884 results match your criteria: "Animal Research Centre[Affiliation]"

The olive oil industry generates large volumes of by-products, creating notable environmental and economic concerns. Among these, olive cake (OC)-a primary by-product of olive oil extraction-stands out due to its high content of bioactive compounds and potential for value-added recycling. This study focused on characterizing six OC samples from the Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro regions, collected at different processing times and mills.

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Analysis of Growth Models in Galician × Nelore Crossbred Cattle in the First Year of Life.

Animals (Basel)

December 2024

CISAS-Center for Research in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo, Rua da Escola Industrial e Comercial Nun'Alvares 34, 4900-347 Viana do Castelo, Portugal.

The veal niche market is gaining momentum in Brazil. Locally known as 'Vitelão', veal refers to the meat from calves slaughtered up to 12 months of age. In this study, we assessed the Galician Blond × Nelore cross as a candidate to produce veal.

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Mice are one of the most common biological models for laboratory use. However, wild-type mice are not susceptible to COVID-19 infection due to the low affinity of mouse ACE2, the entry protein for SARS-CoV-2. Although mice with human ACE2 (hACE2) driven by Ace2 promoter reflect its tissue specificity, these animals exhibit low ACE2 expression, potentially limiting their fidelity in mimicking COVID-19 manifestations and their utility in viral studies.

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Lithocholic acid binds TULP3 to activate sirtuins and AMPK to slow down ageing.

Nature

December 2024

State Key Laboratory for Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.

Lithocholic acid (LCA) is accumulated in mammals during calorie restriction and it can activate AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) to slow down ageing. However, the molecular details of how LCA activates AMPK and induces these biological effects are unclear. Here we show that LCA enhances the activity of sirtuins to deacetylate and subsequently inhibit vacuolar H-ATPase (v-ATPase), which leads to AMPK activation through the lysosomal glucose-sensing pathway.

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Lithocholic acid phenocopies anti-ageing effects of calorie restriction.

Nature

December 2024

State Key Laboratory for Cellular Stress Biology, School of Life Sciences, Xiamen University, Fujian, China.

Calorie restriction (CR) is a dietary intervention used to promote health and longevity. CR causes various metabolic changes in both the production and the circulation of metabolites; however, it remains unclear which altered metabolites account for the physiological benefits of CR. Here we use metabolomics to analyse metabolites that exhibit changes in abundance during CR and perform subsequent functional validation.

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Early developmental effects of propofol exposure in different stages of zebrafish embryos.

Toxicol Lett

December 2024

i3S - Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; Laboratory Animal Science, IBMC - Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.

The mechanism of action of propofol, a common intravenous anaesthetic, in early life stages is not well understood with contradictory studies showing neurotoxic and neurogenic effects in the developing brain. Zebrafish early life stages have been established as an alternative model for animal experimentation with propofol toxicological effects reported following chronic exposure. Yet, the acute exposure to other anaesthetics has been shown to induce early life stage-dependent toxicological outcomes.

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Oxidative stress-induced cytotoxicity of HCC2998 colon carcinoma cells by ZnO nanoparticles synthesized from Calophyllum teysmannii.

Sci Rep

December 2024

Department of Allied Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), Kampar Campus, Jalan Universiti, Bandar Barat, Kampar, Perak, 31900, Malaysia.

Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on the green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using water extracts from the stem bark of the Calophyllum teysmannii plant, marking its first documented use for this purpose.
  • Techniques like UV-Vis, XRD, FESEM, and FTIR were employed, revealing the nanoparticles' sizes (31.5 to 59.9 nm) and spherical shapes, while confirming the presence of phenolic compounds in the extract responsible for their synthesis.
  • The toxicity of ZnO NPs was assessed on human colon cancer cells and monkey kidney cells, showing that they induced cell death through oxidative stress in a dose-dependent manner.
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Cumulus cell DNA damage linked to fertilization success in females with an ovulatory dysfunction phenotype.

Front Cell Dev Biol

November 2024

Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Laboratory Genetics Service, Genetics and Pathology Clinic, Centro Hospitalar Universitário de Santo António, Unidade Local de Saúde de Santo António, Porto, Portugal.

Article Synopsis
  • Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) relies on the health of both oocytes and cumulus cells; this study investigates the role of DNA damage in these cumulus cells as it relates to fertilization success.
  • Using the alkaline comet assay, researchers compared DNA damage levels in cumulus cells and whole blood from potentially fertile and infertile females, finding significant differences.
  • Results indicate that higher DNA damage in cumulus cells correlates with lower fertilization success in females with ovulatory dysfunction, suggesting DNA damage could be a useful biomarker for predicting oocyte competence.
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spp. are a genus of Gram-negative, opportunistic bacteria frequently found in the flora of the mucosal membranes of healthy animals and humans, and in the environment. Species of this group can cause serious infections (meningitis, sepsis, bacteraemia, urinary tract infections, liver damage) and possible death in immunocompromised organisms (and even in immunocompetent ones in the case of hypervirulent ) that are exposed to them.

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The Utilization of a Pregnancy-Associated Glycoprotein Profile and PAG/P4 Ratio Biomarker for the Diagnosis of Pseudopregnancy in Dairy Goats.

Vet Sci

November 2024

Department of Veterinary Sciences, Veterinary and Animal Research Centre (CECAV), AL4AnimalS, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), 5000-801 Vila Real, Portugal.

Pseudopregnancy (PPG) is a common reproductive disorder in dairy goats, characterized by the accumulation of sterile fluid in the uterus and persistence of a corpus luteum, leading to temporary infertility and reduced farm efficiency. This study aimed to determine the pregnancy-associated glycoprotein (PAG) profile in dairy goats and to evaluate the PAG/P4 ratio as a potential novel biomarker for PPG diagnosis. A total of 605 Saanen and crossbreed mated goats were evaluated via transabdominal ultrasonography between 31 and 52 days after the removal of bucks in four intensive dairy farms, presenting an overall PPG incidence of 7.

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Article Synopsis
  • * A systematic review analyzed 30 studies on CoVs in bats across Europe, detailing the countries involved, genomic regions examined, and the specific bat species found to carry these viruses.
  • * The findings showed that CoVs were present in nine bat genera, primarily detected in fecal samples, and emphasized the need for ongoing monitoring of bat populations to prevent future zoonotic disease outbreaks.
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Background: Esophageal strictures following esophageal atresia repair are a source of significant morbidity. To test new therapeutic approaches, we designed a piglet model of esophageal stricture by resecting variable lengths of esophagus with subsequent re-anastomosis. This study describes the model and validates its physiologic impact by blinded analysis of the weight gains of the piglets.

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Article Synopsis
  • The importance of veterinary doctors specializing in Zoological Medicine is growing within the One Health framework, especially in Europe.
  • A survey of 169 veterinarians in Portugal and Spain revealed insights about their education, experience, and confidence in treating wildlife and non-traditional pets.
  • The study highlighted that many veterinarians feel unprepared for their roles due to inadequate training in zoological medicine, suggesting a need for improved educational resources in this field.
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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) surveillance in fecal isolates from wildlife is crucial for monitoring the spread of this microorganism in the environment and for developing effective AMR control strategies. Wildlife can act as carriers of AMR bacteria and spread them to other wildlife, domestic animals, and humans; thus, they have public health implications. A total of 128 isolates were obtained from 66 of 217 fecal samples obtained from different wild animals using media without antibiotic supplementation.

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Ethnobotanical Inventory of Plants Used by Mountainous Rural Communities in NW Portugal.

Plants (Basel)

October 2024

Technological Center for AgriFood Sustainability (NUTRIR), CISAS-Center for Research and Development in Agrifood Systems and Sustainability, Polytechnic Institute of Viana do Castelo, Monte de Prado, 4960-320 Melgaço, Portugal.

Mountains matter. Rural subsistence communities living in areas with high biodiversity, such as mountains, are hotspots of ecological knowledge. However, modern lifestyles may threaten this unique cultural heritage.

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Wine production is one of the most important agricultural activities. The winemaking process generates a considerable volume of different residues characterized as by-products, such as pomace, seeds, stems, and skins. By-products are rich in polyphenols with antioxidant and antibacterial properties and may act as bacteriostatic or bactericidal agents against food-borne pathogens, improving food safety by enhancing antibiotic efficacy and reducing bacterial resistance.

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Facilities involved in laboratory animal research often face ethical challenges such as: what should I do with the animals that are no longer suitable for experimental purposes? One of the common answers to this question is to kill them. And while numerous scientifically justifiable reasons exist for killing laboratory animals, we must not overlook our ethical responsibility towards these sentient beings. Animal facility managers and scientists frequently find themselves in a moral dilemma, torn between furthering their research and addressing the well-being of experimental animals required for their studies.

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Article Synopsis
  • * The study employed a SEIR model to analyze transmission dynamics and found that MSM with high sexual activity contributed significantly more to mpox spread than those with low sexual activity, but vaccinated individuals were less likely to spread the virus.
  • * Findings suggest that ongoing vaccination efforts, increased awareness in at-risk communities, and regular genomic surveillance are essential for managing future mpox outbreaks and potential threats from new viral clades.
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Anthelmintic resistance has been documented worldwide, but few cases have been reported in dogs. Shelter dogs are a great opportunity to study intestinal helminths and assess their potential resistance to anthelmintic compounds. With these two goals in mind, 361 faecal samples were collected from dogs in 18 municipalities in Portugal, from 19 shelters and 11 private tutors.

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Article Synopsis
  • Hoof trimming and shoeing influence the horse's hoof shape and balance, which are vital for preventing injuries.
  • A study of 73 horses found that certain hoof characteristics, like the dorsal hoof wall angle (DHWA) and coronet band circumference (CBC), are linked to lameness, especially in show jumping and dressage.
  • Regular monitoring of hoof shape and proper podiatric interventions could help prevent lameness by ensuring an aligned hoof-pastern axis, ideally around 50 degrees.
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Decoding Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Genomic insights into adaptation, antibiotic resistance, and the enigmatic role of T6SS in interbacterial dynamics.

Microb Pathog

November 2024

MicroART-Antibiotic Resistance Team, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5000-801, Vila Real, Portugal; Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry, University NOVA of Lisbon, 1099-085, Caparica, Portugal; CECAV - Veterinary and Animal Research Centre, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal; Veterinary and Animal Research Centre, Associate Laboratory for Animal and Veterinary Science (AL4AnimalS), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, Vila Real, Portugal. Electronic address:

Pseudomonas aeruginosa demonstrates a remarkable capacity for adaptation and survival in diverse environments. Furthermore, its clinical importance is underscored by its intrinsic and acquired resistance to a wide range of antimicrobial agents, posing a substantial challenge in healthcare settings. Amidst this complex landscape of resistance, the Type VI Secretion System (T6SS) in P.

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Advances in Methods and Technologies for Carcass and Meat Quality Evaluation.

Foods

September 2024

Mountain Reserach Center (CIMO), Polytechnic Institut of Bragança, Campus de Santa Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal.

The importance of advanced methods and technologies in the meat industry has increased significantly in the last decade, reflecting broader trends in consumer demand and food safety [...

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Enterotoxigenic (ETEC) is the major bacterial cause of diarrheal diseases in pigs, particularly at young ages, resulting in significant costs to swine farming. The pathogenicity of ETEC is largely dependent on the presence of fimbriae and the ability to produce toxins. Fimbriae are responsible for their initial adhesion to the intestinal epithelial cells, leading to the onset of infection.

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Article Synopsis
  • The Alentejano pig is a special type of pig from Portugal that can have skin problems called melanocytic lesions.
  • In a study, scientists examined 34 skin samples from these pigs and found that all of them were harmless (benign).
  • They noticed that older pigs were more likely to have certain types of these skin issues, but there were no harmful (malignant) lesions found, so more research is needed to tell the difference between harmless and harmful lesions for meat safety.
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