20-3 |
|
M. WORKU, Dept. of Animal Sciences, North Carolina A&T State Univ., Webb Hall, Greensboro, NC 27411-1064 The National Mastitis Council estimates that mastitis costs dairy producers in the US over $2 billion dollars annually. Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland caused by bacterial infection, trauma, or injury to the udder;remains the most common and most expensive disease affecting dairy cattle throughout the world. Infection of the udder by mastitis pathogens alters milk composition and reduces milk yield. Mastitis, milk quality, and dairy food safety are interrelated. One characteristic feature of mammary gland inflammation is an elevation in the number of somatic cells (SCC) in milk. The infection status, degree of inflammation, and influence on milk composition are evaluated by assessing SCC. The neutrophil is a key component of the SCC. Effective mastitis control strategies including prudent use of antibiotics and alternatives to antibiotic use are an active area of study. Advances in molecular biology and genome level studies are making available the tools, techniques, and products to study and modulate host-microbe interactions. Research in our laboratory is engaged at identifying and defining the regulation of neutrophil gene expression in response to bacterial endotoxin. Thus, studies have been conducted to elucidate the mechanism of expression for genes encoding surface receptors (Fc receptor), inflammatory mediators (COX-2), and factors affecting receptor signaling and apoptosis in bovine neutrophils in an effort to identify alternative avenues for therapy. Our research program focuses on the isolation, characterization, and modulation of key players in the phagocytic function of neutrophils in response to inflammation at the RNA, DNA, and protein level. Novel proteins and genes associated with cell signaling and apoptosis have been identified and their response to modulators of inflammation established. Molecular signatures in response to endotoxin exposure would provide for the development of long-term strategies to combat Mastitis and ensure the safety and quality of our food supply.
Session 20, Application and use of genomics in food microbiology
|