Project description:Brown algae (Phaeophyceae) are complex photosynthetic organisms with a very different evolutionary history to green plants, to which they are only distantly related. These seaweeds are the dominant species in rocky coastal ecosystems and they exhibit many interesting adaptations to these, often harsh, environments. The brown algae are also important because they are one of only a very small number of eukaryotic lineages that have evolved complex multicellularity. This work used whole genome tiling array approach to generate a comprehensive transcriptome map of the filamentous seaweed Ectocarpus siliculosus (Dillwyn) Lyngbye, a model organism for the brown algae. Keywords: high-resolution tiling array, brown algae, ectocarpus
Project description:Senegalese sole males born and raised in captivity (F1 males) do not spawn naturally and typically display lower gamete quality when compared with wild individuals. Broodstock nutrition is an important aspect when dealing with reproduction because it influences not only fish health, but also gamete and progeny quality. The usage of dietary algae antioxidants to improve fish reproduction is under-explored, especially in terms of the male reproductive system. In this experiment, 6 % of a blended meal of Phaeodactylum tricornutum and Gracilaria gracilis was incorporated in Senegalese sole broodstock feed, to evaluate the effects on sperm quality of F1 males throughout the breeding season. RNA-seq was employed to assess differences in the gonadal tissue of fish fed the algae supplemented diets.
Project description:Brown algae (Phaeophyceae) are complex photosynthetic organisms with a very different evolutionary history to green plants, to which they are only distantly related. These seaweeds are the dominant species in rocky coastal ecosystems and they exhibit many interesting adaptations to these, often harsh, environments. The brown algae are also important because they are one of only a very small number of eukaryotic lineages that have evolved complex multicellularity. This work used whole genome tiling array approach to generate a comprehensive transcriptome map of the filamentous seaweed Ectocarpus siliculosus (Dillwyn) Lyngbye, a model organism for the brown algae. Keywords: high-resolution tiling array, brown algae, ectocarpus The slides were hybridised with two, labelled samples: 1) a mixture of labelled cDNA corresponding to RNA samples from mature sporophytes and gametophytes and from immature sporophytes stressed either in high salt medium or by addition of hydrogen peroxide and 2) genomic DNA as a control.
Project description:The objective of this study was to decipher the molecular basis of feed efficiency in meat-type chicken using duodenum tissues from a chicken population divergently selected for residual feed intake (RFI). Residual feed intake is the deviation of expected feed intake from actual feed intake. Chickens that consume less feed than expected are efficient (LRFI) and chickens that consume more feed than expected are inefficient (HRFI). A divergent selection for RFI was undertaken using an unselected random bred chicken population. RFI at day 35-42 was used as a criterion for selecting low (LRFI) and high (HRFI) RFI. Duodenum tissues were collected from 16 male chickens under sterile conditions experimentation. Tissues were collected from 4 males at days 35 and 42 in each line.
Project description:The objective of this study was to decipher the molecular basis of feed efficiency in meat-type chicken using duodenum tissues from a chicken population divergently selected for residual feed intake (RFI). Residual feed intake is the deviation of expected feed intake from actual feed intake. Chickens that consume less feed than expected are efficient (LRFI) and chickens that consume more feed than expected are inefficient (HRFI). A divergent selection for RFI was undertaken using an unselected random bred chicken population. RFI at day 35-42 was used as a criterion for selecting low (LRFI) and high (HRFI) RFI. Duodenum tissues were collected from 16 male chickens under sterile conditions experimentation. Tissues were collected from 4 males at days 35 and 42 in each line. Duodenum at 35 and 42 days from a chicken population divergently selected for residual feed intake were utilized for RNA extraction and hybridization on Affymetrix microarrays.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of eight normal adult chicken tissues in 10-week old brown (lohmann brown) hens, the eight tissues include brain, bursa of Fabricius, jejunum, kidney, liver, lung, spleen, thymus. Keywords: normal chicken tissues, transcriptional profiling.
Project description:Aflatoxin is a toxic secondary metabolite produced by the fungi Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus. Ingredients of livestock and poultry feed are often contaminated with aflatoxin. Aflatoxin affects many species including humans, dogs, cats, pigs, cattle, and poultry, with liver being the major organ affected. A chicken model was used to evaluate the effect of aflatoxin on hepatic gene expression. Seventy five day-old male broiler chicks were assigned to three dietary treatments (5 replicates of 5 chicks each) from hatch to day 21. The diets contained 0, 1 and 2 mg/kg aflatoxin/kg of feed. Feed intake, body weight gain, liver weights and serum chemistry were evaluated at the end of the study and liver samples were collected in RNase free tubes and stored at -80 ºC. Aflatoxin reduced (P ≤ 0.05) feed intake, body weight, serum total proteins, serum calcium and phosphorus but increased (P < 0.01) liver weights in a dose dependent manner. Microarray experiments were conducted using chicken long oligo arrays, to identify the changes in hepatic gene expression in chicks fed 0 (control) and 2mg/kg aflatoxin/kg of feed. A loop design was followed for microarray experiments with three technical and four biological replicates per treatment group. RNA was extracted from liver tissue and its quality was determined using gel electrophoresis. High quality RNA was purified from DNA contamination, reverse transcribed to cDNA and was used for microarray hybridizations. Microarray data was analyzed using a 2-step ANOVA model using GenePix and MAANOVA softwares, and the differentially expressed genes were identified using SAM, TIGR, and Cluster softwares. The microarray data was validated using real time PCR. It is hypothesized that genes associated with antioxidant, detoxification and immune systems were downregulated and the genes involved in cell proliferation were up-regulated in birds fed aflatoxin compared to controls Keywords: aflatoxin, chicken liver, microarrays, gene expression