Bovine Sources Research Articles

Differences in physicochemical properties and proteomics analysis of spray- and freeze-dried milk powders from bovine, goat, and horse sources

Differences in physicochemical properties and proteomics analysis of spray- and freeze-dried milk powders from bovine, goat, and horse sources

Pepgen-P15 delivery to bone: A novel 3D printed scaffold for enhanced bone regeneration

Pepgen-P15 is a combination of an organic hydroxyapatite matrix derived from bovine sources, combined with a synthetic peptide known as P-15. The interaction between α2β1 integrin and the P15 chain triggers both intracellular and extracellular signaling pathways, resulting in the production of growth factors. Three-dimensional (3D) printing has recently emerged as an innovative strategy for developing personalized therapies in bone tissue regeneration. In this research, various ratios of calcium magnesium silicate (bredigite) nanoparticles were used to modify 3D printed scaffolds made of xanthan gum and polycaprolactone (PCL) via fused deposition modeling (FDM). Scaffolds were subsequently treated with an alkaline solution, covered with graphene oxide, and finally, Pepgen-P15 was applied. the effects of xanthan gum were assessed using swellability and contact angle tests. The results indicated that, the prepared scaffolds exhibited suitable degradation rates, mechanical characteristics, and apatite formation. Alizarin red and alkaline phosphatase assays were also conducted to evaluate the scaffolds’ effectiveness in promoting bone cell differentiation during cell culture. Furthermore, the surface of the scaffold was examined to determine the amount of Pepgen-P15 loaded and released. According to the findings, the scaffold composed of 20 % bredigite and 0.3 % graphene oxide, coated with Pepgen-P15, demonstrate optimal mechanical properties, cell adherence, development, and proliferation. Typically, it is a good candidate for use in bone tissue engineering.

A novel K57-specific Klebsiella pneumoniae phage disinfects milk and inhibits biofilm formation

Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), especially serotype K57, is a major pathogen in dairy bovine mastitis, causing significant economic losses and posing a public health risk through contaminated dairy products. In addition, K57 is highly virulent among serotypes infecting humans, leading to serious conditions such as pyogenic liver abscess. In this study, we isolated and identified a bacteriophage called vB_Kp_Z57 that targets K57 serotype K. pneumoniae isolates from human and bovine sources. The phage has a latent period of 4 min and can produce approximately 233 phages per infected bacterial cell. vB_Kp_Z57 is stable over a temperature range of 4 °C to 60 °C and a pH range of 5–11. Sequencing and assembly of the phage genome revealed DNA molecules consisting of 40,316 base pairs. After genome annotation with bioinformatics software, it was discovered that the phage genome encodes 48 proteins, with no detected lysogeny genes, toxin genes, or tRNA-related genes. vB_Kp_Z57 was classified as a member of genus Przondovirus, family Autographiviridae. The results of bacteriostatic experiments show that vB_Kp_Z57 has a good effect on inhibiting bacterial growth. Notably, vB_Kp_Z57 significantly inhibited the growth of its host bacteria in milk at refrigerated temperatures of 4 °C and room temperature. Biofilm inhibition experiments revealed that phage vB_Kp_Z57 significantly reduced OD595 values in all phage-treated groups, indicating its potential as an effective biocontrol agent against K. pneumoniae. Our findings show the promise of vB_Kp_Z57 as a novel and environmentally friendly solution to address the challenges associated with K. pneumoniae in dairy production.

Comparative biophysical study of clinical surfactants using constrained drop surfactometry.

Surfactant replacement therapy is crucial in managing neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Currently licensed clinical surfactants in the United States and Europe, including Survanta, Infasurf, Curosurf, and Alveofact, are all derived from bovine or porcine sources. We conducted a comprehensive examination of the biophysical properties of these four clinical surfactant preparations under physiologically relevant conditions, using constrained drop surfactometry (CDS). The assessed biophysical properties included the adsorption rate, quasi-static and dynamic surface activity, resistance to surfactant inhibition by meconium, and the morphology of the adsorbed surfactant films. This comparative study unveiled distinct in vitro biophysical properties of these clinical surfactants and revealed correlations between their chemical composition, lateral film structure, and biophysical functionality. Notably, at 1 mg/mL, Survanta exhibited a significantly lower adsorption rate compared with the other preparations at the same surfactant concentration. At 10 mg/mL, Infasurf, Curosurf, and Survanta all demonstrated excellent dynamic surface activity, whereas Alveofact exhibited the poorest quasi-static and dynamic surface activity. The suboptimal surface activity of Alveofact is found to be correlated with its unique monolayer-predominant morphology, in contrast to other surfactants forming multilayers. Curosurf, in particular, showcased superior resistance to biophysical inhibition by meconium compared with other preparations. Understanding the diverse biophysical behaviors of clinical surfactants provides crucial insights for precision and personalized design in treating RDS and other respiratory conditions. The findings from this study contribute valuable perspectives for the development of more efficacious and fully synthetic surfactant preparations.NEW & NOTEWORTHY A thorough investigation into the biophysical properties of four animal-derived clinical surfactant preparations was conducted through constrained drop surfactometry under physiologically relevant conditions. This comparative study unveiled unique in vitro biophysical characteristics among these clinical surfactants, establishing correlations between their chemical composition, lateral film structure, and biophysical functionality. The acquired knowledge offers essential insights for the precise and personalized design of clinical surfactant for the treatment of respiratory distress syndrome and other respiratory conditions.

The Role of Milk Oligosaccharides in Enhancing Intestinal Microbiota, Intestinal Integrity, and Immune Function in Pigs: A Comparative Review.

The objective of this review was to identify the characteristics and functional roles of milk coproducts from human, bovine, and porcine sources and their impacts on the intestinal microbiota and intestinal immunity of suckling and nursery pigs. Modern pig production weans piglets at 3 to 4 weeks of age, which is earlier than pigs would naturally be weaned outside of artificial rearing. As a result, the immature intestines of suckling and nursery pigs face many challenges associated with intestinal dysbiosis, which can be caused by weaning stress or the colonization of the intestines by enteric pathogens. Milk oligosaccharides are found in sow milk and function as a prebiotic in the intestines of pigs as they cannot be degraded by mammalian enzymes and are thus utilized by intestinal microbial populations. The consumption of milk oligosaccharides during suckling and through the nursery phase can provide benefits to young pigs by encouraging the proliferation of beneficial microbial populations, preventing pathogen adhesion to enterocytes, and through directly modulating immune responses. Therefore, this review aims to summarize the specific functional components of milk oligosaccharides from human, bovine, and porcine sources, and identify potential strategies to utilize milk oligosaccharides to benefit young pigs through the suckling and nursery periods.

A review on the processing technique, physicochemical, and bioactive properties of marine collagen.

Collagens are conventionally derived from bovine and porcine sources. However, these sources were commonly associated with infectious diseases such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy, foot and mouth disease, autoimmune and allergic reactions, and religious constraints. The significant amount of collagen available in marine species, especially fish skins, scales, fins, and bones, shows that marine species can be a potential alternative source to mammalian collagen. Therefore, this review aims to give a clearer outlook on the processing techniques of marine collagen and its physicochemical and bioactive properties as a potential alternative to mammalian collagen. The two most suitable extraction methods for marine collagen are pepsin-soluble extraction and ultrasound-assisted extraction. Additionally, marine collagen's physicochemical and bioactive properties, such as antioxidants, wound healing, tissue engineering, and cosmetic biomaterial have been thoroughly discussed in this review. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Collagen extracted from marine sources showed its potential in physicochemical and bioactive properties, including antioxidants and wound-healing capabilities, as an alternative to mammalian collagen. The significant amount of collagen found in marine species, particularly in fish skins, scales, bones, and sea cucumbers, suggests that marine sources could be a viable alternative to land mammal collagen due to their abundance and accessibility. The ultrasound-assisted extraction technique has improved the extracted marine collagen's physicochemical and bioactivity properties and quality properties.

Comparative analysis of red skin Tilapia and bovine gelatins as halal alternatives in food industry

Gelatin plays a vital role in the food industry, serving as a thickening agent, emulsifier, wetting agent, and stabiliser. However, conventional sources like mammalian gelatin pose health and societal issues, while poultry gelatin can present risks related to avian flu. Our work was motivated by recent studies focusing on alternative gelatin sources, which prompted further investigation. Our study aimed to extract gelatin from red-skin Tilapia and bovine sources. Both types of gelatin underwent pre-treatment using 0.2 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and 0.05 M acetic acid (CH3COOH) at 27ºC, followed by water extraction at 60°C for 3 hours. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis confirmed that the extracted gelatins exhibited peaks similar to commercial gelatin. The extracted fish gelatin (EFG) demonstrated superior gel strength compared to commercial fish gelatin (CFG), whereas commercial bovine gelatin (CBG) exhibited superior gel strength than extracted bovine gelatin (EBG). The protein content of EFG and EBG was comparable, but the fat content was significantly higher in EFG. The foaming capacity was also evaluated, with EFG showing greater capacity than EBG. Our work demonstrates excellent potential of alternative gelatin for usage in various applications and creates new opportunities for the food sector, particularly for halal food production.

Comprehensive profiling and authentication of porcine, bovine, and goat bone gelatins through UHPLC-HRMS metabolomics and chemometric strategies

Gelatin is a derivative that can be obtained from the bones of animals such as bovine, goat, and porcine. Ensuring the halal status of gelatin is crucial due to the combination of gelatin derived from bovines and goats mixed with porcine gelatin in order to enhance the stability of its physico-chemical properties for application in food and cosmetic applications. This study aims to authenticate the halal status of gelatin by utilizing the metabolomics analysis approach using UHPLC-HRMS in combination with chemometrics. The study's findings showed that PCA analysis clearly distinguished the metabolite profiles of bone gelatins obtained from porcine, bovine, and goat sources. Cluster analysis identified distinct metabolic characteristics in bone gelatins derived from bovine, goat, and porcine. Fifteen potential metabolites were identified by PLS-DA for the halal authentication of gelatin. These metabolites include terephthalic acid, 5,5'-[(6Z)-6-Tetradecene-1,14-diyl]bis (1,3-benzenediol), 1,2-Cyclohexane dicarboxylic acid diisononyl ester, 5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furaldehyde, D-(+)-Pyroglutamic acid, 4-Hydroxybenzaldehyde, Dodecyl sulfate, Bis(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate, Nicotinamide, dl-Malic acid, NP-011548, 4-Nitrocatechol, 1-Linoleoyl glycerol, Olomoucine, and Myristyl sulfate. The study findings indicated that bone gelatins derived from bovine, goat, and porcine sources exhibit distinct profiles of metabolites. Metabolomics, when paired with chemometrics, is a discriminative approach for determining the halal status of gelatin.

Comparative Study of Unfractionated Heparins and Low Molecular Weight Heparin on Skin Wound Repair

Aims: Heparin (HP) has aroused interest in the treatment of skin wounds. The HP extraction sources and the chemical diversity of its structural chain result in different clinical responses. In this study, a comparison was made among the effects of unfractionated heparin from bovine (bovHP) and swine (swi.HP) sources and low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) on skin lesions treatment. Study Design: Wounds were induced on the back of Swiss mice using a punch. Then, the wounds were treated with heparins for 3 and 7 days. Place and Duration of Study: Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Animal Breeding Network and Rodents of the Federal University of Uberlândia, between April 2018 and February 2020. Methodology: Wound closure was performed with a digital caliper. The inflammatory infiltrate was assessed by the activity of neutrophils and macrophages. Angiogenesis was measured by quantifying blood vessels and measuring hemoglobin. While fibrogenesis was assessed by picrosirius red staining. Results: None of the heparins had a healing effect. Swi.HP showed delay in wound closure and intensification of the inflammatory process compared to bov.HP. Swine and bovine heparins showed pro-angiogenic activity, although this did not differ between them. Difference between the groups of heparins was observed in relation to the deposition and organization of collagen fibers, with a reduction in fibrogenesis in wounds of the LMWH group compared to the other heparins, especially bov.HP. A better fibrogenic activity was observed for bov.HP. Conclusion: Thus, we conclude that the source of the heparin used should be considered, as its pharmacological response for wound treatment is quite diverse. Although none of the heparins was able to accelerate wound closure, bov.HP had an anti-inflammatory and pro- fibrogenic effect compared to the other heparins and therefore showed the best response in this experimental model.

Immersion Behavior Study of Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds Derived from Bovine Sources In Acidic, Basic, and Neutral Solutions

This research investigates the effects of particle size and compaction pressure on the dissolution behavior of hydroxyapatite scaffolds synthesized from bovine bone in acidic neutral and basic solutions. Hydroxyapatite was extracted through a process involving cutting, cleaning, boiling, soaking in NaOH, sun drying, grinding into powder and calcination at 800°C. The powder was then sieved into two size fractions (75 and 150 microns) and compacted at pressures of 200, 250, and 300 MPa. The mass and dimensions of the scaffolds were measured to calculate porosity, followed by immersion in the respective solutions for 24 hours to determine dissolution rates. Results indicated that smaller particle sizes and higher compaction pressures resulted in reduced porosity and enhanced structural integrity. The dissolution rates varied significantly with pH levels, exhibiting the highest rates in acidic conditions up to 215.83 mg/cm2 and the lowest in basic solutions up to 11.32 mg/cm2. Additionally, scaffolds with smaller particles and higher compaction pressures demonstrated lower dissolution rates across all pH levels due to lower porosity. In conclusion, both particle size and compaction pressure are critical factors influencing the dissolution behavior of hydroxyapatite scaffolds. These findings have significant implications for the design and optimization of hydroxyapatite-based materials for biomedical applications, where controlled dissolution rates are crucial for performance and longevity.

Escherichia coli Isolated from Bovine Sources Encoding the Fosfomycin Resistance Gene fosA7.5.

Dairy animals are reservoirs of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli that are frequently resistant to tetracycline, aminoglycoside, β-lactam, sulfonamide, and macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B antibiotics. However, resistance to other classes of antimicrobials is less frequently observed, and resistance to fosfomycin is rarely observed in E. coli. In this study, we describe the genomic characteristics of E. coli encoding fosA7.5 that have been recovered from bovine sources in the United States. Most isolates only encoded the fosA7.5 gene, whereas 37% encoded at least one other resistance gene, and 25% were genotypically multidrug-resistant. Most (112 isolates, 93%) belonged to phylogenetic group B1 and were assigned to 19 sequence types (STs), the most frequently identified being ST1727, ST2307, and ST3234. Results of this study indicate that fosA-encoding E. coli from bovine sources is very rare in the United States with isolates demonstrating a high level of similarity across a broad geographic region.

Histologic wound healing in studies using different ridge preservation protocols: A review.

Alveolar ridge preservation (ARP) procedures are designed to lessen dimensional changes in the alveolar ridge after tooth extraction. Wound healing after ridge preservation involves the formation of new vital bone in the former socket, and this vital bone is important in the osseointegration of dental implants. A series of ARP studies have been performed to help clinicians better understand the wound-healing events that occur following tooth extraction and ridge preservation. Different protocols have been examined using various materials and periods of healing time prior to implant placement. The primary aim of these studies was to ascertain the relative percentage of vital bone formation, residual graft material, and connective tissue (CT)/other at the healing site using histomorphometric examination of bone core biopsies obtained during osteotomy preparation. For allografts, the use of demineralized bone alone or in combination with mineralized is associated with more vital bone formation than the use of mineralized allograft alone. For mineralized allografts, the use of cortical versus cancellous bone has only minimal impact on new bone formation. Xenografts from bovine and porcine sources appear to have similar vital bone formation. Longer healing times prior to implant placement are associated with increased vital bone formation and decreased residual graft material. The most stable component in most studies is the percentage of CT/other. The percentage of vital bone and residual graft at ARP sites is dependent on the materials used and the length of healing time prior to obtaining core biopsies. What factors may affect the amount of new bone at the ARP site? At a time point about 4 months after ARP, the type of graft material used for ARP plays a large role in new bone formation. Studies focus on means and standard deviations, but patients often do not "follow the mean." Even if a single ARP protocol is used for all patients, there is great interindividual variability in new bone formation, and there is often variability between sites within a single patient. How long after ARP with an allograft should I wait to place an implant? Longer healing times such as 4-5 months generally provide higher amounts of vital bone formation than shorter healing times like 2-3 months. Differences in vital bone formation between ARP protocols tend to decrease with longer healing time. FDBA that contains demineralized bone, either alone or combined with mineralized FDBA, often provides higher amounts of new bone formation than 100% mineralized allograft, especially at shorter healing periods. Even a year after ARP with an allograft, residual graft material is often still present at the ARP site.

A physicochemical evaluation of ossein-hydroxyapatite within the bovine bone matrix revealed demineralization and making type I collagen available as a result of processing and solubilization by acids.

Bovine bone is an animal-origin matrix rich in type I collagen (COL I) and it necessitates prior demineralization and makes COL I available. This study investigated the ossein-hydroxyapatite physicochemical properties evaluation as a result of processing and solubilization by acids and revealed the bone matrix demineralization and making COL I available. The tibia residue from bovine sources was processed, ground, and transformed into bone matrix powder. The bone matrix was solubilized in acetic acid followed by lactic acid. The bone matrix was evaluated as a result of processing and solubilization by acids: ossein and hydroxyapatite percentages by nitrogen and ash content, mineral content, particle size distribution, Fourier-transformation infrared spectroscopy, x-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscope. For the obtained residual extracts, pH and mineral content were evaluated. The solubilization by acids affected the ossein-hydroxyapatite physicochemical properties, and the bone matrix solubilized by acetic and lactic acid showed the preservation of the ossein alongside the loss of hydroxyapatite. The processing and the solubilization by acids were revealed to be a alternative to bone matrix demineralization and enabling the accessibility of bone COL I. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Bovine bone is an abundant type I collagen source, but processing maneuvers and demineralization effect present limitations due to the rigidity of the structural components. Exploring methodologies to process and demineralize will allow type I collagen to be obtained from the bone source, and direct and amplify the potentialities in the chemical and food industries. The research focused on bone sources and collagen availability holds paramount significance, and promotes repurposing agribusiness residues and development of protein-base products.

Stabilization of myoglobin from different species (produced by cellular agriculture) using food-grade natural and synthetic antioxidants

Cellular agriculture products, like myoglobin, are increasingly used by the food industry to provide desirable sensory properties to plant-based meat substitutes. This study elucidated the physicochemical properties and redox stability of myoglobin from both natural (equine) and cellular agriculture (bovine, sperm whale, and leopard) sources. The electrical characteristics and water-solubility of the different myoglobin samples were measured from pH 2.5 to 8.5. The isoelectric point of the myoglobin samples depended on the species, being pH 5.5 for equine, pH 4.5 for leopard and bovine, and pH 6.5 for sperm whale. All myoglobin samples had a solubility greater than 80% across the entire pH range studied. All myoglobin solutions appeared red and had two peaks in their UV–visible absorbance spectra after one day, which is consistent with oxymyoglobin formation. Equine myoglobin at pH 8 was selected to study its redox and color stability over time, where the oxymyoglobin oxidative status closely paralleled with the redness of the solutions. The effects of antioxidants (ascorbic acid, caffeic acid, catechin, gallic acid, quercetin, taxifolin, Trolox, and 4-methylcatechol) on the redox and color stability (redness) of the equine myoglobin (pH 8.0) was also studied. Antioxidants with low reduction potential values (ascorbic acid and quercetin) were particularly effective at enhancing the color stability of oxymyoglobin. The computational modeling study showed that amino acids on the myoglobin interacted with antioxidants through hydrogen bonds. The insights obtained may have important implications for the use of cellular agriculture to produce myoglobin for food applications.

Virulome analysis of Escherichia coli ST117 from bovine sources identifies similarities and differences with strains isolated from other food animals.

Escherichia coli ST117 is a pandemic extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) causing significant morbidity globally. Poultry are a known reservoir of this pathogen, but the characteristics of ST117 strains from other animal sources have not been adequately investigated. Here we characterize the genomes of 36 ST117 strains recovered primarily from preweaned dairy calves, but also from older postweaned calves and lactating cows, in the context of other bovine-associated strains and strains from poultry, swine, and humans. Results of this study demonstrate that bovine-associated ST117 genomes encode virulence factors (VFs) known to be involved in extraintestinal infections, but also occasionally encode the Shiga toxin, a virulence factor (VF) involved in severe gastrointestinal infections and more frequently identified in E. coli from ruminants than other animals. Bovine-associated ST117 genomes were also more likely to encode afa-VIII (adhesins), pap (P-fimbriae), cdt (cytolethal distending toxin), and stx (Shiga toxins) than were poultry and swine-associated genomes. All of the ST117 genomes were grouped into seven virulence clusters, with bovine-associated genomes grouping into Clusters 1, 2, 4, 5, but not 3, 6, or 7. Major differences in the presence of virulence factors between clusters were observed as well. Antimicrobial resistance genes were detected in 112 of 122 (91%) bovine-associated genomes, with 103 of these being multidrug-resistant (MDR). Inclusion of genomes that differed from ST117 by one multi-locus sequence type (MLST) allele identified 31 STs, four of these among the bovine-associated genomes. These non-ST117 genomes clustered with the ST117 genomes suggesting that they may cause similar disease as ST117. Results of this study identify cattle as a reservoir of ST117 strains, some of which are highly similar to those isolated from other food animals and some of which have unique bovine-specific characteristics.

Genes associated with fitness and disease severity in the pan-genome of mastitis-associated Escherichia coli.

Bovine mastitis caused by Escherichia coli compromises animal health and inflicts substantial product losses in dairy farming. It may manifest as subclinical through severe acute disease and can be transient or persistent in nature. Little is known about bacterial factors that impact clinical outcomes or allow some strains to outcompete others in the mammary gland (MG) environment. Mastitis-associated E. coli (MAEC) may have distinctive characteristics which may contribute to the varied nature of the disease. Given their high levels of intraspecies genetic variability, virulence factors of commonly used MAEC model strains may not be relevant to all members of this group. In this study, we sequenced the genomes of 96 MAEC strains isolated from cattle with clinical mastitis (CM). We utilized clinical severity data to perform genome-wide association studies to identify accessory genes associated with strains isolated from mild or severe CM, or with high or low competitive fitness during in vivo competition assays. Genes associated with mastitis pathogens or commensal strains isolated from bovine sources were also identified. A type-2 secretion system (T2SS) and a chitinase (ChiA) exported by this system were strongly associated with pathogenic isolates compared with commensal strains. Deletion of chiA from MAEC isolates decreased their adherence to cultured bovine mammary epithelial cells. The increased fitness associated with strains possessing this gene may be due to better attachment in the MG. Overall, these results provide a much richer understanding of MAEC and suggest bacterial processes that may underlie the clinical diversity associated with mastitis and their adaptation to this unique environment.

Synergistic effects of fibrin-enriched adipose decellularized extracellular matrix (AdECM) and microfluidic model on vascularization.

Vasculature is essential for maintaining the cellular function and balance of organs and tumors. As a key component of the tumor microenvironment (TME), it significantly influences tumor characteristics. Angiogenesis, heavily influenced by the extracellular matrix (ECM), which acts as a structural scaffold and growth factor reservoir, is regulated by various factors. Notably, adipose tissues and adipose-derived stromal cells contribute angiogenic and anti-apoptotic factors that promote angiogenesis. Sustained vasculature is essential for tissue engineering and ex vivo disease modeling. Lack of shear stress from fluid flow leads to vascular instability and regression. Microfluidic models replicate three-dimensional (3D) cultures from original tissues, encapsulate microenvironmental factors, and maintain consistent fluid flow. In our study, we established decellularized adipose ECM (AdECM) derived from bovine sources and engineered a 3D-printed microfluidic device. We observed significant increases in both the length and diameter of vascular networks after coculturing HUVECs and HDFs in a fibrin gel containing 0.5% AdECM. Additionally, gene expression related to ECM remodeling and angiogenesis was significantly enhanced in vasculature cultivated in fibrin gel containing 0.5% AdECM compared to that in fibrin gel alone. The enhanced vasculogenesis was further amplified and sustained by the 3D microfluidic device placed on a rocker during extended cultivation, primarily through the activation of the PI3K and JAK-mediated pathways. Our ex vivo model with vascularized colon tumoroids revealed that integrating AdECM within a microfluidic device correlates with increased tumoroid growth. Therefore, our study underscores the synergistic impact of AdECM and microfluidic device in promoting and sustaining vasculature. This synergy may have significant implications for tissue regeneration and ex vivo disease modeling, facilitating drug testing and efficacy evaluation.

Comparison of the healing process of xenografts with three different sources in critical-size bone defects: An in vivo study.

Xenograft bone substitutes can be obtained from different animals and processed using various methods. The present in vivo study evaluated bone regeneration after using three types of xenografts with different sources in critical-sized bone defects in rabbit calvaria. Four 8-mm defects were created in calvaria of 14 New Zealand and white male rabbits. Three out of four defects were filled with xenografts of bovine, camel, and ostrich sources. The fourth defect was left unfilled as the control group. Seven rabbits were sacrificed after eight weeks and seven others after 12 weeks. Micro-CT imaging and histologic evaluation were further performed on dissected calvarias. After 8 and 12 weeks, the highest and lowest percentages of new bone formation were observed in the camel (27.71% and 41.92%) and control (11.33% and 15.96%) groups, respectively. In the case of residual material, the ostrich group had the most value after eight weeks (53%), while after 12 weeks, it was highest in the camel group (37%). Micro-CT findings were consistent with histologic results. Although all three xenografts can be good choices for treating bone defects, camel-sourced xenograft seemed to be better than the other two groups. The origin and processing procedures of xenografts affected their final characteristics, which should be considered for clinical use.

Peptidomics comparison of endogenous peptides derived from parent proteins in bovine colostrum and mature milk

Endogenous peptides and proteins are important nutrients in milk and important participants in various biological processes. In the present study, we compared endogenous peptides and parent proteins in bovine milk from different lactation stages using the 4D label-free technique. Endogenous peptides were identified by database search or de novo analysis. Through database searches, we matched 10186 endogenous peptides in bovine milk, which were derived from 1147 parent proteins. By de novo analysis, we identified a total of 1991 endogenous peptides. Among these peptides, 4852 differentially expressed endogenous peptides (DEEPs) between bovine colostrum (BC) and mature milk (BM) were found with various bioactivities, including ACE-inhibitory, immunomodulatory and anticancer activities. Gene Ontology (GO) annotation showed that the differentially expressed parent proteins between BC and BM were mainly in the structural molecule activity category within the molecular function subgroup. The primary Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway was related to ribosomes. These results reveal the changes in the functions and activities of endogenous peptides and parent proteins in bovine milk during lactation and provide novel insight into developing infant formula powder based on bovine sources.

The genomic and epidemiological virulence patterns of Salmonella enterica serovars in the United States.

The serovars of Salmonella enterica display dramatic differences in pathogenesis and host preferences. We developed a process (patent pending) for grouping Salmonella isolates and serovars by their public health risk. We collated a curated set of 12,337 S. enterica isolate genomes from human, beef, and bovine sources in the US. After annotating a virulence gene catalog for each isolate, we used unsupervised random forest methods to estimate the proximity (similarity) between isolates based upon the genomic presentation of putative virulence traits We then grouped isolates (virulence clusters) using hierarchical clustering (Ward's method), used non-parametric bootstrapping to assess cluster stability, and externally validated the clusters against epidemiological virulence measures from FoodNet, the National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS), and US federal sampling of beef products. We identified five stable virulence clusters of S. enterica serovars. Cluster 1 (higher virulence) serovars yielded an annual incidence rate of domestically acquired sporadic cases roughly one and a half times higher than the other four clusters combined (Clusters 2-5, lower virulence). Compared to other clusters, cluster 1 also had a higher proportion of infections leading to hospitalization and was implicated in more foodborne and beef-associated outbreaks, despite being isolated at a similar frequency from beef products as other clusters. We also identified subpopulations within 11 serovars. Remarkably, we found S. Infantis and S. Typhimurium subpopulations that significantly differed in genome length and clinical case presentation. Further, we found that the presence of the pESI plasmid accounted for the genome length differences between the S. Infantis subpopulations. Our results show that S. enterica strains associated with highest incidence of human infections share a common virulence repertoire. This work could be updated regularly and used in combination with foodborne surveillance information to prioritize serovars of public health concern.