Relationships Among Maternal Characteristics in Hair Sheep

Since the spring of 2022, the MSU sheep flock has been an Innovation Flock for the Sheep GEMS project, managed by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The GEMS project is a multi-breed, national project evaluating longevity of ewes within flocks. Our part as a participant in the project involves collecting and sending raw data which is compiled into 1 very large data set. The research discussed here uses our preliminary data from the 2022 and 2023 lambing seasons collected from our Katahdin ewes (n =38; 1-4.5 years of age). Collected data included fecal egg count (FEC), body condition scoring (BCS), FAMACHA scores, teat and udder scores. Data were analyzed using the CORR procedure in SAS with a significance level set at P \u3c 0.05. Ewe age provided the most correlations, including a negative relationship (r = -0.384) with teat score and a positive relationship (r = 0.28) with BCS. There was also a negative correlation (r = -0.31) between FEC and ewe age, along with a positive relationship (r = 0.267) with the incidence of mastitis. Furthermore, udder scores were negatively related (r = - 0.25) to FAMACHA, and positively correlated to FEC. Also, the teat score was negatively correlated (r = - 0.34) with BCS. The results of this project underline the importance of multiple traits which could contribute to ewes leaving the flock early.https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/celebration_posters_2023/1028/thumbnail.jp

The Role of Year and Animal Origin on Key Determinants of Ewe Longevity

The MSU sheep flock is an Innovation Flock in the Sheep GEMS project through the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. The Sheep GEMS project is a national, multi-breed project that is focused on evaluating different sheep breeds and their longevity in different climates. As a participant, we collect/send raw data that is compiled. Our preliminary data from the 2022 (Year 1) and 2023 (Year 2) lambing season has been included. We collected measurements from Katahdin ewes (n = 38; 1-4.5 years old). We measured fecal egg counts (FEC), FAMACHA scores, body condition scores (BCS), teat and udder scores. Using the MIXED procedures of SAS, we evaluated these measurements for differences between year and origin. As the ewe flock was established in the summer of 2021, our ewes were sourced from 5 outside flocks. Main effects of treatment are reported if no interaction was observed. An interaction of year and origin (P = 0.02) was observed in FEC. A year effect was observed on FAMACHA, as ewes in Year 1 had lower and more desirable FAMACHA scores in comparison to Year 2 (2.18 vs. 1.97, respectively). Teat scores were different by year, (P \u3c 0.01) as Year 1 was higher compared to Year 2 (5.58 and 4.46, respectively). Udder scores were not different by year or origin (P \u3e 0.148). Ewe BCS differed by year (P = 0.06) and origin (P = 0.02). Effects of year were widely seen and speak to the impact of year-to-year changes in environment. IACUC #22-11-02https://scholarworks.moreheadstate.edu/celebration_posters_2023/1004/thumbnail.jp

Characterization of the oxidative stress stimulon and PerR regulon of Campylobacter jejuni

Background: During gut colonization, the enteric pathogen Campylobacter jejuni must surmount the toxic effects of reactive oxygen species produced by its own metabolism, the host immune system, and intestinal microflora. Elucidation of C. jejuni oxidative stress defense mechanisms is critical for understanding Campylobacter pathophysiology.Results: The mechanisms of oxidative stress defense in C. jejuni were characterized by transcriptional profiling and phenotypic analysis of wild-type and mutant strains. To define the regulon of the peroxide-sensing regulator, PerR, we constructed an isogenic [delta]perR mutant and compared its transcriptome profile with that of the wild-type strain. Transcriptome profiling identified 104 genes that belonged to the PerR regulon. PerR appears to regulate gene expression in a manner that both depends on and is independent of the presence of iron and/or H2O2. Mutation of perR significantly reduced motility. A phenotypic analysis using the chick colonization model showed that the [delta]perR mutant exhibited attenuated colonization behavior. An analysis of changes in the transcriptome induced by exposure to H2O2, cumene hydroperoxide, or menadione revealed differential expression of genes belonging to a variety of biological pathways, including classical oxidative stress defense systems, heat shock response, DNA repair and metabolism, fatty acid biosynthesis, and multidrug efflux pumps. Mutagenic and phenotypic studies of the superoxide dismutase SodB, the alkyl-hydroxyperoxidase AhpC, and the catalase KatA, revealed a role for these proteins in oxidative stress defense and chick gut colonization.Conclusion: This study reveals an interplay between PerR, Fur, iron metabolism and oxidative stress defense, and highlights the role of these elements in C. jejuni colonization of the chick cecum and/or subsequent survival.Peer reviewedVeterinary Pathobiolog

Das Hamburger Konzept der Diversion und die praktische Umsetzung der Ziele am Beispiel der Jugendgerichtshilfe der Jugendgerichtshilfe Hamburg-Harburg

Die leitende Fragestellung dieser Arbeit wird sein, ob die in der Jugendgerichtshilfe Hamburg-Harburg angebotenen diversiven Maßnahmen die Ziele des Hamburger Diversionsmodells erreichen

Campylobacter jejuni ferric– enterobactin receptor CfrA is TonB3 dependent and mediates iron acquisition from structurally different catechol siderophores

Campylobacter jejuni NCTC11168 does not produce any endogenous siderophores of its own yet requires the CfrA enterobactin transporter for in vivo colonization. In addition, the genome of C. jejuni NCTC11168 contains three distinct TonB energy transduction systems, named TonB1, TonB2, and TonB3, that have not been tested for their role in siderophore uptake or their functional redundancy. We demonstrate that C. jejuni NCTC11168 transports ferric-enterobactin in an energy dependent manner that requires TonB3 for full activity with TonB1 showing partial functional redundancy. Moreover C. jejuni NCTC11168 can utilize a wide variety of structurally different catechol siderophores as sole iron sources during growth. This growth is solely dependent on the CfrA enterobactin transporter and highlights the wide range of substrates that this transporter can recognize. TonB3 is also required for growth on most catechol siderophores. Furthermore, either TonB1 or TonB3 is sufficient for growth on hemin or hemoglobin as a sole iron source demonstrating functional redundancy between TonB1 and TonB3. In vivo colonization assays with isogenic deletion mutants revealed that both TonB1 and TonB3 are required for chick colonization with TonB2 dispensable in this model. These results further highlight the importance of iron transport for efficient C. jejuni colonization

Transcriptomic Analysis of the Campylobacter jejuni Response to T4-Like Phage NCTC 12673 Infection

Campylobacter jejuni is a frequent foodborne pathogen of humans. As C. jejuni infections commonly arise from contaminated poultry, phage treatments have been proposed to reduce the C. jejuni load on farms to prevent human infections. While a prior report documented the transcriptome of C. jejuni phages during the carrier state life cycle, transcriptomic analysis of a lytic C. jejuni phage infection has not been reported. We used RNA-sequencing to profile the infection of C. jejuni NCTC 11168 by the lytic T4-like myovirus NCTC 12673. Interestingly, we found that the most highly upregulated host genes upon infection make up an uncharacterized operon (cj0423⁻cj0425), which includes genes with similarity to T4 superinfection exclusion and antitoxin genes. Other significantly upregulated genes include those involved in oxidative stress defense and the Campylobactermultidrug efflux pump (CmeABC). We found that phage infectivity is altered by mutagenesis of the oxidative stress defense genes catalase (katA), alkyl-hydroxyperoxidase (ahpC), and superoxide dismutase (sodB), and by mutagenesis of the efflux pump genes cmeA and cmeB. This suggests a role for these gene products in phage infection. Together, our results shed light on the phage-host dynamics of an important foodborne pathogen during lytic infection by a T4-like phage.status: publishe

Transcriptomic Analysis of the Campylobacter jejuni Response to T4-Like Phage NCTC 12673 Infection

Campylobacter jejuni is a frequent foodborne pathogen of humans. As C. jejuni infections commonly arise from contaminated poultry, phage treatments have been proposed to reduce the C. jejuni load on farms to prevent human infections. While a prior report documented the transcriptome of C. jejuni phages during the carrier state life cycle, transcriptomic analysis of a lytic C. jejuni phage infection has not been reported. We used RNA-sequencing to profile the infection of C. jejuni NCTC 11168 by the lytic T4-like myovirus NCTC 12673. Interestingly, we found that the most highly upregulated host genes upon infection make up an uncharacterized operon (cj0423–cj0425), which includes genes with similarity to T4 superinfection exclusion and antitoxin genes. Other significantly upregulated genes include those involved in oxidative stress defense and the Campylobactermultidrug efflux pump (CmeABC). We found that phage infectivity is altered by mutagenesis of the oxidative stress defense genes catalase (katA), alkyl-hydroxyperoxidase (ahpC), and superoxide dismutase (sodB), and by mutagenesis of the efflux pump genes cmeA and cmeB. This suggests a role for these gene products in phage infection. Together, our results shed light on the phage-host dynamics of an important foodborne pathogen during lytic infection by a T4-like phage

Inactivation of the LysR regulator Cj1000 of Campylobacter jejuni affects host colonization and respiration.

International audienceTranscriptional regulation mediates adaptation of pathogens to environmental stimuli and is important for host colonization. The Campylobacter jejuni genome sequence reveals a surprisingly small set of regulators, mostly of unknown function, suggesting an intricate regulatory network. Interestingly, C. jejuni lacks the homologues of ubiquitous regulators involved in stress response found in many other Gram-negative bacteria. Nonetheless, cj1000 is predicted to encode the sole LysR-type regulator in the C. jejuni genome, and thus may be involved in major adaptation pathways. A cj1000 mutant strain was constructed and found to be attenuated in its ability to colonize 1-day-old chicks. Complementation of the cj1000 mutation restored the colonization ability to wild-type levels. The mutant strain was also outcompeted in a competitive colonization assay of the piglet intestine. Oxygraphy was carried out for what is believed to be the first time with the Oroboros Oxygraph-2k on C. jejuni and revealed a role for Cj1000 in controlling O2 consumption. Furthermore, microarray analysis of the cj1000 mutant revealed both direct and indirect regulatory targets, including genes involved in energy metabolism and oxidative stress defences. These results highlight the importance of Cj1000 regulation in host colonization and in major physiological pathways