Evaluation of corn fermented protein on the fecal microbiome of cats.

Co-products from the ethanol industry, such as distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS), can provide alternative protein sources for pet food. Corn fermented protein (CFP) is produced using postfermentation technology to split the protein and yeast from fiber prior to drying. This results in a higher protein ingredient compared to DDGS, increasing its appeal for pet food.

Processing of corn-based dog foods through pelleting, baking and extrusion and their effect on apparent total tract digestibility and colonic health of adult dogs.

Different food processing parameters may alter starch granule structure and its cooking degree. With lower thermomechanical energy, more resistant starch (RS) is retained in the food, which may benefit gastrointestinal (GI) health. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of food processing on dietary utilization and dog gut health.

Validation of a real-time PCR panel for detection and quantification of nine pathogens commonly associated with canine infectious respiratory disease.

Canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD) is a complicated respiratory syndrome in dogs [1], [2], [3]. A panel PCR was developed [4] to detect nine pathogens commonly associated with CIRD: canine adenovirus type 2, canine herpesvirus 1, canine parainfluenza virus, canine distemper virus, canine influenza virus and canine respiratory coronavirus [5], [6], [7], [8], [9], [10], [11], [12], [13], [14], [15], [16]. To evaluate diagnostic performance of the assay, 740 nasal swab and lung tissue samples were collected and tested with the new assay, and compared to an older version of the assay detecting the same pathogens except that it does not differentiate the two species.

Comparison of the Effect of Corn-fermented Protein and Traditional Ingredients on the Fecal Microbiota of Dogs.

Corn-fermented protein (CFP), a co-product from the ethanol industry, is produced using post-fermentation technology to split the protein and yeast from fiber prior to drying. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of CFP compared to traditional ingredients on the fecal microbiota of dogs. The four experimental diets included a control with no yeast and diets containing either 3.

Development of a three-panel multiplex real-time PCR assay for simultaneous detection of nine canine respiratory pathogens.

Infectious respiratory disease is one of the most common diseases in dogs worldwide. Several bacterial and viral pathogens can serve as causative agents of canine infectious respiratory disease (CIRD), including Mycoplasma cynos, Mycoplasma canis, Bordetella bronchiseptica, canine adenovirus type 2 (CAdV-2), canine herpesvirus 1 (CHV-1), canine parainfluenza virus (CPIV), canine distemper virus (CDV), canine influenza virus (CIA) and canine respiratory coronavirus (CRCoV). Since these organisms cause similar clinical symptoms, disease diagnosis based on symptoms alone can be difficult.

Molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 and differentiation of Omicron and Delta variant strains.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is the causative agent of COVID-19 and has undergone continuous mutations throughout the pandemic. The more transmissible Omicron variant has quickly spread and is replacing the Delta variant as the most prevalent strain globally, including in the United States. A new molecular assay that can detect and differentiate both the Delta and Omicron variants was developed.

Development of a real-time PCR assay for detection and differentiation of Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae and a novel respiratory-associated Mycoplasma species in domestic sheep and goats.

A novel respiratory-associated Mycoplasma species (M. sp. nov.

Molecular detection of SARS-CoV-2 strains and differentiation of Delta variant strains.

The Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2 has now become the predominant strain in the global COVID-19 pandemic. Strain coverage of some detection assays developed during the early pandemic stages has declined due to periodic mutations in the viral genome. We have developed a real-time RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) for SARS-CoV-2 detection that provides nearly 100% strain coverage, and differentiation of highly transmissible Delta variant strains.

High contiguity de novo genome assembly and DNA modification analyses for the fungus fly, Sciara coprophila, using single-molecule sequencing.

Background: The lower Dipteran fungus fly, Sciara coprophila, has many unique biological features that challenge the rule of genome DNA constancy. For example, Sciara undergoes paternal chromosome elimination and maternal X chromosome nondisjunction during spermatogenesis, paternal X elimination during embryogenesis, intrachromosomal DNA amplification of DNA puff loci during larval development, and germline-limited chromosome elimination from all somatic cells. Paternal chromosome elimination in Sciara was the first observation of imprinting, though the mechanism remains a mystery.

Whole-genome classification of rotavirus C and genetic diversity of porcine strains in the USA.

Rotavirus C (RVC) is associated with acute diarrhoea in both children and young animals. Because of its frequent occurrence, additional sequences have recently been generated. In this study, we sequenced 21 complete genomes from porcine diarrhoea samples and analysed them together with all available reference sequences collected from the GenBank database [National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI)].

Development of a bead-based assay for detection and differentiation of field strains and four vaccine strains of type 2 porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV-2) in the USA.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) remains one of the most economically devastating diseases in swine population in the United States of America. Due to high mutation rate of the PRRS virus (PRRSV) genome, it is difficult to develop an accurate diagnostic assay with high strain coverage. Differentiation of field strains from the four vaccines that have been used in the USA, namely Ingelvac PRRS MLV, Ingelvac ATP, Fostera PRRS and Prime Pac PRRS, adds an additional challenge.

Development of a nested PCR assay for detection of Streptococcus equi subspecies equi in clinical equine specimens and comparison with a qPCR assay.

Streptococcus equi subsp. equi is a Gram positive bacterial pathogen commonly associated with strangles in horses, a respiratory disease characterized by abscessation of submandibular and retropharyngeal lymph nodes which can lead to obstruction of the airway. Several real-time PCR (qPCR) assays have been developed for detection of S.

Single-Cell-Based Digital PCR Detection and Association of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Serogroups and Major Virulence Genes.

serogroups O157, O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145, when carrying major virulence genes, the Shiga toxin genes and and the intimin gene , are important foodborne pathogens. They are referred to as the "top 7" Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) serogroups and were declared by the USDA as adulterants to human health. Since top 7 serogroup-positive cattle feces and ground beef can also contain nonadulterant strains, regular PCR cannot confirm whether the virulence genes are carried by adulterant or nonadulterant serogroups.

Genetic diversity and prevalence of porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) and type 2 (PCV2) in the Midwest of the USA during 2016-2018.

In recent years, reports indicated that PCV3 may be involved in porcine dermatitis and nephropathy syndrome (PDNS)-like disease similar to that linked to PCV2. A total of 2,125 porcine samples from 910 cases were collected during 2016-2018 and tested for presence of PCV3 and PCV2 by real-time PCR assays. Results showed high prevalence of PCV3 and PCV2: 28.

Metagenomic Next-Generation Sequencing Reveal Presence of a Novel Ungulate in Alpacas.

Viruses belonging to the genus ) are a genetically diverse group of DNA viruses known to cause respiratory, enteric, and neurological diseases in animals, including humans. An intestinal sample from an alpaca () herd with reoccurring diarrhea and respiratory disease was submitted for next-generation sequencing, revealing the presence of a BoV strain. The alpaca BoV strain (AlBoV) had a 58.

Development of a multiplex real-time RT-PCR assay for simultaneous detection and differentiation of influenza A, B, C, and D viruses.

Influenza is a common and contagious respiratory disease caused by influenza A, B, C, and D viruses (IAV, IBV, ICV, and IDV). A multiplex real-time RT-PCR assay was developed for simultaneous detection of IAV, IBV, ICV, and IDV. The assay was designed to target unique sequences in the matrix gene of IBV and ICV, the RNA polymerase subunit PB1 of IDV, and combined with USDA and CDC IAV assays, both target the matrix gene.

T.

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a non-steroidal estrogen mycotoxin produced by several and species. Accumulating evidence has indicated that ZEA strongly stimulates cell proliferation. However the detailed molecular and cellular mechanisms of ZEA-mediated induction of cell proliferation have not yet been completely explained.

A multiplex real-time PCR assay for the detection and differentiation of five bovine pinkeye pathogens.

Infectious bovine keratoconjunctivitis (IBK), also known as pinkeye, is one of the most common eye diseases in cattle. Several pathogens have been associated with IBK cases, however, Moraxella bovis, Moraxella bovoculi, Mycoplasma bovis, Mycoplasma bovoculi and bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1) are most frequently observed. A multiplex real-time PCR assay using two reactions was developed for the detection and differentiation of these five pathogens.

Effects of zearalenone and its derivatives on the synthesis and secretion of mammalian sex steroid hormones: A review.

Zearalenone (ZEA), a non-steroidal estrogen mycotoxin produced by several species of Fusarium fungi, can be metabolized into many other derivatives by microorganisms, plants, animals and humans. It can affect mammalian reproductive capability by impacting the synthesis and secretion of sex hormones, including testosterone, estradiol and progesterone. This review summarizes the mechanisms in which ZEA and its derivatives disturb the synthesis and secretion of sex steroid hormones.

Complete Genome Sequence of an Influenza C Virus Strain Identified from a Sick Calf in the United States.

Influenza C virus (ICV) has been identified for the first time from bovine respiratory disease complex (BRDC) samples in the United States. Here, we report the complete genome sequence of the strain C/bovine/Montana/12/2016, identified from a nasal swab sample collected from a sick calf with clinical signs of respiratory disease in Montana.

Influenza C Virus in Cattle with Respiratory Disease, United States, 2016-2018.

We identified influenza C virus (ICV) in samples from US cattle with bovine respiratory disease through real-time PCR testing and sequencing. Bovine ICV isolates had high nucleotide identities (≈98%) with each other and were closely related to human ICV strains (≈95%). Further research is needed to determine bovine ICV's zoonotic potential.

Gender Bias in Human Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Problem of Steroid Receptor Action?

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease resulting from abnormal interactions between T and B cells. The acquisition of SLE is linked to genetic susceptibility, and diverse environmental agents can trigger disease onset in genetically susceptible individuals. However, the strongest risk factor for developing SLE is being female (9:1 female to male ratio).

Comparison of gene expression profiles in the aquatic midge (Chironomus tentans) larvae exposed to two major agricultural pesticides.

We developed a high-resolution expression microarray based on 2456 unique transcripts from a cDNA library of the aquatic midge (Chironomus tentans). By using the microarray, we detected that 146, 434 and 243 genes were differentially expressed after C. tentans larvae were exposed to chlorpyrifos (organophosphate insecticide) at 0.

Genotyping Brucella canis isolates using a highly discriminatory multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) assay.

Differentiation of Brucella canis from other Brucella species are mainly performed through PCR-based methods and multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat (VNTR) analysis (MLVA) procedures. Both PCR-based and MLVA methods are limited in discriminating B. canis strains.

Comparisons of Transcriptional Profiles of Gut Genes between Cry1Ab-Resistant and Susceptible Strains of Ostrinia nubilalis Revealed Genes Possibly Related to the Adaptation of Resistant Larvae to Transgenic Cry1Ab Corn.

A microarray developed on the basis of 2895 unique transcripts from larval gut was used to compare gut gene expression profiles between a laboratory-selected Cry1Ab-resistant (R) strain and its isoline susceptible (S) strain of the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis) after the larvae were fed the leaves of transgenic corn (MON810) expressing Cry1Ab or its non-transgenic isoline for 6 h. We revealed 398 gut genes differentially expressed (i.e.