Publications by authors named "Alison K Ward"

Introduction: Maternal nutrition during pregnancy critically influences offspring development and immune function. One-carbon metabolites (OCM) are epigenetic modifiers that may modulate antimicrobial peptide (AMP) expression, which is vital for innate immunity. This study investigated the effects of maternal nutrient restriction and OCM supplementation on mRNA expression of AMP in fetal and maternal lung, mammary gland, and small intestine of beef cattle.

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One-carbon metabolism (OCM) is a series of connected pathways involving the methionine-folate cycles, transsulfuration, polyamine synthesis, nucleotide synthesis, free-radical scavenging, and energy metabolism. These pathways functionally depend upon amino acids (methionine, glycine, and serine), vitamins (folate, B, B, and B), and minerals (sulfur, cobalt, and zinc). Growing bodies of research indicate that in beef cattle, physiological stage, nutritional plane, diet, species (Bos taurus vs.

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Maternal periconceptual nutrition affects the growth trajectory of developing fetuses by modulating gene expression. The regulatory mechanisms and their role in fetal development remain underexplored in livestock models. Herein, we investigated the effects of maternal rate of body weight (BW) gain during early gestation on the DNA methylation, microRNA profiles, and their interaction with the hepatic gene expression in female fetuses.

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  • - The study investigated how administering vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) affects inflammation and the expression of intestinal tight junction mRNA in lambs on grain-based diets, comparing two groups: one given VIP and another given saline (control).
  • - Although there were no significant differences in tight junction mRNA expressions across intestinal regions, VIP-treated lambs showed increased levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines and lower lipopolysaccharide (LPS) concentrations, indicating reduced inflammation.
  • - Overall, while VIP did not appear to change tight junction mRNA levels, the treatment seemed to lower inflammation by decreasing LPS levels in lambs fed grain diets.
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Our aim was to investigate the effects of maternal (F0) body weight (BW) gain during the first 84 d of gestation on body composition, ovarian reserve, and hormonal and metabolic parameters of breeding-age F1 heifers, as well as the BW and morphometry of F2 fetuses. The study also evaluated the effect of maternal BW gain (F0) on the mRNA relative abundance of the small intestine of both F1 heifers and F2 fetuses. Crossbred Angus heifers (F0; n = 100) were managed to gain 0.

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  • * The study examined how nutrient restriction and OCM supplementation affect fetal liver metabolomics in beef heifers, with different dietary patterns over a 63-day gestation period.
  • * Findings revealed that restricted diets decreased metabolite levels linked to amino acid and energy metabolism, while OCM supplementation enhanced metabolite abundance important for fetal growth and health.
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Background: Maternal diet quality and quantity have significant impacts on both maternal and fetal health and development. The composition and function of the maternal gut microbiome is also significantly influenced by diet; however, little is known about the impact of gestational nutrient restriction on the bovine maternal microbiome during early gestation, which is a critical stage for maternal microbiome-mediated fetal programming to take place. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the impacts of diet restriction and one-carbon metabolite (OCM) supplementation during early gestation on maternal ruminal, vaginal, and blood microbiota in cattle.

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One-carbon metabolites (OCM) are metabolites and cofactors which include folate, vitamin B12, methionine, and choline that support methylation reactions. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of moderate changes in maternal body weight gain in combination with OCM supplementation during the first 63 d of gestation in beef cattle on (1) B12 and folate concentrations in maternal serum (2) folate cycle intermediates in maternal and fetal liver, allantoic fluid (ALF), and amniotic fluid (AMF) and (3) metabolites involved in one-carbon metabolism and related metabolic pathways in maternal and fetal liver. Heifers were either intake restricted (RES) and fed to lose 0.

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  • * A study with crossbred Angus heifers revealed that different rates of maternal weight gain and nutrient supplementation led to notable differences in fetal liver development and gene expression, identifying 320 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 99 differentially expressed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs).
  • * The research highlights the importance of lncRNAs in regulating pathways related to energy metabolism and mineral homeostasis in the fetal liver, indicating that early maternal nutrition impacts fetal growth and development.
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The objective of this study was to determine the dose-dependent response of one-carbon metabolite (OCM: methionine, choline, folate, and vitamin B12) supplementation on heifer dry matter intake on fixed gain, organ mass, hematology, cytokine concentration, pancreatic and jejunal enzyme activity, and muscle hydrogen peroxide production. Angus heifers (n = 30; body weight [BW] = 392.6 ± 12.

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  • The study examined how nutrient restriction and one-carbon metabolite (OCM) supplementation affect fetal small intestine development in crossbred Angus beef heifers during early gestation.
  • Heifers were divided into four groups based on their feeding regimen: a control group with normal intake and an OCM group, versus a restricted intake group with and without OCM.
  • Results showed that while the nutritional intake had no significant effect on fetal small intestine weight, OCM supplementation led to reduced weight, increased capillary density, and decreased cell proliferation in the tissue of fetuses from restricted-fed heifers.
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We hypothesized that restricted maternal nutrition and supplementation of one-carbon metabolites (OCM; methionine, folate, choline, and vitamin B12) would affect placental vascular development during early pregnancy. A total of 43 cows were bred, and 32 heifers successfully became pregnant with female calves, leading to the formation of four treatment groups: CON - OCM (n = 8), CON + OCM (n = 7), RES - OCM (n = 9), and RES + OCM (n = 8). The experimental design was a 2 × 2 factorial, with main factors of dietary intake affecting average daily gain: control (CON; 0.

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  • β-Defensins are antimicrobial peptides crucial for cattle's innate immune defense, especially in the mammary glands, where their expression is regulated by hormones, plant compounds, and dietary factors.
  • Their induction primarily relies on the TLR/NF-κB pathway, with other significant contributions from alternative pathways like MAPK and epigenetic regulation.
  • β-Defensins are effective against various pathogens, including common mastitis-causing bacteria, and their low cytotoxicity to host cells makes them promising as natural antimicrobials amid rising concerns over antibiotic resistance.
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Emerging evidence suggests that microbiome-targeted approaches may provide a novel opportunity to reduce the incidence of reproductive failures in cattle. To develop such microbiome-based strategies, one of the first logical steps is to identify reproductive microbiome features related to fertility and to isolate the fertility-associated microbial species for developing a future bacterial consortium that could be administered before breeding to enhance pregnancy outcomes. Here, we characterized the vaginal and uterine microbiota in beef cattle that became pregnant or remained open via artificial insemination and identified microbiota features associated with fertility.

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Maternal mineral nutrition during the critical phases of fetal development may leave lifetime impacts on the productivity of an individual. Most research within the developmental origins of the health and disease (DOHaD) field is focused on the role of macronutrients in the genome function and programming of the developing fetus. On the other hand, there is a paucity of knowledge about the role of micronutrients and, specifically, minerals in regulating the epigenome of livestock species, especially cattle.

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Herein, we present a dataset based on the RNA-Seq analysis of liver tissue from bovine female fetuses at day 83 of gestation. The findings were reported in the main article, "Periconceptual maternal nutrition affects fetal liver programming of energy- and lipid-related genes" [1]. These data were generated to investigate the effects of periconceptual maternal vitamin and mineral supplementation and rates of body weight gain on the transcript abundance of genes associated with fetal hepatic metabolism and function.

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Adequate maternal nutrition is key for proper fetal development and epigenetic programming. One-carbon metabolites (OCM), including vitamin B12, folate, choline, and methionine, play a role in epigenetic mechanisms associated with developmental programming. This study investigated the presence of B12 and folate in maternal serum, allantoic fluid (ALF), and amniotic fluid (AMF), as well as how those concentrations in all three fluids correlate to the concentrations of methionine-folate cycle intermediates in heifers receiving either a control (CON) or restricted (RES) diet for the first 50 d of gestation and fetal hepatic gene expression for methionine-folate cycle enzymes.

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Herein, we evaluated the hepatic lipid metabolic profiles of bovine fetuses in response to maternal vitamin and mineral supplementation (VMSUP; supplemented (VTM) or not (NoVTM)) and two different rates of gain (GAIN; low gain (LG), 0.28 kg/d, or moderate gain (MG), 0.79 kg/d).

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During pregnancy, the fetus relies on the dam for its nutrient supply. Nutritional stimuli during fetal organ development can program hepatic metabolism and function. Herein, we investigated the role of vitamin and mineral supplementation (VTM or NoVTM-at least 71 days pre-breeding to day 83 of gestation) and rate of weight gain (low (LG) or moderate (MG)-from breeding to day 83) on the fetal liver transcriptome and the underlying biological pathways.

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Developmental programming is the concept that 'stressors' during development (i.e. pregnancy, the perinatal period and infancy) can cause long-term changes in gene expression, leading to altered organ structure and function.

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The objective of this study was to determine the dose of folate and vitamin B12 in beef heifers fed rumen protected methionine and choline required to maintain increased B12 levels and intermediates of the methionine-folate cycle in circulation. Angus heifers (n = 30; BW = 392.6 ± 12.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study examined how a vitamin and mineral supplement and different weight gain rates during early gestation impact fetal liver metabolism in crossbred Angus heifers.
  • - Seventy-two heifers were divided into four groups: two receiving vitamin and mineral supplements and two with varying weight gain rates (low vs. moderate).
  • - Results showed that certain metabolic pathways were altered based on supplementation and weight gain, with higher metabolite levels found in non-supplemented heifers on low gain, indicating these factors influence fetal liver profiles.
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We evaluated the effects of vitamin and mineral supplementation (from pre-breeding to day 83 of gestation) and two rates of gain (from breeding to day 83 of gestation) on trace mineral concentrations in maternal and fetal liver, fetal muscle, and allantoic (ALF) and amniotic (AMF) fluids. Crossbred Angus heifers (n = 35; BW = 359.5 ± 7.

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  • A study involving thirty-five Angus heifers evaluated the effects of Vitamin and Mineral Supplementation (VMSUP) and different rates of gain (low vs. moderate) during early gestation on various health and developmental outcomes.
  • Heifers were divided into four groups based on their supplementation and gain levels, with their metabolic hormone levels and fetal measurements monitored over an 83-day period post-insemination.
  • Findings showed that moderate gain led to better metabolic profiles and fetal development, with enhanced glucose and liver mass observed in supplemented fetuses compared to those without supplementation.
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Fetal programming is established early in life, likely through epigenetic mechanisms that control gene expression. Micronutrients can act as epigenetic modifiers (EM) by modulating the genome through mechanisms that include DNA methylation and post-translational modification of chromatin. Among the EM, methionine, choline, folate, and vitamin B have been suggested as key players of DNA methylation.

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