Molecular characterization of the bovine GHRL gene

peer reviewedaudience: researcherBovine ghrelin, a 27 amino acid pepticle, has been identified in oxyntic glands of the abomasum. It is an endogenous ligand for growth hormone secretagogue receptor and stimulates food intake and growth hormone secretion. The bovine GHRL gene was completely sequenced and consists of five exons and four introns. Like mouse and human GHRL genes, we found that the bovine GHRL gene also contains a first non-coding exon of 21 bp. The bovine GHRL gene codes for 116 amino acid pepticle named preproghrelin which contains the ghrelin pepticle and another pepticle similar to obestatin. Sequence analysis revealed eight polymorphisms, which are located in the non-coding sequence of the gene

Amélioration dans l’obtention d’anticorps du jaune d’œuf (IgY) spécifiques d’un antigène et destinés à l’immunisation passive par voie alimentaire chez l’animal : Synthèse bibliographique

peer reviewedAntibodies have become essential tools in recent decades, with a wide range of applications in the laboratory and in human and veterinary medicine. The use of laying hens, instead of mammals, to obtain the necessary antibodies from the eggs is a major advance in terms of animal welfare because it makes blood sampling obsolete. However, the advantages of this technology are numerous, in addition to the animal welfare aspect. With a carefully designed immunization protocol, it is possible to enhance both the hen’s immune response and its welfare during the process. This review puts forward recommendations how to do this and discusses recent approaches on improving the technology.Les anticorps sont devenus au fil des années des outils essentiels avec des applications variées tant au laboratoire qu’en médecine humaine ou vétérinaire. L’utilisation de poules pondeuses plutôt que de mammifères pour leur obtention représente déjà en soi une avancée majeure en termes de bien-être animal puisque cette option permettant une collecte des anticorps dans les œufs rend tout simplement obsolète la saignée de l’animal producteur. Les avantages de cette technologie sont cependant multiples et vont bien au-delà de l’aspect de protection de l’animal. En optimisant le protocole d’immunisation, il est possible d’améliorer à la fois la réponse immunitaire de la poule et son bien-être en période de production. Cette synthèse bibliographique propose des recommandations à cette fin. Les approches les plus récentes pour améliorer la technologie sont également discutées.D31-1238 : Développement et utilisation des anticorps du jaune d'oeuf en vue du contrôle des Salmonella spp. dans le tube digestif du poulet de chai

Survival of yolk’s immunoglobulins directed against Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium in the gastro-intestinal tract of the broiler chicken

Développement et utilisation des anticorps du jaune d’œuf en vue du contrôle des Salmonella spp. dans le tube digestif du poulet de chai

Genetic variability of lactoferrin content estimated by mid-infrared spectrometry in bovine milk

The effects of lactoferrin (LF) on the immune system have already been shown by many studies. Unfortunately, the current methods used to measure LF levels in milk do not permit the study of the genetic variability of lactoferrin or the performance of routine genetic evaluations. The first aim of this research was to derive a calibration equation permitting the prediction of LF in milk by mid-infrared spectrometry (MIR). The calibration with partial least squares on 69 samples showed a ratio of standard error of cross-validation to standard deviation equal to 1.98. Based on this value, the calibration equation was used to establish an LF indicator trait (predicted LF; pLF) on a large number of milk samples (n = 7,690). A subsequent study of its variability was conducted, which confirmed that stage of lactation and lactation number influence the overall pLF level. Small differences in mean pLF among 7 dairy breeds were also observed. The pLF content of Jersey milk was significantly higher than that in Holstein milk. Therefore, the choice of breed could change the expected LF level. Heritability estimated for pLF was 19.7%. The genetic and phenotypic correlations between somatic cell score and pLF were 0.04 and 0.26, respectively. As somatic cell score increases in presence of mastitis, this observation seems to indicate that pLF, or a function of observed pLF, compared with expected LF might have potential as an indicator of mastitis. The negative genetic correlation (−0.36) between milk yield and pLF could indicate an undesirable effect of selection for high milk production on the overall LF level

Projet Termitofuel: les termites et leurs symbiontes pour mieux valoriser la biomasse ligno-cellulosique

L’exploitation actuelle de la biomasse ligno-cellulosique, extrêmement abondante sur Terre, est liée à la production de déchets relativement peu valorisables. C’est pourquoi le projet TERMITOFUEL étudie la digestion du bois chez les termites, grâce à une approche pluridisciplinaire, en vue d’améliorer la production de bioéthanol de seconde génération. Au sein de l’Unité d’Entomologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, l’approche protéomique est employée afin d’identifier les micro-organismes présents dans le tube digestif des termites et caractériser les activités enzymatiques

Genomic location of the bovine growth hormone secretagogue receptor (Ghsr) gene and investigation of genetic polymorphism

The growth hormone secretagogue receptor (GHSR) is involved in the regulation of energetic homeostasis and GH secretion. In this study, the bovine GHSR gene was mapped to BTA1 between BL26 and BMS4004. Two different bovine GHSR CDS (GHSR1a and GHSR1b) were sequenced. Six polymorphisms (five SNPs and one 3-bp indel) were also identified, three of them leading to amino acid variations L24V, D194N, and Del R242. These variations are located in the extracellular N-terminal end, the exoloop 2, and the cytoloop 3 of the receptor, respectively

Effects of protein source and cooking procedure on intestinal microbiota and on fermentation end-products in rats

Animal and plant proteins are major proteins sources in the human diet. After their enzymatic degradation in the upper gastro-intestinal tract, the undigested fraction of these proteins is available for fermentation by the microbiota of the large intestine leading to the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA), ammonia, biogenic amines, sulphur metabolites, phenols and indoles. As some of these compounds have genotoxic and cytotoxic effects, protein fermentation is considered as detrimental to the host’s epithelial health. BCFA are usually used as a marker of intestinal protein fermentation. We studied in vivo the impact of proteins from animal and plant origin, raw or after a cooking procedure, on the composition of gut microbiota and on fermentation end-products. Weanling rats were used as models of the human gut microbiota. Eight experimental diets were formulated with beef meat (Longissimus dorsi), chicken meat (Pectoralis major), white pea beans (Phaseolus vulgaris), soybeans (Glycine max), used raw and cooked, as sole source of protein in the diet. One casein diet was used as control. All diets, formulated to contain 15% of raw protein, were given to seven rats for four weeks. After euthanasia, caecal contents were collected. Pyrosequencing analyses (Roche 454 GS Junior Genome Sequencer) were performed to study the microbial composition. SCFA and BCFA were measured using HPLC (Waters 2690). Microbial composition in the caecum is associated to the type of dietary protein and to the cooking procedure applied. The proportion of BCFA in the caecal content is mainly affected by the type of protein. So BCFA represent respectively 04-06% and 35-44% of total SCFA with diets based on plant and on animal proteins. In conclusion, both the type of protein and the cooking procedure could impact the gut microbiota in terms of composition and of fermentative capacity.Crédit aux Chercheurs 1.5180.1

Purification of a new fungal mannose-specific lectin from Penicillium chrysogenum and its aphicidal properties

peer reviewe

Cent scientifiques répliquent à SEA (Suppression des Expériences sur l’Animal vivant) et dénoncent sa désinformation

La lutte contre la maltraitance animale est sans conteste une cause moralement juste. Mais elle ne justifie en rien la désinformation à laquelle certaines associations qui s’en réclament ont recours pour remettre en question l’usage de l’expérimentation animale en recherche