Application of disease-associated differentially expressed genes – Mining for functional candidate genes for mastitis resistance in cattle

In this study the mRNA differential display method was applied to identify mastitis-associated expressed DNA sequences based on different expression patterns in mammary gland samples of non-infected and infected udder quarters of a cow. In total, 704 different cDNA bands were displayed in both udder samples. Five hundred-and-thirty two bands, (75.6%) were differentially displayed. Ninety prominent cDNA bands were isolated, re-amplified, cloned and sequenced resulting in 87 different sequences. Amongst the 19 expressed sequence tags showing a similarity with previously described genes, the majority of these sequences exhibited homology to protein kinase encoding genes (26.3%), to genes involved in the regulation of gene expression (26.3%), to growth and differentiation factor encoding genes (21.0%) and to immune response or inflammation marker encoding genes (21.0%). These sequences were shown to have mastitis-associated expression in the udder samples of animals with and without clinical mastitis by quantitative RT-PCR. They were mapped physically using a bovine-hamster somatic cell hybrid panel and a 5000 rad bovine whole genome radiation hybrid panel. According to their localization in QTL regions based on an established integrated marker/gene-map and their disease-associated expression, four genes (AHCY, PRKDC, HNRPU, OSTF1) were suggested as potentially involved in mastitis defense

Osteoarthritis of the knee - a condemnation of a prosthesis for a young person? ATLAS Knee System as an effective method of relieving the medial compartment of the knee

Introduction: Osteoarthritis of the knee is one of the more common causes of disability in the elderly. In the United States, one in four adults suffers from the condition, half of whom are under the age of 65. The most commonly affected joint is the knee. A significant proportion of people in the 35-65 age range have degeneration in one compartment of the knee joint. Among the younger population, when non-operative methods are already failing and it is too early for surgery, there is a place for the ATLAS Knee System. Aim of the study:  The purpose of our work is to present a new and innovative form of treatment for single-compartment osteoarthritis of the knee. Based on the available literature, to show the advantages, disadvantages and results of treatment with the ATLAS Knee System. Methods and materials: A literature review was conducted in the PubMed database, using the keywords: "Atlas Knee System"; "osteoarthritis"; "knee osteoarthritis". Results: The ATLAS system is built with an absorber that, as the knee is stretched, absorbs the forces acting on the medial compartment, while not putting stress on the rest of the knee joint. After patients use the implant, a significant reduction in pain and improvement in knee function is observed. Conclusion: Osteoarthritis is a significant health problem increasingly prevalent even among the younger population. The ATLAS system provides an alternative for younger people in whom conservative treatment has failed, while more invasive methods such as osteotomies and total or single-unit prosthetics are impossible or rejected by the patient. More studies are needed, on a larger number of people to accurately evaluate this system

Genetic selection for reduced somatic cell counts in sheep milk: A review

Mastitis is an in\ufb02ammation of the udder, mainly caused by bacteria, and leads to economic loss, due to discarded milk, reduced milk production, reduced milk quality and increased health costs in both dairy sheep and cattle. Selecting for increased genetic resistance to mastitis can be done directly or indirectly, with the indirect selection corresponding to a prediction of the bacteriological status of the udder based on traits related to the infection. The most frequently used indirect method is currently milk somatic cell count (SCC) or somatic cell score (SCS). This review reports the state of the art relating to the genetic basis of mastitis resistance in sheep and explores the opportunities to use SCC as selection criterion in a breeding programme to improve resistance to mastitis in sheep, discussing the actual situation and prospects for improvement. It has been stressed, in particular, that although it is unlikely that selection for mastitis resistance by the farmers on their own will be successful, there is good prospect for genetic improvement if reliable pedigree and performance recording is implemented across \ufb02ocks, combined with breeding value estimation. To achieve this, a strong and well-structured organization to implement and support the programme is essential

2003b. Abnormal segregation of prion protein octapeptiderepeat alleles in cattle

Abstract. The study was conducted on full-families of Black-and-White cattle obtained as 25 AI sire families and 355 cows, as well as their progenies, mostly heifers at the age of 1-3 months. The sire group was composed by the casual qualification of 10 PRNP 6/6 and 15 PRNP 6/5 individuals on the basis of accessible young progenies. The randomly selected group of cows is characterised by a very high frequency of PRNP 6/6 (74.9%), followed by lower frequency of PRNP 6/5 (24.5%) and a very low frequency of PRNP 5/5 genotype (0.6%). The progenies represent all expected genotypes, such as: PRNP 6/6 (60.5%), PRNP 6/5 (35.8%) and PRNP 5/5 (3.7%), respectively. Taking into consideration the genotypes of parents and progenies, the segregation of PRNP 6 and PRNP 5 alleles was analysed. Results of the non-informative mating variant of % PRNP 6/6 × & PRNP 6/6 (n = 87) are affected by the PRNP 6/6 progeny genotype in all cases. Subsequently, the results of mating variants % PRNP 6/6 × &PRNP 6/5 (n = 29) and % PRNP 6/5 & PRNP 6/6 (n = 179) showed statistically non-significant differences in both above-mentioned alternations. The progeny group related from % PRNP 6/5 × & PRNP 6/5 parental mating obtained fully informative and most valuable results based on the presented research concept. In the common group of 58 calves, the genotype PRNP 6/6 is represented by 26 individuals (44.8 %), PRNP 6/5 -by 19 individuals (32.8 %) and PRNP 5/5 -by 13 individuals (22.4 %). Therefore, the theoretical genotype rate (25% : 50% : 25%) is drastically deformed and the differentiation between the observed and expected numbers of animals is statistically highly significant (c 2 = 12.72; 2 df.). These differences are affected by two times higher PRNP 6/6 homozygous (c 2 = 9.12; 1 df.) and responsively by the low number of PRNP 6/5 heterozygous animals (c 2 = 3.45; 1 df.). Further investigations are carried out to explain the genetic determination of abnormal PRNP octa-peptide repeat allele segregation, which suggests possible lethal cis-trans linkage effects