A5001450490- Genetic and phenotypic traits in livestock
- Neuropeptides and Animal Physiology
- Neurobiology and Insect Physiology Research
- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
- Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Stress Responses and Cortisol
- Plant and animal studies
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Advanced Proteomics Techniques and Applications
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Receptor Mechanisms and Signaling
- Machine Learning in Bioinformatics
- Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Mass Spectrometry Techniques and Applications
- Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Aquaculture Nutrition and Growth
- Animal Nutrition and Physiology
- Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Metabolomics and Mass Spectrometry Studies
- Gene expression and cancer classification
- Plant and fungal interactions
- Reproductive Physiology in Livestock
- Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
2015-2025
University of Illinois System
2008-2021
Urbana University
2015
Institute of Animal Sciences
2009
University of Wisconsin–Madison
2002
AgResearch
1991-1993
The genome of the zebra finch — a songbird and model for study vertebrate brain, behaviour evolution has been sequenced. Its comparison with chicken genome, only other bird available, shows that genes neural function implicated in cognitive processing song have rapidly evolving lineage. also vocal communication engages much brain transcriptome identifies potential integrator microRNA signals linked to communication. studying Comparison are Moreover, brain. is an important organism several...
For bees, many roads lead to social harmony Eusociality, where workers sacrifice their reproductive rights support the colony, has evolved repeatedly and represents most form of evolution in insects. Kapheim et al. looked across genomes 10 bee species with varying degrees sociality determine underlying genomic contributions. No one path led eusociality, but similarities were seen features such as increases gene regulation methylation. It also seems that selection pressures relaxed after...
A prominent theory states that animal phenotypes arise by evolutionary changes in gene regulation, but the extent to which this holds true for behavioral evolution is not known. Because “nature and nurture” are now understood involve hereditary environmental influences on expression, we studied whether a phenotype, i.e., aggression, could have evolved into inherited differences via expression. Here, with microarray analysis of honey bees, show aggression-related genes patterns brain...
NeuroPred is a web application designed to predict cleavage sites at basic amino acid locations in neuropeptide precursor sequences. The user can study one sequence or multiple sequences simultaneously, selecting from several prediction models and optional, user-defined functions. Logistic regression are trained on experimentally verified published data mollusks, mammals insects, motifs reported be associated with cleavage. Confidence interval limits of the probabilities indicate precision...
The honey bee genome predicts approximately 100 peptides from 36 prohormones, but the functions of many these are unknown. We used differential isotope labeling combined with mass spectrometric analysis to quantify 50% known brain in context foraging, 8 showing robust and dynamic regulation. Some showed differences abundance as a function experience; specifically, nectar pollen collection led quick changes abundance. These were related act food collection, not ingestion, because foragers...
Abstract Genome scan mapping experiments involve multiple tests of significance. Thus, controlling the error rate in such is important. Simple extension classical concepts results attempts to control genomewise (GWER), i.e., probability even a single false positive among all tests. This very stringent comparisonwise rates (CWER) and, consequently, low experimental power. We here present an approach based on proportion positives (PFP) test results. The CWER needed attain desired PFP level...
Glioblastoma is a complex multifactorial disorder that has swift and devastating consequences. Few genes have been consistently identified as prognostic biomarkers of glioblastoma survival. The goal this study was to identify general clinical-dependent biomarker biological processes three complementary events: lifetime, overall progression-free survival.A novel analytical strategy developed associations between the glioblastoma, depend on cohort groups, such race, gender, therapy. Gene...
Abstract A total of 2611 spring-born Romney ewe lambs, the progeny 60 sires over 3 years, were studied on a Hawke's Bay farm to estimate heritability faecal egg count (FEC), and correlations between FEC production traits. Weaning weight, an autumn weight gain these 2 times, yearling fleece recorded in each years. dag score was obtained final An anthelmintic drench administered 1987-born lambs mid January after which further treatment withheld until April. In subsequent first week December...
New experiences can trigger changes in gene expression the brain. To understand this phenomenon better, we studied zebra finches hearing playbacks of birdsong. Earlier research had shown that initial a novel song transiently increase ZENK (ZIF-268, EGR1, NGFIA, KROX-24) mRNA auditory forebrain, but response selectively habituates after repetition stimulus. Here, using DNA microarray analysis, show exposure induces rapid thousands RNAs, with even more RNAs decreasing than increasing....
Abstract Motivation: The production of neuropeptides from their precursor proteins is the result a complex series enzymatic processing steps. Often, annotation new neuropeptide genes sequence information outstrips biochemical assays and so bioinformatics tools can provide rapid on most likely peptides produced by gene. Predicting final bioactive requires accurate algorithms to determine which locations in protein are cleaved. Results: Predictive models were trained Apis mellifera Drosophila...
Normal aging alters expression of numerous genes within the brain. Some these transcription changes likely contribute to age-associated cognitive decline, reduced neural plasticity, and higher incidence neuropathology. Identifying factors that modulate brain is crucial for improving quality life. One promising intervention counteract negative effects aerobic exercise. Aged subjects exercise show enhanced performance increased hippocampal neurogenesis synaptic plasticity. Currently,...
Abstract Background General, breed- and diet-dependent associations between feed efficiency in beef cattle single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) or haplotypes were identified on a population of 1321 steers using 50 K SNP panel. Genomic with traditional two-step indicators – residual intake (RFI), average daily gain (RADG), (RIG) compared to two complementary one-step efficiency: (EI) (EG). Associations uncovered training data set evaluated independent validation set. A multi-SNP model was...
In mammals the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), master circadian clock, is sensitive to light input via optic chiasm and synchronizes many daily biological rhythms. Here we explore variations in expression levels of neuropeptides present SCN rats using a label-free quantification approach that based on integrating peak intensities between daytime, Zeitgeber time (ZT) 6, nighttime, ZT 18. From nine analyses comparing these two points, 10 endogenous peptides derived from eight prohormones...
Sow production indicators, including litter size, weight, and the length of time that sows remained in herd (sow longevity), were used to characterize sow performance profitability. longevity records from 148,568 32 commercial herds Central Illinois January 1995 May 2001 analyzed using survival repeatability models, respectively. The factors studied included genetics (32 genetic lines), with eight major lines present multiple herds, combination year entry herd. largest difference between was...
Abstract Resistance and resilience to naturally acquired gastro-intestinal (GI) nematode parasite infections (predominantly Haemonchus contortus) were studied in 1785 lambs born over six lambings (1991 1996) consisting of 212 Red Maasai, 311 Dorper 1262 crossbred (Red Maasai-Dorper) the sub-humid coastal region Kenya. These progeny 41 35 Maasai rams. Live weights (LWT), blood packed cell volume (PCV) faecal egg counts (FEC) recorded at 1- 2-monthly intervals from birth until about one year...
Honey bee workers care for (“nurse”) the brood around clock without circadian rhythmicity, but then they forage outside with strong rhythms and a consolidated nightly rest. This chronobiological plasticity is associated variation in expression of canonical “clock genes” that regulate clock: nurse bees show no brain expression, while foragers do. These results suggest system organized differently nurses foragers. Nurses switch to activity shortly after being removed from hive, suggesting at...
Mammalian circadian rhythm is maintained by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) via an intricate set of neuropeptides and other signaling molecules. In this work, peptidomic analyses from two times day were examined to characterize variation in SCN peptides using three different label-free quantitation approaches: spectral count, spectra index SIEVE. Of 448 identified peptides, 207 analyzed methods, count index. There 24 with significant (adjusted p-value < 0.01) differential peptide...
Depression symptoms following immune response to a challenge have been reported after the recovery from sickness. A RNA-Seq study of dysregulation microglia transcriptome in model inflammation-associated depressive behavior was undertaken. The mice at day 7 Bacille Calmette Guérin (BCG) compared that unchallenged Control and peripheral macrophages same mice. Among 562 3,851 genes differentially expressed between BCG-challenged respectively, 353 overlapped these cells types. most microglia,...
Records of mortality during the first year life 8,642 lambs from a composite population at U.S. Meat Animal Research Center were studied using survival and logistic analyses. The traditional approach analyzes binary response whether or not lamb survived until particular time point, thus disregarding information on actual age death. Survival analysis offers an alternative way to study mortality, wherein variable is precise death while accounting for possible record censoring. Lamb was across...
Neuropeptides are an important class of cell to signaling molecules that difficult predict from genetic information because their large number post-translational modifications. The transition prohormone sequence the determination biologically active neuropeptides requires identification cleaved basic sites, among many possible cleavage exist in prohormone. We report a binary logistic regression model trained on mammalian prohormones is more sensitive than existing methods predicting these...