses to barber pole worms using blood-based analysis of transcripts and the microbiome. Seven (7) days post-inoculation (dpi) we identified 7,627 genes associated with different treatment types.
Project description:Transportation stress causes significant changes in physiological responses in goats; however, studies exploring the transcriptome of stress are very limited. This study was conducted to analyze the transcriptome of stress and meat quality in goats using RNA-seq technology. Fifty-four male Spanish goats (8-mo old; BW = 29.7 ± 2.03 kg) were randomly subjected to one of three treatments (TRT; n = 18 goats / treatment): (i) transported for 180 min, (ii) transported for 30 min, or (iii) held in pens (control). Blood samples were collected before and after treatment for stress hormone, metabolite, and transcriptomic analysis. RNA-Seq technology was used to obtain the transcriptome profiles of blood. Analysis of physiological data using SAS showed that plasma cortisol concentrations were higher (P < 0.01) in 180 min and 30 min groups compared to the control group. A similar effect was noticed in plasma non-esterified fatty acid concentrations. Glucose concentrations were the lowest in the control group, highest in the 180 min group, and intermediate in the 30 min group (P < 0.01, while plasma creatine kinase concentrations were not significantly influenced by TRT. Neutrophil counts were higher (P < 0.01) and lymphocyte counts were lower (P < 0.01) in 180 min group compared to 30 min or control groups. The DESeq2 software identified a total of 430 DEGs for control vs. 30 min comparison, of which 127 genes were upregulated. For 180 min vs. control comparison, 741 DEGs were upregulated. Enrichment analysis of DEGs related to transportation stress through Gene Ontology and KEGG databases revealed that the DEGs related to inflammatory pathways, caspases, and apoptosis such as IL1R2, CASP14, CD14, TLR4, and MAPK14 were highly expressed in the transported group of goats compared to non-transported goats. Stress in goats leads to a sequence of events at cellular and molecular levels that causes inflammation and apoptosis and is also reflected in blood metabolites and leukocyte counts.
Project description:Genetic (animal species, breed and genotype) has a considerable effect on milk composition. In particular, goats present a remarkable polymorphism at the alpha-S1-casein (CSN1S1) locus which results in large differences in milk protein content and indirectly in milk fat content and its fatty acids composition. In order to decipher the mammary metabolic pathways involved, we examined the effect of CSN1S1 polymorphism on the expression of 8,379 genes in caprine mammary gland using a bovine oligonucleotide microarray. Six lactating goats fed ad libitum were assigned to 2 groups based on their genotype at the CSN1S1 locus: High vs. Low genotype goats carrying, respectively, two reference alleles associated with high CSN1S1 synthesis and two defective alleles associated with low CSN1S1 synthesis. Keywords: Genotype comparison 6 slides were performed for a total of 3 independent comparisons (Comp1, Comp2, Comp3): each microarray was co-hybridized with one High CSN1S1 genotype goat sample and one Low CSN1S1 genotype goat sample; each hybridization was repeated in a dye-swap manner for a total of 4 spots per oligonucleotide (2 intra- and 2 inter-slides).
Project description:We deep sequenced and analyzed circRNA using deep RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) in pre-ovulatory follicle samples of Macheng black goats and Boer goats. We analyzed the RNA-seq data with 301 million reads and 288 million reads, and reveal the expression profiles of circRNAs and predicted 13,950 circRNAs. 827 circRNA host genes, mostly related to transferase activity and metabolic process. Twenty-four circRNAs were upregulated and 13 were downregulated in the pre-ovulatory follicles of the Boer group compared to their expression in the Macheng group.