The Effects of Bovine Colostrum on the Response of Tetrahymena thermophila to Starvation

Abstract

Abstract only.Bovine colostrum, which is derived from milk produced by cows after giving birth, has risen in popularity due to its rich supply of nutrients, bioactive proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Despite its increased use, little research has been done regarding its cellular and molecular mechanisms of action. The goal of this study was to determine whether treatment with bovine colostrum would alleviate the impacts of starvation in the model organism, Tetrahymena thermophila. It was hypothesized that T. thermophila treated with bovine colostrum would overcome the impact of starvation as indicated by changes in feeding and metabolic behaviors, along with changes in expression of the IFT122 gene, which is essential for cilia regeneration, and BCD1, which is involved in vacuole formation. To investigate this hypothesis, T. thermophila were exposed to a diluted nutrient medium for 48 hours to mimic starvation, with one group receiving a physiologically-relevant dose of bovine colostrum. Throughout the treatment period, cell counts were taken to monitor growth rate, followed by feeding and deciliation assays. Furthermore, RT-qPCR was used to determine the expression of the IFT122 and BCD1 genes. Due to the supplemented nutrients of colostrum, it was predicted that T. thermophila would exhibit decreased feeding, increased growth, and enhanced cilia regeneration compared to starved cells. Expression of the BCD1 gene was also predicted to decrease in the colostrum-treated cells due to decreased feeding while expression of IFT122 was predicted to increase as a result of an increased metabolic rate