Cataldo Dario

Major proteins in goat milk: an updated overview on genetic variability

Milk and dairy products are very important in Mediterranean diet because of their health promoting and organoleptic properties. In many developing countries, goat rearing has a key role in livestock production. What makes goats so popular is their ability to provide high quality food under diverse climatic conditions and resilience to extreme and capricious environments. In the last years, the interest concerning caprine milk has been increasing also to find a new exploitation for local breeds. To promote the goat dairy products there is a clear need to know the quality and the technological aspects of milk produced. That being so, the purpose of this study was to review the available literature on the major goat milk proteins with a particular attention to recent findings on their genetic variability. Moreover, the main effects of different protein variants on milk yield and composition were also discussed.

A survey of chemical and nutritional characteristics of halophytes plants used by camels in Southern Tunisia

The camel (Camelus dromedarius) is well adapted to the utilization of vegetation of low nutritional value in its natural habitat zone, thanks to its aptitude to vary food and to search plants that are rich in water content and that can make up for its nutritional deficits, particularly as concerns mineral elements. Therefore, a survey was carried out to determine camels pasture quality, dietary preference and to characterize the chemical characteristics and nutritional value of different halophytes plants in a region of Southern Tunisia during spring season. Laboratory analysis were conducted on fourteen vegetable species appertained to seven different botanical families: Chenopodiaceae, Graminaceae, Tamaricaceae, Zygophyllaceae, Asteraceae, Frankeniaceae and Plumbaginaceae. Data obtained indicate an high variability of nutritional content of halophytes plants preferred by camels, specially for dry matter, crude protein, fiber fractions, ash and mineral elements.

Investigating the genetic polymorphism of sheep milk proteins: a useful tool for dairy production

Sheep is the second most important dairy species after cow worldwide, and especially in the Mediterranean and Middle East regions. In some countries, the difficult environmental conditions require a peculiar adaptation and, in these contexts, sheep are able to provide higher quality protein than cattle. In the least-developed countries, the amount of dairy sheep and ovine milk production is progressively increasing. In order to improve dairy productions, in particular those with local connotations, it is necessary to obtain in-depth information regarding milk quality and rheological properties. The genetic polymorphisms of milk proteins are often associated with quantitative and qualitative parameters in milk and are potential candidate markers that should be included in breeding strategies similar to those already available for cattle. Due to the current and growing interest in this topic and considering the large amount of new information, the aim of this study was to review the literature on sheep milk protein polymorphisms with a particular emphasis on recent findings in order to give scientists useful support. Moreover, the effects of different protein variants on milk yield and composition are discussed.

Immunomodulating effects of vitamin E in broilers

Modern commercial broilers appear to have compromised immunocompetence, higher mortality and lower resistance to stressors. To overcome these, dietary manipulation seems to be the easiest approach, and this has been supported by research investigations conducted over the last few decades. The goal of enhancing the immune system of broilers is laudable for both economic and welfare reasons. Vitamin E (VE) is now well accepted as natures most effective lipid-soluble, chain-breaking antioxidant. This antioxidant vitamin has been shown to improve both cell-mediated and humoral immunity in broiler chicks. However, the effect of this vitamin depends upon dose, age and genetics of the broiler chicks. Several mechanisms have been postulated for the beneficial effects of this vitamin. In this review, several aspects of the immunomodulatory effects of VE are reviewed.

XX/XY Chimerism in Cattle: Clinical and Cytogenetic Studies

The freemartin condition represents the most frequent form of intersexuality found in cattle, and occasionally in other species. Freemartinism arises when vascular connections occur between placentae of developing heterosexual twin foetuses, XX/XY chimerism develops, and ultimately there is masculinisation of the female tubular reproductive tract to varying degrees. The aim of this work was to report the clinical and cytogenetic studies performed in 28 cattle co-twins, 24 of which were cytogenetically chimeric (2n = 60, XX/XY), raised in the region of Campania (southern Italy). Clinical findings of the 16 freemartin females examined varied greatly, from a more female phenotype (normal body conformation with the presence of a blind-ending vagina and primordial ovarian and uterus structures) to a nearly male phenotype (body conformations with male traits and presence of primordial prepuce, penis and testicles). The 8 freemartin males, in spite of the presence of XX cells, had a normal body conformation and external genitalia and some of them were fertile. In addition to cytogenetic diagnosis we also verified chromosome fragility by testing for chromosome aberration (CA: aneuploidy, gaps, chromatid breaks, chromosome breaks and fragments) and sister chromatid exchange (SCE). Freemartins showed a higher percentage of aneuploid cells and significant statistical differences in mean values of gaps, chromatid breaks and chromosome breaks when compared with control animals. To our knowledge, this is the first time that chromosome instability has been evaluated by analyses of CA and SCE in freemartin cattle.

Chromosome instability in Mediterranean Italian buffaloes affected by limb malformation (transversal hemimelia).

For several years, a genetic disease called transversal hemimelia (TH), also known as congenital amputation, has been spreading in Mediterranean Italian buffalo. TH is characterized by the lack of limb distal structures, normally developing proximally to the malformed limb and being amputated at different points distally. A sample of 13 animals affected by TH was examined using the chromosome aberration (CA) test to better characterize chromosome instability already emerging in a preliminary study where we found a significantly higher difference (P < 0.001) in the mean rate of sister chromatid exchange/cell (8.80 +/- 3.19) performed in 10 malformed animals, when compared with the control (6.61 +/- 2.73). The percentage of aneuploid cells was higher in animals with TH (12.76) than in control animals (7.85). Mean gaps are greater in cells of animals with TH (6.62 +/- 2.38) than those found in the control (2.86 +/- 1.01) and similar results were obtained in chromatid breaks (0.13 +/- 0.31 and 0.07 +/- 0.06, respectively), chromosome breaks (0.11 +/- 0.27 and 0.06 +/- 0.13, respectively) and CAs excluding gaps (0.24 +/- 0.47 and 0.13 +/- 0.18, respectively). All these differences are statistically highly significant (P < 0.001).

Genetically Modified Feeds in Poultry Diet: Safety, Performance, and Product Quality

Concerns have been expressed regarding the safety of using biotechnology derived feeds in diets of livestock animals and in regard to human consumption of products from species fed transgenic crops. As a consequence, a large number of poultry nutrition studies have been conducted to evaluate the wholesomeness of transgenic crops by examining performances of animals during growth or egg laying. Studies also evaluated whether foreign DNA and proteins could be detected in meat, egg, and tissue samples from broiler chickens and laying hens fed diets containing transgenic feeds. In all studies, the conclusions were in agreement that the transgenic crops provided comparable performance, carcass and egg yields, and meat and egg composition, when compared with conventional grains. Moreover, it was demonstrated that transgenic proteins and DNA present in livestock feeds are not detectable in food products derived from these animals, using the most sensitive detection methods available, confirming that they are rapidly degraded by normal digestive processes. The lack of significant differences were a result of the similarity in nutrient composition of the genetically modified feeds and lack of differences in intake and digestibility, while there were no evidences that the differences reported for performance response variables and carcass measurements between treatment groups were attributable to the presence of the transgenic gene and protein in the biotechnology derived plants. Results demonstrated that genetically modified feeds are substantially equivalent and they result as safe as existing conventional feeds.

Exon 1 Polymorphisms in the Equine CSN3 Gene: SNPs Distribution Analysis in Murgese Horse Breed

The aim of this study was to assess genetic polymorphism at two loci in the exon 1 of the CSN3 gene in Murgese horse breed by PCR-RFLP analysis. The overall frequencies of alleles A and G at c.-66A > G locus were 0.80 and 0.20, respectively, and no GG animals were found in the population. At the c.-36C > A locus allelic frequencies were 0.74 and 0.26 for allele C and A, respectively, and no AA animals were detected. Population genetic indexes, namely gene heterozygosity, gene homozygosity, effective allele numbers, fixation index, and polymorphism information index were calculated. Combined genotypic frequencies and possible haplotypes frequencies were also reported. Only three out of nine possible genotypic combinations were found in the studied population. The most frequent genotype was AACC (0.49) while the frequency of AGCA was 0.40. Only five animals were genotyped as AACA (11%). Consequently, the most frequent haplotype in the population was AC (0.744), followed by GA (0.200) and AA (0.056).

Environmental and genetic factors affecting milk yield and quality in three Italian sheep breeds

The aims of the study described in the Research Communication were to determine the level of influence of some environmental factors on milk yield and quality traits, including lactose, and lactation length in ewes belonging to three different Italian breeds and to estimate the heritability for the same traits. A total of 2138 lactation records obtained from 535 ewes belonging to three different Italian breeds (Comisana, Leccese, and Sarda) were used. Breed significantly affected all of the considered traits. Moreover, year of lambing affected milk yield and lactation length without influence on milk quality traits. Parity affected significantly only the milk yield, whereas type of birth showed its effect on milk yield, fat, protein, and lactose yield. On the whole, the presently reported heritability estimates are within the range of those already obtained in other dairy breeds by other authors, with values for lactation length being very low in all the investigated populations. Considering the heritability estimates for lactose content and yield, to the best of our knowledge, there is a lack of information on these parameters in ovine species and this is the first report on heritability of lactose content and yield in dairy sheep breeds. Our results suggest that genetic variability for milk traits other than lactation length is adequate for selection indicating a good response to selection in these breeds.

ATP Sensitive Potassium Channels in the Skeletal Muscle Function: Involvement of the KCNJ11(Kir6.2) Gene in the Determination of Mechanical Warner Bratzer Shear Force

The ATP-sensitive K+-channels (KATP) are distributed in the tissues coupling metabolism with K+ ions efflux. KATP subunits are encoded by KCNJ8 (Kir6.1), KCNJ11 (Kir6.2), ABCC8 (SUR1), and ABCC9 (SUR2) genes, alternative RNA splicing give rise to SUR variants that confer distinct physiological properties on the channel. An high expression/activity of the sarco-KATP channel is observed in various rat fast-twitch muscles, characterized by elevated muscle strength, while a low expression/activity is observed in the slow-twitch muscles characterized by reduced strength and frailty. Down-regulation of the KATP subunits of fast-twitch fibers is found in conditions characterized by weakness and frailty. KCNJ11 gene knockout mice have reduced glycogen, lean phenotype, lower body fat, and weakness. KATP channel is also a sensor of muscle atrophy. The KCNJ11 gene is located on BTA15, close to a QTL for meat tenderness, it has also a role in glycogen storage, a key mechanism of the postmortem transformation of muscle into meat. The role of KCNJ11 gene in muscle function may underlie an effect of KCNJ11 genotypes on meat tenderness, as recently reported. The fiber phenotype and genotype are important in livestock production science. Quantitative traits including meat production and quality are influenced both by environment and genes. Molecular markers can play an important role in the genetic improvement of animals through breeding strategies. Many factors influence the muscle Warner-Bratzler shear force including breed, age, feeding, the biochemical, and functional parameters. The role of KCNJ11gene and related genes on muscle tenderness will be discussed in the present review.