Article
Immunology
Megan B. O'Brien, Rachel M. McLoughlin, Colm Roche, Corwin D. Nelson, Kieran G. Meade
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the impact of different IL8 haplotypes on IL-8 concentration and systemic 25(OH)D concentration in healthy calves. It was found that IL8-h2 calves had higher IL-8 protein concentration, while IL8-h1 calves had increased numbers of innate immune cells. Additionally, there was a negative correlation between 25(OH) vitamin D concentrations and IL-8, particularly in the first five months of life.
VETERINARY IMMUNOLOGY AND IMMUNOPATHOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
B. McClearn, L. Delaby, T. J. Gilliland, N. Galvin, C. Guy, M. Dineen, F. Coughlan, B. McCarthy
Summary: This study investigated the impact of cow genotype and parity on dry matter intake and production efficiencies in pasture-based systems. The Jersey x Holstein-Friesian cows showed the highest production efficiency, which decreased slightly when a third breed was introduced. Cows with higher parity levels had higher dry matter intake and milk yield, indicating a significant effect of parity on production efficiency.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Jaka Jakob Hodnik, Marko Jankovec, Jozica Jezek, Ziga Krusic, Stefan Mitterhofer, Joze Staric
Summary: Cattle on pasture are exposed to solar UV radiation, and this study aimed to determine the minimal erythema dose (MED) required for sunburn on intact-hair-covered and shaved areas of Holstein Friesian cattle. Results showed a strong correlation between hair length and MED, with each millimeter of hair increasing the MED by 316 J/m(2).
FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Agnieszka Otwinowska-Mindur, Ewa Ptak, Joanna Makulska, Olga Jarnecka
Summary: Mathematical models of lactation curves can predict milk yields and offer valuable information for breeding and management decisions. The study examined different shapes of lactation curves for milk traits using the Wilmink function and linear or squared functions. Results indicated that a nonlinear model like the Wilmink function could effectively model lactation up to 305 DIM, with linear or squared functions being more appropriate thereafter.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Juraj Medo, Jana Ziarovska, Michal Duracka, Eva Tvrda, Stefan Banas, Michal Gabor, Matus Kysel, Miroslava Kacaniova
Summary: This study characterized the bacterial profile of semen collected from Holstein Friesian breeding bulls using high-throughput sequencing, identifying two microbial clusters based on Actinobacteria and Firmicutes, as well as Fusobacteria. Bacterial contamination of semen is important for bull health and semen quality, with potential transmission of diseases.
Article
Immunology
Marina Luise Viola Azevedo, Aline Cristina Zanchettin, Caroline Busatta Vaz de Paula, Jarbas da Silva Motta Junior, Mineia Alessandra Scaranello Malaquias, Sonia Mara Raboni, Plinio Cezar Neto, Rafaela Chiuco Zeni, Amanda Prokopenko, Nicolas Henrique Borges, Thiago Mateus Godoy, Ana Paula Kubaski Benevides, Daiane Gavlik de Souza, Cristina Pellegrino Baena, Cleber Machado-Souza, Lucia de Noronha
Summary: By comparing post-mortem lung samples from patients who died of severe COVID-19 and H1N1pdm09 infection, it was found that the H1N1 group showed an increase in tissue expression of IL-8/IL-17A and a higher number of neutrophils. There was no significant difference in the distribution of genotype frequencies in the IL17A gene between the two groups. However, in SNP rs3819025 (G/A), the G allele may be considered a risk allele in patients who died from COVID-19.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kouji Matsushima, De Yang, Joost J. Oppenheim
Summary: This article introduces the research history and related findings of interleukin-8 (IL-8), including the role of IL-8 in inflammation and cancer, as well as its potential as a therapeutic target.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
William Andrew, Jing Gao, Siobhan Mullan, Neill Campbell, Andrew W. Dowsey, Tilo Burghardt
Summary: This study uses the distinctive black and white coat patterns of Holstein-Friesian cattle to automate visual detection and identification of individual animals using deep learning techniques. Deep metric learning systems show strong performance in identifying unseen cattle during system training, achieving a high accuracy rate of 93.8%.
COMPUTERS AND ELECTRONICS IN AGRICULTURE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ina Hulsegge, Kor Oldenbroek, Aniek Bouwman, Roel Veerkamp, Jack Windig
Summary: Over the past century, genetic diversity in cattle breeds has been impacted by the replacement of traditional local breeds with a few milk-producing breeds. In the Netherlands, the genetic diversity of the local Dutch Friesian breed has decreased due to being replaced by Holstein Friesians, but this did not result in increased inbreeding levels.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Melina Richardet, Hernan G. Solari, Victor E. Cabrera, Claudina Vissio, Daniel Aguero, Julian A. Bartolome, Gabriel A. Bo, Cristina I. Bogni, Alejandro J. Larriestra
Summary: A simulation model was developed to capture the complexity and dynamics of bovine mastitis, considering its multiple effects. The model allows for customization and supports decision-making of producers and veterinarians.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
S. van Gastelen, J. Dijkstra, W. J. J. Gerrits, M. S. Gilbert, A. Bannink
Summary: Previous research has shown that fermentation plays a significant role in the disappearance of carbohydrates in the small intestine. The low energy efficiency of starch fermentation compared to enzymatic digestion highlights the importance of quantifying postruminal starch fermentation in dairy cows.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Evelin Torok, Istvan Komlosi, Viktor Szonyi, Bela Beri, Gabor Meszaros, Janos Posta
Summary: The study indicates that linear type traits have an impact on the longevity, health status, milk production, and reproduction of cows. By considering statistical analyses and trait combinations, several significant linear type trait combinations affecting the longevity of cows were identified.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
J. Daniel Barreiro-Vazquez, Marta Miranda, Andres Barreiro-Lois
Summary: This study aimed to establish a protocol for renal Doppler ultrasound in adult healthy Holstein-Friesian cows and provide reference values for renal resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI). The right kidney in cattle is always visible through a right abdominal window, while the left kidney is rarely accessible. Normal RI and PI values for the right kidney were 0.49 +/- 0.07 and 0.70 +/- 0.15, and for the left kidney were 0.53 +/- 0.05 and 0.79 +/- 0.11 in healthy Holstein-Friesian cows. An upper cut-off value for RI of 0.63 and for PI of 1.00 is suggested.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
K. Keogh, D. A. Kenny
Summary: This study conducted gene co-expression analyses on the HPT and adipose tissues of bull calves fed different levels of nutrition, and identified co-expressed gene networks associated with metabolic status, reproductive development, and testicular development markers. These networks were also significantly associated with biological pathways related to energy production, cellular growth and proliferation, GnRH signaling, and cholesterol biosynthesis.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Magdalena Kolenda, Beata Sitkowska
Summary: The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic variability within genes encoding milk proteins in 1900 Polish Black and White Holstein-Friesian dairy cows. A total of 24 genetic variants within four genes were investigated, with 16 of them expressing genetic diversity. The fact that many of the investigated SNPs were monomorphic may indicate past reproductive programs favoring certain genotypes. It is suggested that commercially available microarrays should monitor the frequencies of included SNPs for potential removal if they become monomorphic.
Article
Microbiology
Andrew J. R. Cooper, Jonah Clegg, Fearon C. Cassidy, Andrew E. Hogan, Rachel M. McLoughlin
Summary: This study investigates the direct response of human mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells to Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) infection. The results show that MAIT cells rapidly upregulate CD69, express IFN gamma and Granzyme B, and degranulate when co-cultured with dendritic cells (DCs) infected with S. aureus. The immune response is mediated by DC secretion of IL-12 and requires TCR binding of MR1. Furthermore, MAIT cell cytotoxicity leads to apoptosis of S. aureus-infected cells and reduces intracellular persistence of S. aureus.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Laura Abril-Parreno, Jack Morgan, Anette Krogenaes, Xavier Druart, Paul Cormican, Mary E. Gallagher, Colm Reid, Kieran Meade, Radka Saldova, Sean Fair
Summary: Poor cervical sperm transport in some ewe breeds following cervical artificial insemination using frozen-thawed semen could be due to differences in cervical sialic acid composition and the proportion of neutral and sialylated O-glycans. This study found specific alterations in sialylated mucin composition may be related to impaired cervical sperm transport in certain sheep breeds.
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Laura Abril-Parreno, Kieran G. Meade, Anette Kristine Krogenaes, Xavier Druart, Paul Cormican, Sean Fair
Summary: This study analyzes the gene expression of sheep cervix in different breeds and identifies differences in biological processes related to cervical sperm transport, which may be a potential factor contributing to low pregnancy rates internationally. Norwegian breeds show distinct gene expression patterns compared to Irish breeds, suggesting the importance of natural estrous in the success of cervical artificial insemination.
Article
Allergy
Jenny M. Mannion, Rachel M. McLoughlin, Stephen J. Lalor
Summary: The respiratory tract microbiome has been linked to various diseases, and IL-17 immunity plays a crucial role in this process. However, our knowledge of the influence of common respiratory tract bacteria on IL-17-driven immune responses remains limited.
CLINICAL REVIEWS IN ALLERGY & IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Reproductive Biology
E. M. Donnellan, P. Lonergan, K. G. Meade, S. Fair
Summary: Despite passing quality control checks, bulls with apparently normal semen quality may have low field fertility rates. This study assessed the interaction between spermatozoa and the female reproductive tract in bulls with divergent field fertility. The results showed that there were no significant differences in most sperm motility and functional parameters between high and low fertility bulls. However, high fertility bulls had a higher straight-line velocity and a stronger binding ability to oviductal explants. There was also a positive correlation between straight-line velocity and sperm rheotactic response.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Emily J. Stevens, Daniel J. Morse, Dora Bonini, Seana Duggan, Tarcisio Brignoli, Mario Recker, John A. Lees, Nicholas J. Croucher, Stephen Bentley, Daniel J. Wilson, Sarah G. Earle, Robert Dixon, Angela Nobbs, Howard Jenkinson, Tim van Opijnen, Derek Thibault, Oliver J. Wilkinson, Mark S. Dillingham, Simon Carlile, Rachel M. McLoughlin, Ruth C. Massey
Summary: Streptococcus pneumoniae is a major human pathogen that can cause severe invasive diseases such as pneumonia, septicaemia, and meningitis. The haemolytic toxin pneumolysin (Ply) is identified as a primary virulence factor for this bacterium, and a novel modular protein, ZomB, is found to regulate Ply activity and potentially influence bacterial colonization in the respiratory tract and lungs in mice. Additionally, the antibiotic resistance gene acquired on the ICE ICESp23FST81 is shown to play a role in controlling the expression of a major virulence factor, suggesting its importance in the success of S. pneumoniae lineages that acquire it.
MICROBIAL GENOMICS
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Nicholas J. Ryan, Amy Brewer, Aspinas Chapwanya, Cliona O'Farrelly, Erin J. Williams, Alexander C. O. Evans, Marijke E. Beltman, Kieran G. Meade
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the concentrations of vitamin D in pasture-based peripartum dairy cows. The results showed significant variations in vitamin D concentrations among different farms and individual animals. Vitamin D concentrations were positively correlated with immune cell populations and negatively correlated with blood urea and non-esterified fatty acids at 7 days post-partum.
VETERINARY RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Alanna Kelly, John Leech, Sarah Doyle, Rachel McLoughlin
Summary: During nasal colonisation, Staphylococcus aureus creates an immunosuppressive microenvironment by inducing the production of IL-27 and IL-10, which dampens protective T cell responses and facilitates its persistence.
Article
Immunology
Lucy M. Curham, Jenny M. Mannion, Cliodhna M. Daly, Mieszko M. Wilk, Lisa Borkner, Stephen J. Lalor, Rachel M. McLoughlin, Kingston H. G. Mills
Summary: Our study shows that Bordetella pertussis-specific tissue-resident memory CD4 T (T-RM) cells in respiratory tissues can produce IL-17A in response to in vitro and in vivo stimulation, and bystander activation of CD4 T-RM cells can be suppressed by anti-IL-12p40. In addition, purified respiratory tissue-resident CD4 T cells from convalescent mice can produce IL-17A following direct stimulation. Intranasal immunization with a whole-cell pertussis vaccine induces respiratory CD4 T-RM cells that can be reactivated. Furthermore, the nasal pertussis vaccine confers protective immunity against B. pertussis and attenuates infection with K. pneumoniae.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Susana Flores-Villalva, Aude Remot, Florence Carreras, Nathalie Winter, Stephen V. Gordon, Kieran G. Meade
Summary: Research has shown the beneficial role of vitamin D in health and resistance against infectious diseases, including tuberculosis. However, studies on bovines are limited. This study assesses the microbicidal activity and immunoregulatory effect of the vitamin D metabolite 1,25(OH)2D3 on bovine peripheral blood leukocytes (PBL) in response to Mycobacterium bovis BCG (BCG) infection.
VETERINARY IMMUNOLOGY AND IMMUNOPATHOLOGY
(2023)
Correction
Immunology
Giovanna De Matteis, Maria Carmela Scata, Francesco Grandoni, Alessandra Crisa, Megan B. O'Brien, Kieran G. Meade, Gennaro Catillo
VETERINARY IMMUNOLOGY AND IMMUNOPATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Kieran G. Meade
Summary: Modern technological agriculture has become a global enterprise, occupying about 38% of the Earth's land area and accounting for over 40% of the world's workforce. However, meeting the future demand for food, especially meat, dairy, and egg production, to feed a population of 9 billion people by 2050 is a major challenge. One of the main obstacles is the lack of new treatments for livestock diseases.
TRANSLATIONAL ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Susana Flores-Villalva, Cian Reid, Aude Remot, Stephen Gordon, Kieran G. Meade
Summary: Vitamin D deficiency is associated with increased susceptibility to respiratory diseases in humans. A study investigated the effects of vitamin D supplementation on calves and found that it enhanced their antimicrobial and immune responses to Mycobacterium bovis BCG challenge.
VETERINARY IMMUNOLOGY AND IMMUNOPATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Marcin Baran, Claudia Feriotti, Aoife McGinley, Simon R. Carlile, Zhaozhao Jiang, Ricardo Calderon-Gonzalez, Amy Dumigan, Joana Sa-Pessoa, Caroline E. Sutton, Jay Kearney, Rachel M. McLoughlin, Kingston H. G. Mills, Katherine A. Fitzgerald, Jose A. Bengeochea, Andrew G. Bowie
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alanna Kelly, John Leech, Sarah Doyle, Rachel McLoughlin
Summary: Our study reveals that Staphylococcus aureus manipulates the host immune response in the nasal cavity by promoting immunosuppression, allowing for bacterial survival. Regulatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-27 play a central role in this suppressive response, resulting in reduced protective T cell responses. Furthermore, S. aureus induces IL-27 production to enhance IL-10 production and prolong bacterial colonisation, showcasing a complex host-pathogen interaction during nasal colonisation.