Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Tassew Mohammed Ali
Summary: The cock exchange program is an effective strategy to introduce desired genes into the local chicken gene pool and improve the performance of local chicken populations in smallholder management conditions. It is important to complement the program with improved chicken management practices, such as increased alternate feed, enhanced management, and disease control.
WORLDS POULTRY SCIENCE JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ashraf Khalifa, Hairul Islam Mohamed Ibrahim
Summary: In this study, beneficial probiotics, specifically Enterococcus faecium, were isolated from broiler chicken carcasses and found to improve chicken health against Salmonella infections. Chickens fed with E. faecium showed improved body weight, reduced mortality, and lower levels of S. enterica. The presence of E. faecium also led to increased levels of short-chain fatty acids and reduced levels of pro-inflammatory markers. These findings highlight the potential of E. faecium as a preventive measure against bacterial infections in broiler chickens.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Garrett M. See, Justin S. Fix, Clint R. Schwab, Matthew L. Spangler
Summary: This study investigated the use of imputed genotypes from non-genotyped animals for genetic selection and improvement in economically relevant traits. Simulations showed that imputed genotypes can increase performance in swine breeding programs, especially when a sufficient number of progeny are genotyped and pedigree information is known.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Magriet A. van der Nest, Nompilo Hlongwane, Khanyisile Hadebe, Wai-Yin Chan, Nicolaas A. van der Merwe, Lieschen De Vos, Ben Greyling, Bhaveni B. Kooverjee, Pranisha Soma, Edgar F. Dzomba, Michael Bradfield, Farai C. Muchadeyi
Summary: The study evaluated the genetic architecture of an admixed South African Simbra crossbred population and identified genomic regions showing signatures of selection. These regions contain genes affecting cattle health and production, potentially contributing to the phenotype of the Simbra hybrid cattle breed.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Yan Zhou, Dingguo Cao, Jie Liu, Fuwei Li, Haixia Han, Qiuxia Lei, Wei Liu, Dapeng Li, Jie Wang
Summary: Feed accounts for the largest portion of poultry production costs. Many studies have investigated the production performance during dietary restriction, but there is a lack of research on the mechanisms by which immune cell function is altered.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Abi Bremner, Sungwon Kim, Katrina M. Morris, Matthew John Nolan, Dominika Borowska, Zhiguang Wu, Fiona Tomley, Damer P. Blake, Rachel Hawken, Pete Kaiser, Lonneke Vervelde
Summary: This study compared the kinetics of immune responses in two inbred lines of White Leghorn chickens showing differential resistance or susceptibility to Eimeria maxima infection. The findings suggest that early induction of IFN-gamma and IL-10 responses may play a key role in resistance to E. maxima, with differences observed in the timing and magnitude of cytokine transcription responses between the two lines.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Gerhard van der Horst, Liana Maree
Summary: Indigenous domestic animals have natural resistance to parasites and harsh environments, and their semen characteristics need to be examined for improved livestock production. Initial results show that the sperm quality of indigenous breeds is similar to commercial breeds, and functional tests provide a better estimate of semen quality.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Pascal Duenk, Piter Bijma, Yvonne C. J. Wientjes, Mario P. L. Calus
Summary: This study compared different genomic prediction strategies for improving crossbred performance, finding that accuracy and response to selection are influenced by various factors; accurate estimates of r(pc) are recommended for breeding goal traits, and collecting data in a CB environment should be considered.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Edoardo Fiorilla, Marco Birolo, Ugo Ala, Gerolamo Xiccato, Angela Trocino, Achille Schiavone, Cecilia Mugnai
Summary: Poultry farming is expanding and consumers want more sustainable and ethical products. Free-range farming systems provide high-quality meat and additional benefits in welfare, sustainability, farmers' development, and ethical practices. Crossbreeding in organic and free-range farming can improve growth and preserve local chicken biodiversity, promoting sustainability and food security for future generations.
Article
Virology
Madhan Mohan Chellappa, Sohini Dey, Dinesh Chandra Pathak, Asmita Singh, Narayan Ramamurthy, Saravanan Ramakrishnan, Asok Kumar Mariappan, Kuldeep Dhama, Vikram N. Vakharia
Summary: The study utilized a Newcastle disease virus (NDV) strain as a viral vector to deliver immunogenic genes of chicken infectious anaemia virus (CIAV), resulting in a bivalent vaccine candidate for chickens. The vaccine was able to induce robust humoral and cell-mediated immune responses in chickens, showing potential for effective protection against NDV and CIAV infections.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Basim Manswr, Christopher Ball, Anne Forrester, Julian Chantrey, Kannan Ganapathy
Summary: This study showed differences in immune responses and viral loads to infectious bronchitis virus infection among different commercial broiler chicken lines, which may be influenced by levels of maternal antibodies, growth rates, and other inherent host genetic factors.
RESEARCH IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
J. B. Clasen, C. Bengtsson, H. N. Kallstrom, E. Strandberg, W. F. Fikse, L. Rydhmer
Summary: Breeding technologies such as sexed semen, beef semen, genomic testing, and dairy crossbreeding are readily available to Swedish dairy farmers, but their use is limited in the country. A survey with a discrete choice experiment showed that farmers strongly prefer sexed semen and beef semen, while genomic testing is also widely favored. However, buying embryos was not preferred by any group of respondents.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Filip Larsberg, Maximilian Sprechert, Deike Hesse, Gudrun A. Brockmann, Susanne Kreuzer-Redmer
Summary: Understanding the modes of action of immunomodulating compounds through in vitro systems can help develop targeted nutrition strategies and reduce the use of antimicrobials, ultimately promoting animal health. The establishment of a robust protocol for isolating and culturing immune cells from chicken blood provides a potential alternative to animal testing and contributes to advancing welfare in chicken farming.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Liang-xing Guo, Fu-rong Nie, An-qun Huang, Rui-ning Wang, Meng-yun Li, Hong-yu Deng, Yan-zhou Zhou, Xian-min Zhou, Yan-kun Huang, Jia Zhou, Yu-dan Ji
Summary: This study utilized RNA-seq to investigate the altered expression of immune-related genes in chicken thymus in response to NDV infection, identifying candidate targets that may be involved in the regulation of NDV infection. The findings provide new insights into the complicated regulatory mechanisms of virus-host interactions and explore new strategies for protecting chickens against the virus.
Article
Fisheries
Yeojin Hong, Jiae Lee, Thi Hao Vu, Sooyeon Lee, Hyun S. Lillehoj, Yeong Ho Hong
Summary: This study demonstrates the immunoregulatory functions of LPS-activated exosomes in chicken immune systems, enhancing gene expression of cytokines and chemokines and inducing the MyD88/NF-kappa B signaling pathway to regulate immune responses. In the future, LPS-stimulated exosomes may be utilized as an immune stimulator.
DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Prabuddha Manjula, Bertrand Bed'Hom, Md Rashedul Hoque, Sunghyun Cho, Dongwon Seo, Olympe Chazara, Seung Hwan Lee, Jun Heon Lee
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Vivien Louppe, Aude Lalis, Jawad Abdelkrim, Juliette Baron, Bertrand Bed'Hom, Anne A. M. J. Becker, Francois Catzeflis, Olivier Lorvelec, Ulrike Zieger, Geraldine Veron
Summary: Studying the genetic structure and diversity of the small Indian mongoose in the Caribbean region revealed multiple introduction events and unique population distribution and dispersal patterns within the islands. The research provides valuable insights into the species' dispersal history and potential new introductions.
BIOLOGICAL INVASIONS
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Doreen Schwochow, Susanne Bornelov, Tingxing Jiang, Jingyi Li, David Gourichon, Bertrand Bed'Hom, Ben J. Dorshorst, Cheng-Ming Chuong, Michele Tixier-Boichard, Leif Andersson
Summary: The study reveals that the MC1R and SOX10 genes are associated with the genetic basis of autosomal barring in chicken, with the coding variant L133Q in MC1R being the likely causal mutation. The presence of activating MC1R mutations enhancing pigment synthesis is proposed as an important mechanism for pigmentation patterns on individual feathers in chicken.
PIGMENT CELL & MELANOMA RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Frederic Jehl, Fabien Degalez, Maria Bernard, Frederic Lecerf, Laetitia Lagoutte, Colette Desert, Manon Coulee, Olivier Bouchez, Sophie Leroux, Behnam Abasht, Michele Tixier-Boichard, Bertrand Bed'hom, Thierry Burlot, David Gourichon, Philippe Bardou, Herve Acloque, Sylvain Foissac, Sarah Djebali, Elisabetta Giuffra, Tatiana Zerjal, Frederique Pitel, Christophe Klopp, Sandrine Lagarrigue
Summary: RNA-seq data is a valuable yet unexploited resource for detecting SNPs and genotypes in various populations, especially in livestock species. This study compared SNP calling results using RNA-seq data in two chicken populations, proposing thresholds for genotype calling consistency and demonstrating the potential of RNA-seq data for gene expression regulation and population genetic analysis.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Raphaelle Duclos, Elsa Delanoue, Anne-Charlotte Dockes, Laurent Journaux, Michel Sourdioux, Jean-Pierre Bidanel
Summary: This article examines the controversies surrounding the application of genetic tools to farm animals and argues that this subject has the potential to become a public debate. It reviews the uncertainties and legal framework debates related to this topic, explores possible approaches for discussing the subject, and provides an overview of the actors involved in the discussion. The article suggests that the topic remains confined to the scientific and professional environment, but a few positions have emerged with regards to animal welfare.
INRA PRODUCTIONS ANIMALES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
David Wragg, Sonia E. Eynard, Benjamin Basso, Kamila Canale-Tabet, Emmanuelle Labarthe, Olivier Bouchez, Kaspar Bienefeld, Malgorzata Bienkowska, Cecilia Costa, Ales Gregorc, Per Kryger, Melanie Parejo, M. Alice Pinto, Jean-Pierre Bidanel, Bertrand Servin, Yves Le Conte, Alain Vignal
Summary: Honey bee subspecies originate from specific geographical areas and have been imported to different regions. To better understand Western European honey bee populations, researchers conducted a genome sequence and SNP genotype analysis.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marion Borey, Bertrand Bed'Hom, Nicolas Bruneau, Jordi Estelle, Frederik Larsen, Fany Blanc, Marie-Helene Pinard-van der Laan, Tina Dalgaard, Fanny Calenge
Summary: Interactions between the gut microbiota and the immune system were found to affect vaccine and infection responses. This study showed that caecal microbiota composition and genetic line are associated with the immune response level; vaccination has a significant impact on the microbiota; the caecal microbiota is associated with TCR Upsilon delta expression on TCR Upsilon delta+ T cells, especially with bacteria from the Escherichia-Shigella genus.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anais Cazals, Andrea Rau, Jordi Estelle, Nicolas Bruneau, Jean-Luc Coville, Pierrette Menanteau, Marie-Noelle Rossignol, Deborah Jardet, Claudia Bevilacqua, Bertrand Bed'Hom, Philippe Velge, Fanny Calenge
Summary: Managing Salmonella enterica Enteritidis (SE) carriage in chicken is crucial for ensuring food safety and sustainability in chicken breeding. Genetic selection and gut microbiota modulation strategies can help reduce Salmonella propagation in farms. This study identified several genes and pathways associated with differences in SE carriage level through measuring bacterial counts and gene expression levels.
Article
Cell Biology
Bernard Dutrillaux, Anne-Marie Dutrillaux, Melanie McClure, Marc Geze, Marianne Elias, Bertrand Bed'hom
Summary: The mitotic chromosomes of butterflies, which were previously considered to be holokinetic, were found to have distinct acrocentric and submetacentric chromosomes after improving chromosome preparation conditions. This suggests frequent chromosomal fusions or fissions during butterfly evolution. The behavior and morphological changes of butterfly chromosomes during meiosis are similar to canonical meiosis, refuting the equational division in anaphase I and proposing an alternative mechanism to explain the large variations in butterfly chromosome numbers.
CYTOGENETIC AND GENOME RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Anais Cazals, Jordi Estelle, Nicolas Bruneau, Jean-Luc Coville, Pierrette Menanteau, Marie-Noelle Rossignol, Deborah Jardet, Claudia Bevilacqua, Andrea Rau, Bertrand Bed'Hom, Philippe Velge, Fanny Calenge
Summary: This study found that the caecal microbiota composition differs between genetic lines of chickens, which could be one of the reasons why the investigated lines differed in Salmonella carriage levels under experimental infection conditions.
GENETICS SELECTION EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Tatiana Zerjal, Sonja Hartle, David Gourichon, Vanaique Guillory, Nicolas Bruneau, Denis Laloe, Marie-Helene van der Laan, Sascha Trapp, Bertrand Bed'hom, Pascale Quere
Summary: This study used experimental chicken lines selected for either improved feed efficiency or high antibody production to investigate the effects of improved feed efficiency on animals' immune competence and the effects of improved antibody response on animals' growth and feed efficiency. The results showed detectable differences between the low and high feed-efficiency lines in terms of vaccine-specific antibody responses and immune cell population counts. The study also demonstrated that long-term selection for one trait may have consequences on other important biological functions, highlighting the need for optimal trade-offs in multi-trait selection programs in livestock.
GENETICS SELECTION EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Fany Blanc, Tatiana Maroilley, Manuel Revilla, Gaetan Lemonnier, Jean-Jacques Leplat, Yvon Billon, Laure Ravon, Olivier Bouchez, Jean-Pierre Bidanel, Bertrand Bed'Hom, Marie-Helene Pinard-van der Laan, Jordi Estelle, Claire Rogel-Gaillard
Summary: The study highlights the impact of individual genetic and genomic variations on vaccine effectiveness, as well as the correlation between pre-vaccination blood transcriptome and antibody responses. Analyses revealed associations between blood biomarkers and genomic regions with variations in M. hyo antibody levels at different time points.
GENETICS SELECTION EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Merina Shrestha, Herve Garreau, Elodie Balmisse, Bertrand Bed'hom, Ingrid David, Edouard Guitton, Emmanuelle Helloin, Guillaume Lenoir, Mickael Maupin, Raphael Robert, Frederic Lantier, Melanie Gunia
GENETICS SELECTION EVOLUTION
(2020)
Article
Zoology
Violaine Nicolas, Michele Gerbault-Seureau, Arnaud Delapre, Bertrand Bed'hom
JOURNAL OF VERTEBRATE BIOLOGY
(2020)
