Genetic markers associated with bone composition in Rhode Island Red laying hens

Background Bone damage has welfare and economic impacts on modern commercial poultry and is known as one of the major challenges in the poultry industry. Bone damage is particularly common in laying hens and is probably due to the physiological link between bone and the egg laying process. Previous studies identified and validated quantitative trait loci (QTL) for bone strength in White Leghorn laying hens based on several measurements, including bone composition measurements on the cortex and medulla of the tibia bone. In a previous pedigree-based analysis, bone composition measurements showed heritabilities ranging from 0.18 to 0.41 and moderate to strong genetic correlations with tibia strength and density. Bone composition was measured using infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetry. The aim of this study was to combine these bone composition measurements with genotyping data via a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to investigate genetic markers that contribute to genetic variance in bone composition in Rhode Island Red laying hens. In addition, we investigated the genetic correlations between bone composition and bone strength. Results We found novel genetic markers that are significantly associated with cortical lipid, cortical mineral scattering, medullary organic matter, and medullary mineralization. Composition of the bone organic matter showed more significant associations than bone mineral composition. We also found interesting overlaps between the GWAS results for tibia composition traits, particularly for cortical lipid and tibia strength. Bone composition measurements by infrared spectroscopy showed more significant associations than thermogravimetry measurements. Based on the results of infrared spectroscopy, cortical lipid showed the highest genetic correlations with tibia density, which was negative (− 0.20 ± 0.04), followed by cortical CO3/PO4 (0.18 ± 0.04). Based on the results of thermogravimetry, medullary organic matter% and mineral% showed the highest genetic correlations with tibia density (− 0.25 ± 0.04 and 0.25 ± 0.04, respectively). Conclusions This study detected novel genetic associations for bone composition traits, particularly those involving organic matter, that could be used as a basis for further molecular genetic investigations. Tibia cortical lipids displayed the strongest genetic associations of all the composition measurements, including a significantly high genetic correlation with tibia density and strength. Our results also highlighted that cortical lipid may be a key measurement for further avian bone studies.Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences.ERANET Grant to ICD (BBSRC BB/ M028291/1)Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas, 2014-01840(Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, 291815Svenska Forskningsrådet Formas (2019-02116 and 2016-01386)The COST Action CA15224 Keel Bone Damag

Bone quality and composition are influenced by egg production, layer line, and oestradiol-17ß in laying hens

Part of this work was supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovacion [grant number CGL2015-64683-P].Keel bone fractures are a serious animal welfare problem in laying hens. The aim of the current study was to assess the influence of egg production, oestradiol-17ß, and selection for high laying performance on bone quality. Hens of two layer lines differing in laying performance (WLA: 320 eggs per year, G11: 200 eggs per year) were allocated to four treatment groups. Group S received a deslorelin acetate implant that suppressed egg production. Group E received an implant with the sexual steroid oestradiol-17ß. Group SE received both implants and group C did not receive any implant. In the 63rd week of age, composition and characteristics of the tibiotarsi were assessed using histological analysis, three-point bending test, thermogravimetric analysis, infrared spectroscopy, and two-dimensional X-ray diffraction, respectively. Non-egg-laying hens showed a higher total bone area and a higher relative amount of cortical bone compared to egg-laying hens. Hens of layer line G11 showed a higher relative amount of medullary bone and a higher degree of mineralization of the cortical bone compared to hens of layer line WLA. These differences in bone composition may explain different susceptibility to keel bone fractures in non-egg-laying compared to egg-laying hens as well as in hens of layer lines differing in laying performance. The effect of exogenous oestradiol-17ß on bone parameters varied between the layer lines indicating a genetic influence on bone physiology and the way it can be modulated by hormone substitution.Instituto de Salud Carlos III Spanish Government CGL2015-64683-

Relationship between Bone Quality, Egg Production and Eggshell Quality in Laying Hens at the End of an Extended Production Cycle (105 Weeks)

(1) Background: Nowadays the industry aims to improve lay persistency for extended cycles (100 weeks or longer) to make egg production more sustainable. However, intensive egg pro‐ duction challenges hen health, inducing severe osteoporosis and the incidence of bone fractures. In this study, the relationship between bone quality and egg production, and/or eggshell quality, was evaluated at the end of an extended laying cycle of 100 weeks, comparing groups of hens with dif‐ ferent production and eggshell quality parameters; (2) Methods: Quality parameters of egg (as weight, egg white height), eggshell (as thickness, weight, breaking strength, elasticity and micro‐ structure) and tibiae bone (weight, diameter, cortical thickness, ash weight, breaking strength, me‐ dullary bone) were determined; (3) Results: Hens from groups with a high egg production and good eggshell quality have poorer bone quality (lower ash weight and lesser amount of medullary bone). However, Pearson’s correlation analysis shows no clearrelationship between bone and egg/eggshell parameters. (4) Conclusions: Bone and egg production/eggshell quality are independent and can be improved separately. Medullary bone has an important contribution to bone mechanical properties, being important to accumulate enough bone medullary bone early in life to maintain skeletal integ‐ rity and eggshell quality in old hens.ITC‐20161169/Ovofortis (MINECO/AEI/FEDER, UE)CGL2015‐64683‐PRNM‐179 group (Junta de Andalucía)UCE PP 2016.05 (Universidad de Granada

Antimicrobial defenses of table eggs: Importance of antibacterial proteins in egg white as a function of hen age in an extended production cycle

The importance of egg natural defences to prevent bacterial contamination and their relation with hen age in extended production cycles were evaluated. Egg-white from eggs of different hen age groups (up 100-weeks-old) and lines (Hy-Line white and brown) were inoculated with Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus or Gram-negative Salmonella Typhimurium, ranging from 103-106 CFU/mL. Our results show that concentrations of egg-white lysozyme and, particularly, ovotransferrin are important to modulate bacterial survival in a dose-dependent matter. Depending on protein concentration, their effect ranges from bactericidal to bacteriostatic, with a threshold for bacterial contamination that depends also on hen age and line. The concentrations of lysozyme and ovotransferrin increased with hen age (up to 2 and 22 w/w% of total protein, respectively), and eggs laid by older hens exhibited the greatest potential to prevent the growth of the highest Salmonella inoculum (106 CFU/ mL). Salmonella-penetration experiments demonstrated that non-contaminated eggs display significantly higher concentrations of antimicrobial proteins. However, eggs from older hens needed a higher concentration of these proteins (>20% ovotransferrin) to prevent bacterial contamination, showing that antimicrobial protein concentrations in egg-whites was not the only factor influencing bacterial contamination. Finally, this study demonstrated that egg-white of eggs produced by old hens are less prone to contamination by Salmonella.Spanish Government CGL 2015-64683-PPremio de Investigacion 2019 (Instituto del Huevo)Junta de Andalucia RNM-938Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) RGPIN2022-0441

Non-Invasive Study of the Pigments of a Painting on Copper with the Inscription “Boceto di Pablo Veronese” on the Back

The palette used on a small painting on copper support, with the inscription “Boceto di Pablo Veronese” on the back, was characterized. Non-invasive techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and hand-held X-ray fluorescence (XRF) were proven to be highly effective for this. The objectives of the proposed work were twofold. On the one hand, the objective was the study, in situ, of the pigments of a painting on a copper support. On the other hand, it was to enrich the literature related to the study of paintings on metal supports, since few related studies are available despite the relatively large number of such 16th and 17th century paintings from Italy and Northern Europe. The results of the analysis showed a copper support with a base layer of gypsum mixed with ochre earths. Atop this layer is a sketch with lead white in the lighter areas and bone black in the darker shadow areas, suggesting that the artist performed a preliminary study of the luminosity of the scene. Finally, the upper or pictorial layer consists of a mix of pigments with some lead white to lower saturation and increase lightness, particularly evident in the flesh tones. The resulting palette thus includes lead white, vermilion, bone black, Naples yellow, and lazurite pigments. These results are compared to Veronese’s other paintings, as well as to those of certain contemporary artists, and the use of the resulting pigments in 16th and 17th century Italian painting techniques is discussedProject FEDER/Junta de Andalucía-Consejería de Economía y Conocimiento/A-HUM-164-UGR18Research group FQM-338Analytical Techniques Unit EQC2018-004952-

Changes with age (from 0 to 37 D) in tibiae bone mineralization, chemical composition and structural organization in broiler chickens

Broiler chickens have an extreme physiology (rapid growth rates) that challenges the correct bone mineralization, being an interesting animal model for studying the development of bone pathologies. This work studies in detail how the mineralization, chemistry, and structural organization of tibiae bone in broiler chickens change with age during the first 5 wk (37 D) from hatching until acquiring the final weight for slaughter. During the early growth phase (first 2 wk), the rapid addition of bone tissue does not allow for bone organic matrix to fully mineralize and mature, and seems to be a critical period for bone development at which bone mineralization cannot keep pace with the rapid growth of bones. The low degree of bone mineralization and large porosity of cortical bone at this period might be responsible of leg deformation and/or other skeletal abnormalities commonly observed in these birds. Later, cortical bone porosity gradually decreases and the cortical bone became fully mineralized (65%) at 37 D of age. At the same time, bone mineral acquires the composition of mature bone tissue (decreased amount of carbonate, higher crystallinity, Ca/P = 1.68)

La formación de hueso medular y cáscara de huevo como modelo de procesos dinámicos e interrelacionados de biomineralización

El objetivo principal de esta tesis es el estudio de la mineralogía, estructura y funcionalidad de los tejidos calcificados. En particular, nos hemos centrado en dos tejidos calcificados, formados por las aves hembras durante el periodo reproductivo, muy importantes y relacionados entre sí: el hueso medular y la cáscara de huevo. Durante la deposición de la cáscara de huevo, las aves hembras, y las gallinas ponedoras en particular, necesitan movilizar grandes cantidades de calcio (2 gramos), que equivale a cerca del 10% del calcio total del cuerpo. Para ello, durante el periodo de puesta, las gallinas desarrollan un tipo especial de hueso, el hueso medular, que puede ser fácilmente reabsorbido para una rápida liberación y suministro de calcio necesario para la formación de la cáscara del huevo. La mineralización de la cáscara de huevo de gallina es el proceso de calcificación más rápido conocido en la naturaleza, y dentro de los procesos de biomineralización, es uno de los más interesantes. El resultado de este proceso es la formación de una estructura mineral con excelentes propiedades mecánicas cuyas principales características pueden modificarse por diferentes factores, como la edad, la dieta o enfermedad. Para entender los procesos que controlan la formación, mineralización y estructura de estos materiales, se ha estudiado de una manera exhaustiva mediante técnicas analíticas como la espectroscopia infrarroja (ATR-FTIR), la difracción de rayos X y la microscopía electrónica. Por otra parte, se ha estudiado como la cutícula de la cáscara de huevo actúa como barrera física contra la penetración bacteriana y juega un papel muy importante en la seguridad alimentaria del huevo. Al igual que la cáscara de huevo, las propiedades de la cutícula (grado de recubrimiento, espesor y composición química), dependen de la edad, factores genéticos, dieta y su hábitat. Con respecto al estudio de la formación de la cáscara de huevo, los resultados demuestran que la calcificación de la cáscara comienza con la deposición de partículas de carbonato cálcico amorfo con una estructura proto-calcítica que facilita su conversión directamente a calcita. Por otra parte, se muestra como la microestructura de las cáscaras de huevo varía en diferentes especies provocando que las propiedades mecánicas de la cáscara cambien notablemente. Con respecto a la cutícula, la técnica de espectroscopia infrarroja (ATRFTIR) utilizada para evaluar la calidad de la cutícula y su composición química, nos ha permitido determinar que su composición es altamente dependiente de la edad de la gallina y de la frescura de los huevos. Además del factor edad, la funcionalidad de la cutícula depende en gran medida de su composición química y del grado de madurez, siendo los huevos recién puestos aquellos que presentan una cutícula más inmadura y menos efectiva frente a la penetración bacteriana.Tesis Univ. Granada. Programa Oficial de Doctorado en Ciencias de la Tierr

Non-Invasive Study of the Pigments of a Painting on Copper with the Inscription “<i>Boceto di Pablo Veronese</i>” on the Back

The palette used on a small painting on copper support, with the inscription “Boceto di Pablo Veronese” on the back, was characterized. Non-invasive techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and hand-held X-ray fluorescence (XRF) were proven to be highly effective for this. The objectives of the proposed work were twofold. On the one hand, the objective was the study, in situ, of the pigments of a painting on a copper support. On the other hand, it was to enrich the literature related to the study of paintings on metal supports, since few related studies are available despite the relatively large number of such 16th and 17th century paintings from Italy and Northern Europe. The results of the analysis showed a copper support with a base layer of gypsum mixed with ochre earths. Atop this layer is a sketch with lead white in the lighter areas and bone black in the darker shadow areas, suggesting that the artist performed a preliminary study of the luminosity of the scene. Finally, the upper or pictorial layer consists of a mix of pigments with some lead white to lower saturation and increase lightness, particularly evident in the flesh tones. The resulting palette thus includes lead white, vermilion, bone black, Naples yellow, and lazurite pigments. These results are compared to Veronese’s other paintings, as well as to those of certain contemporary artists, and the use of the resulting pigments in 16th and 17th century Italian painting techniques is discussed

Genetics of tibia bone properties of crossbred commercial laying hens in different housing systems

Osteoporosis and bone fractures are a severe problem for the welfare of laying hens, with genetics and environment, such as housing system, each making substantial contributions to bone strength. In this work, we performed genetic analyses of bone strength, bone mineral density, and bone composition, as well as body weight, in 860 commercial crossbred laying hens from 2 different companies, kept in either furnished cages or floor pens. We compared bone traits between housing systems and crossbreds and performed a genome- wide association study of bone properties and body weight. As expected, the 2 housing systems produced a large difference in bone strength, with layers housed in floor pens having stronger bones. These differences were accompanied by differences in bone geometry, mineralization, and chemical composition. Genome scans either combining or independently analyzing the 2 housing systems revealed no genome-wide significant loci for bone breaking strength. We detected 3 loci for body weight that were shared between the housing systems on chromosomes 4, 6, and 27 (either genome-wide significant or suggestive) and these coincide with associations for bone length. In summary, we found substantial differences in bone strength, content, and composition between hens kept in floor pens and furnished cages that could be attributed to greater physical activity in pen housing. We found little evidence for large-effect loci for bone strength in commercial crossbred hens, consistent with a highly polygenic architecture for bone strength in the production environment. The lack of consistent genetic associations between housing systems in combination with the differences in bone phenotypes could be due to gene-by-environment interactions with housing system or a lack of power to detect shared associations for bone strength