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Topic Review
Dietary Protein into Chicken-Meat Protein
There is an urgent need to develop alternative dietary protein sources to partially replace soybean meal, which could range from meals based on black fly soldier larvae to enhanced canola meal in addition to reduced-CP diets. Moreover, a reduced demand for soybean meal by the chicken-meat industry would attenuate neo-tropical deforestation in South America. Synthetic and crystalline, or non-bound, amino acids were considered as alternatives to soybean meal, as reviewed by Selle et al.. These researchers contended that the chicken-meat industry’s dependence on soybean meal would be halved if CP reductions of 50 g/kg are realised without compromised broiler growth performance. This would involve judicious dietary inclusions of non-bound amino acids to meet requirements.
  • 914
  • 17 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Milk Fat Traits of Cattleyak
As the hybrid offspring of yak (♀) and cattle (Bos taurus) (♂), female cattleyak has obvious heterosis than yak, especially its lactation performance. Dairy products making from fermented and processed milk are popular with local herdsmen and tourists. As the main energy substance in milk, milk fat only accounts for 3 ~ 5% of the milk content, but determines the nutritional value of milk. Therefore, it is greatly meaningful to increase the percentage of milk fat and improve the composition of fatty acids of cattleyak. SNPs can help us finding potential molecular markers for milk fat traits of cattleyak, and can be screened according to molecular markers when they are young. It provides a reference for cultivating high milk fat cattle population in the future. The results of this study suggested that the SORBS1 gene polymorphism was closely related to the milk fat traits of cattleyak, which could be used as a candidate genetic marker for milk fat traits selection in cattleyak. This study provides a new molecular marker and theoretical basis for screening the milk fat traits of cattleyak. It has a certain reference value for the research and improvement of milk quality.
  • 914
  • 28 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Buffalo Fibronectin Type III Domain Proteins
FN-III proteins are widely distributed in mammals and are usually involved in cellular growth, differentiation, and adhesion. The FNDC5/irisin regulates energy metabolism and is present in different tissues (liver, brain, etc.). In large mammals, the regulation of energy homeostasis under metabolic shifts is the foremost challenge to keep normal physiological and molecular functioning. Fibronectin type III domain containing 5 (FNDC5) was initially designated as a critical factor that causes cellular differentiation of skeletal muscle. Principally, it was detected in peroxisomes. Irisin is a myokine involved in higher energy expenditure through stimulation of white adipose tissues.  Keeping in view the physiological roles of FN-III proteins (particularly FNDC-5), it is imperative to characterize these proteins at the genomic level to better understand their structure and putative functions in the buffalo.
  • 914
  • 16 Feb 2022
Topic Review
SEM Analysis of Prokaryotic and Eukaryotic Cells
The invention of a scanning electron microscopy (SEM) pushed the imaging methods and allowed for the observation of cell details with a high resolution. Currently, SEM appears as an extremely useful tool to analyse the morphology of biological samples. The aim of this entry is to provide a set of guidelines for using SEM to analyse morphology of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, taking as model cases Escherichia coli bacteria and B-35 rat neuroblastoma cells.
  • 912
  • 04 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Probiotics as a Friendly Antibiotic Alternative
The improvement of feed consumption and genetic selection have been the primary areas of poultry research. The control of a variety of microbial infectious diseases caused by Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas, Campylobacter, Salmonella, Yersinia, Bacillus, Clostridium, Mycobacterium, Enterococcus, Klebsiella and Proteus species has been less thoroughly investigated. The immune system of broilers is not fully developed during the first few weeks and therefore it is more susceptible to bacterial infection. Furthermore, it can take up to eight weeks for the gut microbiota to develop and stabilize. The longer the time necessary to reach bacterial homeostasis, the greater the risk of bacterial infection. Poultry are kept in closed facilities to minimize the risk of bacterial infection.
  • 912
  • 12 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Technologies to Assess COVID-19 Specific Antigens
In diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infection, the most widely used test is the molecular testing. Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the most well-known and extensively used molecular analysis. The test relies on nucleic acid amplification and detects unique sequences of SARS-CoV-2. The other type of test, the antigen tests, can detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 without amplifying viral components, but these tests are less sensitive than the molecular ones. Commonly, any negative antigen test is confirmed with a molecular test so that the patient can be declared negative for COVID-19. Both molecular and antigen tests would detect patients in the acute phase of infection.
  • 911
  • 21 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Unravelling Plant Cell Death in Host Plants
Pathogens within the oomycete genus Phytophthora are among some of the most destructive plant pathogens globally, causing disease and significant losses in important agricultural and forestry crops, damaging the environment, as well as impeding attempts to mitigate climate change. What is of increasing interest is the involvement of Phytophthora effectors in regulating programed cell death (PCD)—in particular, the hypersensitive response. 
  • 911
  • 14 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Biosafety of Genome Editing Applications
In the European Union plants developed by novel genomic techniques for directed mutagenesis are have to undergo an Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) prior to release or placing on the market. However, specific guidance for such an ERA is still lacking. In this review we discuss the limited suitability of general denominators of risk/safety to predict the risks associated with individual genome edited (GE) plants and argue that there is no safety by default for whole groups of GE applications encompassing different individual GE organisms. We suggest integrating the following two sets of considerations into the ERA to address particular characteristics of GE plants: considerations related to the traits developed by GE and considerations addressing the assessment of method-related unintended effects, e.g. due to off-target modifications. In conclusion, we recommend that further specific guidance for the ERA and monitoring should be developed to facilitate a focused assessment approach for GE plants. 
  • 910
  • 08 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Housing Management of Male Dromedaries
Housing systems that guarantee social interaction and physical activity are the most suitable housing management systems for captive male dromedaries during the rutting season.
  • 909
  • 13 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Pesticides Risks in Africa
On the African continent, ongoing agriculture intensification is accompanied by the increasing use of pesticides, associated with environmental and public health concerns. Agriculture production systems are at the same time under pressure due to climate change, the need to produce about double the amount of food by 2050, and to achieve some of the sustainable development goals (SDGs).
  • 909
  • 16 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Feline Zoonosis
A feline zoonosis is a viral, bacterial, fungal, protozoan, nematode or arthropod infection that can be transmitted to humans from the domesticated cat, Felis catus. Some of these diseases are reemerging and newly emerging infections or infestations caused by zoonotic pathogens transmitted by cats. In some instances, the cat can display symptoms of infection (these may differ from the symptoms in humans) and sometimes the cat remains asymptomatic. There can be serious illnesses and clinical manifestations in people who become infected. This is dependent on the immune status and age of the person. Those who live in close association with cats are more prone to these infections. But those that do not keep cats as pets are also able to acquire these infections because of the transmission can be from cat feces and the parasites that leave their bodies. People can acquire cat-associated infections through bites, scratches or other direct contact of the skin or mucous membranes with the cat. This includes 'kissing' or letting the animal lick the mouth or nose. Mucous membranes are easily infected when the pathogen is in the mouth of the cat. Pathogens can also infect people when there is contact with animal saliva, urine and other body fluids or secretions. When fecal material is unintentionally ingested, infection can occur. A feline zoonosis can be acquired by a person by inhalation of aerosols or droplets coughed up by the cat. In the United States, thirty-two percent of homes have at least one cat. Some contagious infections such as campylobacteriosis and salmonellosis cause visible symptoms of the disease in cats. Other infections, such as cat scratch disease and toxoplasmosis, have no visible symptoms and are carried by apparently healthy cats.
  • 907
  • 13 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Sloths
Sloths are some of the most fascinating and unique creatures in the animal kingdom. Known for their incredibly slow movements, these tree-dwelling mammals spend most of their lives hanging upside down in the rainforests of Central and South America. But there's so much more to them than just their leisurely pace.
  • 907
  • 29 Apr 2025
Topic Review
Pigeon Muscle Development
The growth and development of skeletal muscle determine the meat production performance of pigeons and are regulated by complex gene networks. To explore the genes involved in regulating the growth and development of pigeon skeletal muscle, RNA sequencing (RNA−seq) was used to characterise gene expression profiles during the development and growth of pigeon breast muscle and identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) among different stages.
  • 900
  • 12 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Canine and Feline Testicular Preservation
The increased interest in breeding dogs and cats and their use as models for other canids and felids demand research to improve reproductive techniques. Among them, testicular cryopreservation stands out. Testicular cryopreservation enables the maintenance of reproductive capacity and allows the establishment of germplasm banks for several species of commercial value or at risk of extinction. Furthermore, it enables the transport of genetic material among different regions. It is noteworthy that this biotechnology represents the only possibility of preserving the fertility of prepubertal animals that have died, so it has great importance in the propagation of the genetic material of animals. The spermatogonia present in the testes can be cultivated in vitro and the sperm obtained can be used in artificial reproduction programs. Although advances have been achieved with the use of testicular fragments to obtain viable and functional germ cells, the establishment of protocols that can be used in clinical routine have not been concluded yet. The testicular cryopreservation process can be carried out through techniques such as slow freezing, fast freezing and vitrification. However, the protocols used for the canine and feline species are still in the experimental phase. 
  • 900
  • 24 Jan 2022
Topic Review
Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor and COVID-19
There is an under-recognized role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in co-ordinating the entry and pathophysiology of the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) that underpins the COVID-19 pandemic. The rise in pro-inflammatory cytokines during the ‘cytokine storm’ induce indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), leading to an increase in kynurenine that activates the AhR, thereby heightening the initial pro-inflammatory cytokine phase and suppressing the endogenous anti-viral response. Such AhR-driven changes underpin the heightened severity and fatality associated with pre-existent high-risk medical conditions, such as type II diabetes, as well as to how racial discrimination stress contributes to the raised severity/fatality in people from the Black Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. The AhR is pivotal in modulating mitochondrial metabolism and co-ordinating specialized, pro-resolving mediators (SPMs), the melatonergic pathways, acetyl-coenzyme A, and the cyclooxygenase (COX) 2-prostaglandin (PG) E2 pathway that underpin ‘exhaustion’ in the endogenous anti-viral cells, paralleling similar metabolic suppression in cytolytic immune cells that is evident across all cancers. 
  • 899
  • 24 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Protein-Based Animal Species Authentication in Dairy Products
Milk is one of the most important nutritious foods, widely consumed worldwide, either in its natural form or via dairy products. Currently, several economic, health and ethical issues emphasize the need for a more frequent and rigorous quality control of dairy products and the importance of detecting adulterations in these products. For this reason, several conventional and advanced techniques have been proposed, aiming at detecting and quantifying eventual adulterations, preferentially in a rapid, cost-effective, easy to implement, sensitive and specific way. Protein-based techniques, including electrophoresis, chromatography and immunochemical assays, are considered current methodologies for assessing the authenticity of dairy products. They are generally considered fast, high throughput and cost-effective, being suitable approaches for the analysis of animal species in raw milk. However, when applied to processed foods, their reliability might be compromised due to protein denaturation and consequent epitope modification, disabling the immunorecognition of proteins. In recent years, the developments of mass spectrometry (MS) platforms for protein analysis, characterization and quantification have provided alternative approaches that rely on marker peptides instead of whole proteins, being suitable alternatives to analyze processed products. 
  • 897
  • 28 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Plant Growth-Promoting Microorganisms and Their Feasibility
The role of plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) has been extensively studied in soil-based systems. PGPMs, including plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), and rhizobia, increase the production of biomass in plants through synthesizing hormones, fixing nitrogen, and solubilizing phosphate and potassium.
  • 897
  • 17 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Global Navigation Satellite Systems in Precision Agriculture
Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) in precision agriculture (PA) represent a cornerstone for field mapping, machinery guidance, and variable rate technology.
  • 896
  • 26 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Olive Quick Decline Syndrome
Xylella fastidiosa subsp. pauca sequence type 53 was found to be associated with olive trees showing extensive twig and branch dieback and plant death in the Gallipoli area of Salento and the common name of “olive quick decline syndrome” (OQDS) was given to the disease. Repeated interceptions in Europe and Italy of ornamental coffee plants originated from Central America, jointly in phylogenetic analyses of many strains of the pathogen, indicated this origin as the most probable source of its introduction in Salento. Drought events could have been conducive to the initial outbreaks of the disease. Subsequently, the pathogen largely spread over the territory according to a “stratified dispersal” model. The high susceptibility of the local cultivars Ogliarola salentina and Cellina di Nardò, a low soil content of zinc, copper, and manganese, improper pruning, and adverse climatic events could have further contributed to the spread of the pathogen. The polyphagous insect Philaenus spumarius L. is the main vector of the bacterium in the area. The adults were detected X. f. subsp. pauca-positive in early May, and their incidence was higher during spring and early autumn when they efficiently spread the bacterium among the olive trees. Many other host plant species can host the bacterium, and some of them can act as a “reservoir” for the disease spread. The aggressive fungus Neofusicoccum mediterraneum Crous, M.J. Wingf. And A.J.L. Philips, could also be involved in OQDS. A sustainable control strategy for reducing the incidence and severity of X. f. subsp. pauca in the olive groves of Salento that allows the trees to produce is presented and discussed. Resilient trees of Ogliarola salentina and Cellina di Nardò have been observed in the heavily infected areas of Salento. 
  • 895
  • 04 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Groundwater Pollution by Nitrates
Groundwater pollution by nitrates from agricultural sources is a common environmental issue. Surpluses from nitrogen fertilization are leached and they reach groundwater.
  • 891
  • 10 Jun 2021
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