A5053816118- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Plant and fungal interactions
- Helminth infection and control
- Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology
- Antimicrobial Peptides and Activities
- Biochemical and Structural Characterization
- Probiotics and Fermented Foods
- Parasitic Infections and Diagnostics
- Gut microbiota and health
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Aquatic Invertebrate Ecology and Behavior
- Bee Products Chemical Analysis
- Botulinum Toxin and Related Neurological Disorders
- Plant and animal studies
- Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens research
- Parasites and Host Interactions
- Legume Nitrogen Fixing Symbiosis
- Genomics and Phylogenetic Studies
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Livestock Farming and Management
- Microbial infections and disease research
- Extracellular vesicles in disease
- Wheat and Barley Genetics and Pathology
- Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
Roslin Institute
2018-2024
University of Edinburgh
2018-2024
Aberystwyth University
2008-2022
Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences
2009-2022
Metataxonomic 16S rDNA based studies are a commonplace and useful tool in the research of microbiome, but they do not provide full investigative power metagenomics metatranscriptomics for revealing functional potential microbial communities. However, use metagenomic metatranscriptomic technologies is hindered by high costs skills barrier necessary to generate interpret data. To address this, Phylogenetic Investigation Communities Reconstruction Unobserved States (PICRUSt) was developed...
The turkey microbiome is largely understudied, despite its relationship with bird health and growth, the prevalence of human pathogens such as Campylobacter spp. In this study we investigated within small intestine (SI), caeca (C), large (LI), cloaca (CL) turkeys at 6, 10, 16 weeks age. Eight were dissected each age category contents SI, C, LI, CL harvested. 16S rDNA based QPCR was performed on all samples for four locations three birds/age group sequenced using ion torrent-based sequencing...
This study aimed to determine the microbial composition of faeces from two groups caecotrophagic animals; rabbits and guinea pigs. In addition community present in different organs rabbit. DNA was extracted seven wild (n = 5) faecal samples domesticated 6) pigs 6). Partial regions small ribosomal sub-unit were amplified by PCR then sequences each sample determined next generation sequencing. Differences detected between rabbit pig faeces, suggesting that there is not a common animals. also...
Background Robust protocols for the isolation of extracellular vesicles (EVs) from rest their excretory-secretory products are necessary downstream studies and application development. The most widely used purification method EVs helminth pathogens is currently differential centrifugation (DC). In contrast, size exclusion chromatography (SEC) has been included in pipeline other pathogens, highlighting there not an agreed research community 'gold standard' EV isolation. this case study,...
Here, for the first time, we investigate FMT as a novel strategy to modulate porcine intestinal microbiota in an attempt improve FE pigs. However, reprogramming maternal and/or offspring microbiome by using fecal transplants derived from highly feed-efficient pigs did not recapitulate efficient phenotype and, fact, had detrimental effects on lifetime growth. Although these findings may be wholly attributable transplantation, antibiotic and purgative were also part of regime sows, similar...
The Boran (Bos indicus), indigenous Zebu cattle breed from sub-Saharan Africa, is remarkably well adapted to harsh tropical environments. Due financial constraints and low-quality forage, African livestock are rarely fed at 100% maintenance energy requirements (MER) the effect of sub-optimal restricted feeding on rumen microbiome remains largely unexplored. We collected 24 fluid samples six optimal MER levels characterised their microbial composition by performing shotgun metagenomics de...
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are promising drug candidates to target multi-drug resistant bacteria. The rumen microbiome presents an underexplored resource for the discovery of novel microbial enzymes and metabolites, including AMPs. Using functional screening computational approaches, we identified 181 potentially AMPs from a bacterial metagenome. Here, show that three selected (Lynronne-1, Lynronne-2 Lynronne-3) were effective against numerous pathogens, methicillin-resistant...
The development of next generation sequencing has challenged the use other molecular fingerprinting methods used to study microbial diversity. We analysed bacterial diversity in rumen defaunated sheep following introduction different protozoal populations, using both (NGS: Ion Torrent PGM) and terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP). Although absolute number differed, there was a high correlation between NGS T-RFLP terms richness with R values 0.836 0.781 for...
As previous studies have demonstrated a link between the porcine intestinal microbiome and feed efficiency (FE), microbiota manipulation may offer means of improving FE in pigs. A fecal transplantation procedure (FMTp), using extracts from highly feed-efficient pigs, was performed pregnant sows (n = 11), with control group 11) receiving no FMTp. At weaning, offspring were allocated, within sow treatment, to (i) 67; dietary supplement) or (ii) inulin 65; 6-week supplementation) treatments....
Understanding the relationship between ingested plant material and attached microbiome is essential for developing methodologies to improve ruminant nutrient use efficiency. We have previously shown that perennial ryegrass (PRG) rumen bacterial colonization events follow a primary (up 4 h) secondary (after pattern based on differences in diversity of bacteria. In this study, we investigated temporal niche specialization populations microbiota using metagenomic shotgun sequencing as well...
Here we report two antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), HG2 and HG4 identified from a rumen microbiome metagenomic dataset, with activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, especially methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains, major hospital community-acquired pathogen. We employed the classifier model design to analyse, visualise, interpret AMP activities. This approach allowed in silico discrimination of promising lead candidates for experimental evaluation. The AMPs,...
Abstract Microbiomes are rife for biotechnological exploitation, particularly the rumen microbiome, due to their complexicity and diversity. In this study, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) from microbiome (Lynronne 1, 2, 3 P15s) were assessed therapeutic potential against seven clinical strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa . All AMPs exhibited activity all strains, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging 4–512 µg/mL. Time-kill kinetics at 3× MIC values PAO1 LES431 showed complete...
Abstract Background Honeybees use plant material to manufacture their own food. These insect pollinators visit flowers repeatedly collect nectar and pollen, which are shared with other hive bees produce honey beebread. While producing these products, beehives accumulate a considerable number of microbes, including bacteria that derive from plants different parts the honeybees’ body. Whether form similar communities amongst beehives, even if located in close proximity, is an ecologically...
SUMMARY Dikerogammarus villosus is an invasive amphipod that recently colonized the main rivers of Central and Western Europe. Two frequent microsporidian parasites were previously detected in this species, but their taxonomic status was unclear. Here we present ultrastructural molecular data indicating these two are fact a single species. This parasite shares numerous characteristics Nosema spp. It forms elongate spores (cucumiform), developing direct contact with host cell cytoplasm; all...
Fasciolosis is an important foodborne, zoonotic disease of livestock and humans, with global annual health economic losses estimated at several billion US$. Fasciola hepatica the major species in temperate regions, while F. gigantica dominates tropics. In absence commercially available vaccines to control fasciolosis, increasing reports resistance current chemotherapeutic strategies spread fasciolosis into new areas, functional genomics approaches are being used identify potential drug...
Uncontrolled host immunological reactions directed against tissue-trapped eggs precipitate a potentially lethal, pathological cascade responsible for schistosomiasis. Blocking schistosome egg production, therefore, presents strategy simultaneously reducing immunopathology as well limiting disease transmission in endemic or emerging areas. We recently demonstrated that the ribonucleoside analogue 5-azacytidine (5-AzaC) inhibited Schistosoma mansoni oviposition, maturation and ovarian...
The liver flukes Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica infect livestock worldwide threaten food security with climate change problematic control measures spreading disease. Fascioliasis is also a foodborne disease up to 17 million humans infected. In the absence of vaccines, treatment depends on triclabendazole (TCBZ), overuse has led widespread resistance, compromising future TCBZ control. Reductionist biology from many laboratories predicted new therapeutic targets. To this end,...
Next-generation sequencing of DNA from nematode eggs has been utilised to give the first account equine ‘nemabiome’. In all faecal samples investigated, multiple species Strongylidae were detected, ranging 7.5 (SEM 0.79) with 99+% identity sequences in NCBI database 13.3 0.80) 90+% identity. This range is typical number described previously morphological studies using large quantities digesta per animal. However, current method non-invasive; relies on analysis, avoiding need for specialist...
Understanding rumen plant-microbe interactions is central for development of novel methodologies allowing improvements in ruminant nutrient use efficiency. This study investigated bacterial colonisation fresh plant material and changes chemistry over a period 24 h using three different forages: Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass; PRG), Lotus corniculatus (bird's foot trefoil; BFT) Trifolium pratense (red clover; RC). We show 16S rDNA ion torrent sequencing that epiphytic populations present...
Parasite derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been proposed to play key roles in the establishment and maintenance of infection. Calicophoron daubneyi is a newly emerging parasite livestock with many aspects its underpinning biology yet be resolved. This research first in-depth investigation EVs released by adult C. daubneyi. were successfully isolated using both differential centrifugation size exclusion chromatography (SEC), morphologically characterized though transmission electron...
ABSTRACT. Microsporidia of the genus Pleistophora are important parasites fish and crustacea. mulleri has been described previously as a parasite gammarid amphipod crustacean Gammarus duebeni celticus in Irish freshwater habitats. Through survey European G. populations, P. was found to be widely distributed western British Isles (Wales, Scotland, Isle Man), populations subspecies well d. were infected. infections also detected sampled from Bay Gdansk on Poland's Baltic coast, indicating wide...
Abstract Background Equine grass sickness (EGS) is a multiple systems neuropathy of grazing horses unknown aetiology. An apparently identical disease occurs in cats, dogs, rabbits, hares, sheep, alpacas and llamas. Many the risk factors for EGS are consistent with it being pasture mycotoxicosis. To identify potential causal fungi, gastrointestinal mycobiota were evaluated using targeted amplicon sequencing, compared those two control groups. Samples collected post mortem from up to 5 sites...
The African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) is a wild bovid with historical distribution across much of sub-Saharan Africa. Genomic analysis can provide insights into the evolutionary history species, and key selective pressures shaping populations, including assessment population level differentiation, fragmentation, genetic structure. In this study we generated highest quality de novo genome assembly (2.65 Gb, scaffold N50 69.17 Mb) to date, sequenced further 195 genomes from species...