Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station

Understanding the Genes that Regulate Agricultural Animal Health Can Lead to Better Human Health

Researchers have long used animal models to study how the human body reacts at the genetic level to disease, stress, nutritional deficiencies and other ailments. Traditionally, the animals were small -- mice, rats and other rodents -- because they were easier to handle and shelter. But thanks to work by MAES animal scientists, biomedical researchers now are realizing that larger agricultural animals such as dairy cows or pigs may be better models to decode the secrets of human gene function and health.

In recognition of the potential for agricultural animals, fish and wild animals to serve as biomedical models, the journal Physiological Genomics published a special issue in December 2006 on animal functional genomics featuring 12 papers that were presented at the Second International Symposium on Animal Functional Genomics (ISAFG), hosted and organized by Michigan State University.

Functional genomics research identifies the expression and function of thousands of genes and the proteins they encode that underlie the key traits, physiology or development of an organism.

"High priority human health research areas, such as disease susceptibility and pathogenesis, fertility, behavior, obesity and muscle development could be enhanced by using agricultural species as biomedical models," said Jeanne Burton, MAES animal science researcher and member of the MSU Center for Animal Functional Genomics. "As we study ways to improve animal health, we also can improve human health. Publication of agricultural animal and aquaculture functional genomics research in top-notch journals such as Physiological Genomics is important because it means biomedical researchers are seeing how valuable this work is."

The Second ISAFG, organized by Burton and Guilherme Rosa, former MSU assistant professor of animal science who is now at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, featured leading functional genomics scientists from around the world. Topics included the study of large gene sets that underlie immune system responses to parasites and environmental and physiological stressors, fertility, growth and metabolism.

"We were able to bring the top thought leaders in this discipline together at the symposium, and the program was excellent," Burton said. "The caliber of the symposium led to the special issue of Physiological Genomics, which is a unique way to share this information with the public."

The special issue is available online.

The symposium was supported by the MSU Center for Animal Functional Genomics and a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Research Initiative Genomics Program, as well as by donations from corporate sponsors Applied Biosystems, Beckman Coulter, Fisher Scientific, Genomic Solutions, Invitrogen, Molecular Devices, Operon, Tecan and ArrayIt.

MSU's leadership in animal functional genomics also extends to training future leading scientists. The university recently received a USDA National Needs Fellowship grant to support four graduate doctoral fellowships in animal functional genomics. Paul Coussens, MAES animal science researcher and director of the MSU Center for Animal Functional Genomics, is the principal investigator for the grant. Karen Plaut, chairperson of the MSU Department of Animal Science, Burton, and 13 other MSU animal science and veterinary medicine faculty members are co-investigators.

"Dr. Burton's efforts to organize an international meeting on functional genomics and her work with Physiological Genomics to publish an entire issue focusing on the meeting demonstrate her dedication to educating scientists across the nation and the world," Plaut said. "These efforts put the MSU Department of Animal Science in a leadership role and helped secure the National Needs Graduate Fellowship awards."

The U.S. Department of Agriculture National Needs program is funding two fellowships, and the MSU Department of Animal Science and the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station are funding the other two.

"Functional genomics is making domestic species more attractive as biomedical models, and the Center for Animal Functional Genomics at MSU is very proud to be a part of this effort," Coussens said. "The USDA grant to fund graduate students in the critical areas of bioinformatics and functional genomics will ensure that there is a new generation of scientists familiar with the use of these post-genome sequence tools to enhance both biomedical and agricultural sciences."

For more information about the MSU Center for Animal Functional Genomics, visit the center’s Web site.

Scientists Developing Hand-held Pathogen Testing Device

Testing for deadly food, air and water pathogens may get a lot easier and cheaper, thanks to the work of a team of Michigan State University researchers.

Syed Hashsham, associate professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Center for Microbial Ecology, is developing a portable, hand-held device capable of detecting up to 50 microbial threat agents in air, water and food.

“This device will give us the ability to measure pathogens in a manner and at a price that really matters for human health,” Hashsham said. “If we can screen for all pathogens together, we can minimize the threat significantly.”

Hashsham intends for the portable, hand-held device to be an all-in-one pathogen testing center where DNA amplification and pathogen identification will happen on the same DNA biochip. A DNA biochip has signature pieces of DNA attached to a silica surface, similar to that of a computer chip, and is about the size of a thumbnail.

Today, testing air, water or food for pathogens that cause diseases such as cholera and dysentery must be done one pathogen at a time. Testing for each pathogen singly is dangerous, expensive and time-consuming. Simultaneous testing simplifies the process, making it safer and more cost-effective.

Earlier this year, Hashsham was awarded $966,608 from the 21st Century Jobs Fund to develop and commercialize the device.

Hashsham; James Tiedje, MAES crop and soil sciences researcher and director of the Center for Microbial Ecology; and Erdogan Gulari, professor of chemical engineering at the University of Michigan, formed a cross-disciplinary team to develop this technology.

To begin the testing, processing extracts DNA from all microorganisms present in the sample. The DNA is then introduced into the device, where it undergoes polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the selected harmful pathogens. PCR is a process that takes a small amount of DNA and makes billions of copies so the pathogens can be easily detected, Hashsham explained.

Most of the genetic material in any bacterium isn’t harmful. For instance, the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, responsible for the waterborne illness cholera, has many genes that maintain the organism but are not dangerous to humans by themselves. It's the gene producing the cholera toxin that is harmful. The harmless genes serve as good markers for detection. Hashsham’s device will be designed to look for such marker genes.

“This technology is rugged and highly parallel; it can analyze lots of marker genes in a lot of samples, together with significantly lower false positives,” Hashsham said.

He said the hand-held testing device could be used anywhere that cost-effective testing of food, water or air for a number of pathogens is needed.

“Because of the lower cost, there also will be applications in countries where fewer resources are available for drinking water safety,” Hashsham said.

Looking toward the future, Hashsham has been in touch with several organizations that might be interested in the device. AquaBioChip, LLC, a Lansing-based company formed by the same team through a previous grant from the Michigan Economic Development Corp., will test the device under field conditions.

He has a team of six graduate students and technicians working on this device. “They are the heart of the project as well as the scientists being trained for the future,” Hashsham said. "That number of employees is likely to increase when the device gets to the commercialization stage."

Being Proactive on Environmental Issues Helps Keeps Farmers Economically Sound, Says MAES Scientist

Being proactive on environmental issues will help farmers secure their position as a viable part of Michigan’s economy, said Wendy Powers, MAES scientist and MSU environmental stewardship director for animal agriculture.

Powers will kick off Agriculture’s Conference on the Environment (ACE) January 30 at the Lansing Center.

“I think producers will walk away from this conference with a better vision of the future,” she said. “It will keep them informed on key issues that help solidify agriculture as a top priority in Michigan.”

The one-day conference will feature nationally recognized experts in more than a dozen sessions covering environmental trends, laws and regulations, management practices, marketing, and partnerships and incentives.

Powers, who defines her role as networking with environmental groups and policy-makers to have a positive impact on livestock production in Michigan, said this conference is a must-attend for any farmer who wants to stay on top of environmental issues.

“There’s a lot of excitement about ACE, and there will be a lot of good information for a broad audience,” she said, adding that lawmakers and the general public will find the conference useful, too."

ACE is sponsored by MSU Extension and 14 other agricultural organizations in cooperation with the Michigan Department of Agriculture. For more information, visit www.maeap.org or call 517-241-2232. Registration fees are $50 before January 22 and $75 after that date. Students may attend the conference for $20.

MAES Researchers' Paper in Journal of Natural Products Among Most Cited

In 1999, several MAES scientists collaborated on a paper in the Journal of Natural Products examining the health benefits of certain compounds in tart cherries. Today, that paper is in the top 10 of the journal's most cited papers.

"Antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of anthocyanins and their aglycon, cyanidin, from tart cherries" by Haibo Wang, former horticulture doctoral student; Muralee Nair, MAES horticulture researcher; Gale Strasburg, chairperson of Food Science and Human Nutrition; Yu-Chen Chang, former horticultural doctoral student; Al Booren, MAES food science and human nutrition and animal science researcher; Ian Gray, vice president for research and graduate studies and former MAES director; and David DeWitt, associate professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, has been cited 121 times, ranking it eighth all time in Journal of Natural Products papers.

"The Journal of Natural Products is a premier publication put out by the American Chemical Society," Nair said. "Our publication was on the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of anthocyanins, which make cherries, berries and other fruits and vegetables red. We were the first to demonstrate the beneficial health benefits of anthocyanins based on their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. This ranking is a great recognition of the impact of our research on improving health and quality of life using natural compounds."

MSU Animal Science Department Draws Hundreds for Centennial Celebration

Hundreds of friends and alumni of the MSU Department of Animal Science took part in the department’s 100th anniversary celebration Nov. 10-11.

“The centennial events were a great reflection of the role that animal science has played in shaping Michigan State and the land-grant mission,” said Karen Plaut, chairperson of the department.

An open house started the celebration, with dozens of visitors taking tours of a special centennial museum display and the department’s modernized laboratories, dairy processing plant and meats laboratory with faculty members.

An afternoon speaker series at the MSU Pavilion for Agriculture and Livestock Education featured Dale Bauman, Liberty Hyde Bailey professor of animal science at Cornell University; Harlan Ritchie, MSU professor emeritus; and Donna Banks, senior vice president of the global supply chain for the Kellogg Company.

Plaut presented her vision for the future, concentrating on three key themes -- health, environment and welfare -- and sharing her goal to position MSU as the world leader in animal science. To achieve these goals, Plaut said, MSU must serve as a model for the health of animals, products and people, lead by example in responsible environmental stewardship, and both research and demonstrate best practices in animal welfare.

A banquet on Friday night allowed undergraduate and graduate students to display their research or club information during the reception. Keynote speaker Dan Wyant, MSU alumnus and former director of the Michigan Department of Agriculture, emphasized how MSU embraces its land-grant mission.

“The dinner really reflected what we are all about,” Plaut said. “Our partners work together in Michigan and across the nation to play a critical role in improving economic development and quality of life. The event brought us all together to celebrate that cooperation.”

Enhance Farmers' Market Sales Strategies at MSU Product Center Workshop

A daylong workshop for farmers who sell through farmers’ markets, market managers and vendors is set for Jan. 9 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at BJ’s Restaurant in Gaylord.

“Managing Risk Business and Market Planning” offers participants an overview of a farmers’ market, strategies for business planning, information about insurance programs and liability, pricing and record keeping, customer motivation, product differentiation and other aspects of retail sales.

“Whether you are considering setting up a stand at a farmers’ market for the first time or have been marketing to customers for years, this workshop will offer you helpful tips that can lead to increased sales,” said Barbara Fails, MSU Product Center assistant director.

The $25 registration fee includes materials and lunch. For more information, call 517-432-4608 or e-mail product@msu.edu. A brochure with registration form is available online.

“Managing Risk Business and Market Planning” is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Risk Management Agency, the MSU Product Center, MSU Extension and the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station.