Gene technology in animal husbandry, new research approaches exemplified by the milk protein gene of cattle

For investigation of bovine milk protein genes several methods of recombinant DNA techniques are presented. Possible applications of genome research in animal breeding are given including the characterization of structure and function for single genes, gene mapping as well as screening for gene variants in populations. Hence it follows that scientific and practical developments can be expected and will be an influence on future animal production.     

Fate of feed plant DNA monitored in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

The effect of the digestion process in the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) of animal models on the fate and integrity of plant DNA has been widely evaluated since DNA availability and integrity is a key factor for hypothetical horizontal gene transfer of recombinant DNA from GM crop-derived feeds to animal and human gut microflora. In this study, plant DNA sequences from high and low copy number genes were monitored in GIT and tissues of buffaloes and rabbits. Using a real-time PCR approach to track plant DNA in animal samples, we demonstrated the persistence of fragmented plant DNA blood and tissues of buffaloes and rabbits raised with conventional feeding.     

转基因在动物生产中的应用

人们一直期望畜产品和人类健康产品能快速得到提高,DNA重组技术和转基因的出现使得在不同物种间,甚至不同系统发育领域间的这一提高在很大范围内变为可能。如今,我们能在细菌中生产人类胰岛素,在牛奶中获得人类凝结因子。转基因、动物克隆和动物多产技术的进步在一定程度上已经实现了在动物转基因领域的期望。作者回顾了当前动物转基因乳、肉和转基因抗病动物的研究近况,并讨论了一些由转基因技术应用而引发的生物伦理学和商业性问题。     

Production of transgenic livestock: promise fulfilled

The introduction of specific genes into the genome of farm animals and its stable incorporation into the germ line has been a major technological advance in agriculture. Transgenic technology provides a method to rapidly introduce "new" genes into cattle, swine, sheep, and goats without crossbreeding. It is a more extreme methodology, but in essence, not really different from crossbreeding or genetic selection in its result. Methods to produce transgenic animals have been available for more than 20 yr, yet recently lines of transgenic livestock have been developed that have the potential to improve animal agriculture and benefit producers and/or consumers. There are a number of methods that can be used to produce transgenic animals. However, the primary method to date has been the microinjection of genes into the pronuclei of zygotes. This method is one of an array of rapidly developing transgenic methodologies. Another method that has enjoyed recent success is that of nuclear transfer or "cloning." The use of this technique to produce transgenic livestock will profoundly affect the use of transgenic technology in livestock production. Cell-based, nuclear transfer or cloning strategies have several distinct advantages for use in the production of transgenic livestock that cannot be attained using pronuclear injection of DNA. Practical applications of transgenesis in livestock production include enhanced prolificacy and reproductive performance, increased feed utilization and growth rate, improved carcass composition, improved milk production and/or composition, and increased disease resistance. One practical application of transgenics in swine production is to improve milk production and/or composition. To address the problem of low milk production, transgenic swine over-expressing the milk protein bovine alpha-lactalbumin were developed and characterized. The outcomes assessed were milk composition, milk yield, and piglet growth. Our results indicate that transgenic overexpression of milk proteins may provide a means to improve swine lactation performance.     

Cell Biology Symposium: Zinc finger nucleases to create custom-designed modifications in the swine (Sus scrofa) genome

Engineered zinc finger nucleases (ZFN) are rapidly gaining popularity as a means to enhance the rate and specificity of DNA modifications in plant and animal cells. Repair-mediated gene modification by ZFN is driven by introducing DNA double-strand breaks via a nonspecific nuclease domain linked to a sequence-specific zinc finger nucleotide recognition domain. This review examines the use of ZFN to produce genetically modified swine and the potential of this technology for the future. By combining conventional gene targeting methods with somatic cell nuclear transfer, several genetically modified pig models have been produced. These conventional techniques are inefficient in mammalian somatic cells and provide little control over the site specificity and rate of exogenous DNA integration. The use of engineered ZFN that bind and cleave genomic DNA at specific loci can enhance targeting efficiencies by orders of magnitude. Recent publication of the first genetic modification in pigs by combining ZFN technology with somatic cell nuclear transfer has opened the door to genome targeting with a precision that was not previously possible in a large animal model. Since that time, model pigs with selective knockout of endogenous genes have been produced. This review will examine the use of ZFN to generate these pig models and the potential of ZFN to accelerate the production of genetically modified pigs of agricultural and biomedical importance. Current methods of ZFN design, important considerations for their safe and effective use in modification of the swine genome, and future innovative applications of this technology in pigs will be discussed.     

Nanoscience in veterinary medicine

Nanotechnology, as an enabling technology, has the potential to revolutionize veterinary medicine. Examples of potential applications in animal agriculture and veterinary medicine include disease diagnosis and treatment delivery systems, new tools for molecular and cellular breeding, identity preservation of animal history from birth to a consumer's table, the security of animal food products, major impact on animal nutrition scenarios ranging from the diet to nutrient uptake and utilization, modification of animal waste as expelled from the animal, pathogen detection, and many more. Existing research has demonstrated the feasibility of introducing nanoshells and nanotubes into animals to seek and destroy targeted cells. Thus, building blocks do exist and are expected to be integrated into systems over the next couple of decades on a commercial basis. While it is reasonable to presume that nanobiotechnology industries and unique developments will revolutionize veterinary medicine in the future, there is a huge concern, among some persons and organizations, about food safety and health as well as social and ethical issues which can delay or derail technological advancements.     

Enhancing livestock through genetic engineering--recent advances and future prospects

Transgenic technology allows for the stable introduction of exogenous genetic information into livestock genomes. With its ability to enhance existing or introduce entirely novel characteristics at unprecedented magnitude and speed this emerging technology is expected to have a profound impact on the genetic improvement of livestock in the future. The continual advances in animal genomics towards the identification of genes that influence livestock production traits and impact on human health will increase its ability and versatility for the purposeful modification of livestock animals to enhance their welfare, produce superior quality food and biomedical products and reduce the environmental impact of farming. In contrast to biomedicine, which has so far been the main driver for this technology platform, the potential opportunities for animal agriculture are more challenging because of the greater demands on cost, efficiency, consumer acceptance and relative value of the product. While various transgenic concepts for the genetic improvement of livestock animals for agriculture are being evaluated the integration of this technology into practical farming systems remains some distance in the future.     

基因枪转化技术在动物转基因中应用的研究进展

基因枪转化技术无论在动物还是植物方面都产生了巨大的影响,因粒子介导的转基因方法简单、安全、高效,而越来越被人们所重视。研究结果表明,该转化技术不仅能够用于组织、细胞、器官,甚至可用于一些较难转染的靶目标,同时还可用于体内和体外信息的转换。目前手提式基因枪已广泛应用于皮肤、组织、各种细胞或内脏器官的转染,应用最广的领域是基因治疗,主要包括基因免疫和抑制肿瘤生长。近几年,基因枪技术发展迅速,应用范围越来越广,已经取得了丰硕的成果。作者主要叙述了基因枪转化的基本原理及近年来人们对基因枪转化技术条件的改进,同时就基因枪在动物转基因中的应用和一些主要的研究成果作了阐述,主要包括利用基因枪基因免疫、基因治疗、自杀基因治疗癌症、胚胎转基因、各种动物细胞和器官组织转基因等,并对基因枪技术在动物上应用的优势和不足进行了一些分析,最后展望了基因枪转化技术在动物中的应用前景。     

Resistance to various antibiotics of Salmonella and Escherichia coli isolated from registrable farm feeds

Resistance to 20 antibiotics of 128 Salmonella and 97 Escherichia coli isolates from various registrable farm feeds was determined. A high frequency of comparatively low levels of resistance was found in both the Salmonella and E. coli isolates. This, together with an elevated frequency of multiple resistance, indicates that problems related to an effective transfer in bacterial populations of resistance to certain antibiotics are a distinct possibility. The addition of antibiotics, such as penicillin and tetracyclines, to animal feeds can create conditions for rapid selection amongst bacteria resistant to antibiotics. The numbers of resistant bacteria in the animal environment may be increased and may lead to the development of veterinary and human health problems from the possible transfer of antimicrobial resistance from animal pathogens to human pathogens or spreading in the human population of animal pathogens resistant to antibiotics. There is a need for caution in the use of antibiotics, particularly in animal feeds. Extended survey of, and epidemiological research on, farm feeds, manufacturing mills and animal production units are emphasized.     

Ethics and Genetic Selection in Purebred Dogs

There is an ongoing revolution in medicine that is changing the way that veterinarians will be counselling clients regarding inherited disorders. Clinical applications will emerge rapidly in veterinary medicine as we obtain new information from canine and comparative genome projects ( Meyers‐Wallen 2001 : Relevance of the canine genome project to veterinary medical practice. International Veterinary Information Service, New York). The canine genome project is described by three events: mapping markers on canine chromosomes, mapping gene locations on canine chromosomes ( Breen et al. 2001 : Genome Res. 11, 1784–1795), and obtaining the nucleotide sequence of the entire canine genome. Information from such research has provided a few DNA tests for single gene mutations [ Aguirre 2000 : DNA testing for inherited canine diseases. In: Bonagura, J (ed), Current Veterinary Therapy XIII. Philadelphia WB Saunders Co, 909–913]. Eventually it will lead to testing of thousands of genes at a time and production of DNA profiles on individual animals. The DNA profile of each dog could be screened for all known genetic disease and will be useful in counselling breeders. As part of the pre‐breeding examination, DNA profiles of prospective parents could be compared, and the probability of offspring being affected with genetic disorders or inheriting desirable traits could be calculated. Once we can examine thousands of genes of individuals easily, we have powerful tools to reduce the frequency of, or eliminate, deleterious genes from a population. When we understand polygenic inheritance, we can potentially eliminate whole groups of deleterious genes from populations. The effect of such selection on a widespread basis within a breed could rapidly improve health within a few generations. However, until we have enough information on gene interaction, we will not know whether some of these genes have other functions that we wish to retain. And, other population effects should not be ignored. At least initially it may be best to use this new genetic information to avoid mating combinations that we know will produce affected animals, rather than to eliminate whole groups of genes from a population. This is particularly important for breeds with small gene pools, where it is difficult to maintain genetic diversity. Finally, we will eventually have enough information about canine gene function to select for specific genes encoding desirable traits and increase their frequencies in a population. This is similar to breeding practices that have been applied to animals for hundreds of years. The difference is that we will have a large pool of objective data that we can use rapidly on many individuals at a time. This has great potential to improve the health of the dog population as a whole. However, if we or our breeder clients make an error, we can inadvertently cause harm through massive, rapid selection. Therefore, we should probably not be advising clients on polygenic traits or recommend large scale changes in gene frequencies in populations until much more knowledge of gene interaction is obtained. By then it is likely that computer modelling will be available to predict the effect of changing one or several gene frequencies in a dog population over time. And as new mutations are likely to arise in the future, these tools will be needed indefinitely to detect, treat and eliminate genetic disorders from dog populations. Information available from genetic research will only be useful in improving canine health if veterinarians have the knowledge and skills to use it ethically and responsibly. There is not only a great potential to improve overall canine health through genetic selection, but also the potential to do harm if we fail to maintain genetic diversity. Our profession must be in a position to correctly advise clients on the application of this information to individual dogs as well as to populations of dogs, and particularly purebred dogs.     

Board-invited review: Using behavior to predict and identify ill health in animals

We review recent research in one of the oldest and most important applications of ethology: evaluating animal health. Traditionally, such evaluations have been based on subjective assessments of debilitative signs; animals are judged ill when they appear depressed or off feed. Such assessments are prone to error but can be dramatically improved with training using well-defined clinical criteria. The availability of new technology to automatically record behaviors allows for increased use of objective measures; automated measures of feeding behavior and intake are increasingly available in commercial agriculture, and recent work has shown these to be valuable indicators of illness. Research has also identified behaviors indicative of risk of disease or injury. For example, the time spent standing on wet, concrete surfaces can be used to predict susceptibility to hoof injuries in dairy cattle, and time spent nuzzling the udder of the sow can predict the risk of crushing in piglets. One conceptual advance has been to view decreased exploration, feeding, social, sexual, and other behaviors as a coordinated response that helps afflicted individuals recover from illness. We argue that the sickness behaviors most likely to decline are those that provide longer-term fitness benefits (such as play), as animals divert resources to those functions of critical short-term value such as maintaining body temperature. We urge future research assessing the strength of motivation to express sickness behaviors, allowing for quantitative estimates of how sick an animal feels. Finally, we call for new theoretical and empirical work on behaviors that may act to signal health status, including behaviors that have evolved as honest (i.e., reliable) signals of condition for offspring-parent, inter- and intra-sexual, and predator-prey communication.     

CRISPR/Cas9技术在猪、鸡中的应用研究进展

基因编辑是利用核酸酶在基因组的特定位点产生DNA双链断裂，从而触发细胞自身的DNA损伤修复机制，实现对靶基因序列进行位点特异性修饰。规律成簇间隔短回文重复序列（clustered regularly interspersed short palindromic repeat，CRISPR）及其相关蛋白9（Cas9）系统作为第3代基因编辑技术在农业和基因治疗研究中发挥着重要作用，与传统的锌指核酶和转录激活因子样效应物核酶基因编辑方法相比，它可以靶向基因的任何位点引起DNA双链断裂，实现目标基因的精准敲除或插入外源片段，并能快速、高效地修饰基因组，包括基因敲除、敲入、抑制、激活等，是应用最广泛的基因编辑工具。CRISPR/Cas9技术的出现彻底改变了生命科学、医学和遗传学研究现状。近年来，利用CRISPR/Cas9技术对动物基因组进行修饰，开启了畜禽分子育种的新纪元，不仅极大地推动了现代畜禽养殖技术的发展，而且为人类医学研究做出了特殊贡献，特别是在猪和鸡上。作者以猪和鸡为对象，综述了CRISPR/Cas9技术在异体器官移植供体、人类疾病的生物模型、抗病育种材料、全基因组高通量筛选等方面的研究进展，以及如何利用CRISPR技术快速又简单地生产出基因编辑猪、鸡，为推动CRISPR技术制备其他基因编辑动物提供参考依据。     

Genome Editing in Large Animals

Genome editing in large animals has tremendous practical applications, from more accurate models for medical research through improved animal welfare and production efficiency. Although genetic modification in large animals has a 30-year history, until recently technical issues limited its utility. The original methods—pronuclear injection and integrating viruses—were plagued with problems associated with low efficiency, silencing, poor regulation of gene expression, and variability associated with random integration. With the advent of site-specific nucleases such as TAL effector-like nucleases and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas9, precision editing became possible. When used on their own, these can be used to truncate or knockout genes through nonhomologous end joining with relatively high efficiency. When used with a template containing desired gene edits, these can be used to allow insertion of any desired changes to the genome through homologous recombination with substantially lower efficiency. Consideration must be given to the issues of marker sets and off-target effects. Somatic cell nuclear transfer is most commonly used to create animals from gene-edited cells, but direct zygote injection and use of spermatogonial stem cells are alternatives under development. In developing gene editing projects, priority must be given to understanding the potential for off-target or unexpected effects of planned edits, which have been common in the past. Because of the increasing technical sophistication with which it can be accomplished, genome editing is poised to revolutionize large animal genetics, but attention must be paid to the underlying biology to maximize benefit.     

Feeding beneficial bacteria: A natural solution for increasing efficiency and decreasing pathogens in animal agriculture

Consumer demand for natural and organic foods has risen steadily. Correspondingly, the demand for technologies to enhance animal performance through natural and organic solutions continues to increase. One such technology receiving considerable attention is the feedstuff application of live, beneficial bacteria, commonly called probiotics, but properly referred to as direct-fed microbials (DFM). The use of DFM in animal agriculture has grown continually over the last decade, yet the commercial success of DFM in poultry production to date has been limited. Overviewed here are the history, commercial applications, and research trials of DFM technology in animal agriculture as a means to gain some foresight into the future commercial use of DFM in poultry. We discuss successful probiotic trials in animal agriculture and emphasize those in poultry production that demonstrate 1) improved BW gain, 2) decreased morbidity, 3) decreased incidence of bird and human pathogens, and 4) increased economic profitability. Last, we present current and future obstacles and basic microbiological concepts that are essential for functional probiotic technologies.     

Use of Transgenic Animals to Improve Human Health and Animal Production

Contents Transgenic animals are more widely used for various purposes. Applications of animal transgenesis may be divided into three major categories: (i) to obtain information on gene function and regulation as well as on human diseases, (ii) to obtain high value products (recombinant pharmaceutical proteins and xeno-organs for humans) to be used for human therapy, and (iii) to improve animal products for human consumption. All these applications are directly or not related to human health. Animal transgenesis started in 1980. Important improvement of the methods has been made and are still being achieved to reduce cost as well as killing of animals and to improve the relevance of the models. This includes gene transfer and design of reliable vectors for transgene expression. This review describes the state of the art of animal transgenesis from a technical point of view. It also reports some of the applications in the medical field based on the use of transgenic animal models. The advance in the generation of pigs to be used as the source of organs for patients and in the preparation of pharmaceutical proteins from milk and other possible biological fluids from transgenic animals is described. The projects in course aiming at improving animal production by transgenesis are also depicted. Some the specific biosafety and bioethical problems raised by the different applications of transgenesis, including consumption of transgenic animal products are discussed.     

转基因表达的调控方法

转基因动物技术作为一种研究基因功能的技术体系 ,在生命科学研究领域有着广泛的应用前景。有效地使精确的遗传基因修饰在动物体内得到表达并实现世代间的传递是转基因技术的关键。近年来由于转座子、逆转录病毒的运用以及采用加入或去除某些基因的体细胞的克隆技术的发展 ,不同物种转基因的培育方法日趋简便。 Cre-L ox P系统越来越多地用于从基因组中去除特定的序列或靶向整合外源DNA。四环素等系统已被证实可获得确切的转基因表达。具有反式显性阴性效应的与 DNA形成三链螺旋的 RNA、反义 RNA(包括 :含 RNA干预和核酶的双链 RNA)以及蛋白质的表达均被证实可特异性地抑制宿主或病毒基因的表达。文章综述了转基因的概念、表达及调控转基因表达的常用方法     

Advances in farm animal transgenesis

The first transgenic livestock were produced in 1985 by microinjection of foreign DNA into zygotic pronuclei. This was the method of choice for more than 20 years, but more efficient protocols are now available, including somatic cell nuclear transfer and lentiviral transgenesis. Typical applications include carcass composition, lactational performance and wool production, as well as enhanced disease resistance and reduced environmental impact. Transgenic farm animal production for biomedical applications has found broad acceptance. In 2006 the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved commercialization of the first recombinant pharmaceutical protein, antithrombin, produced in the mammary gland of transgenic goats. As the genome sequencing projects for various farm animal species are completed, it has become feasible to perform precise genetic modifications employing the emerging tools of lentiviral vectors, small interfering ribonucleic acids, meganucleases, zinc finger nucleases and transposons. We anticipate that genetic modification of farm animals will be instrumental in meeting global challenges in agricultural production and will open new horizons in biomedicine.     

家禽疱疹病毒CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑最新研究进展

基于CRISPR/Cas9系统的基因编辑是最新一代的基因组编辑技术，在向导RNA （gRNA）的介导下几乎可以靶向编辑任何一种基因，实现基因组的定点突变、敲除或插入。近年来将CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术应用于大基因组DNA病毒的研究，尤其是用于疱疹病毒的基因编辑已成为病毒学研究领域的最新国际热点。自2016年首次报道利用CRISPR/Cas9系统改造家禽疱疹病毒如马立克病病毒（MDV）基因组以来，短短5年时间已全面应用于家禽疱疹病毒的蛋白编码基因和非编码RNA基因的编辑、基因缺失疫苗和重组疫苗研发、抗病毒治疗以及抗病育种等领域。本文详细综述了当前CRISPR/Cas9基因编辑技术在家禽疱疹病毒中的应用进展和最新成果，并对其面临的问题和前景进行了展望，以期为后续研究提供重要参考。     

Review of DNA Vaccine for Avian Influenza

Avian influenza (AI) is a kind of avian virulent syndrome caused by avian influenza virus (AIV),which threatens animal and human public health and seriously affects the development of poultry industry in China.Vaccination has always been the most effective means to control the spread of avian influenza virus.Based on the continuous development of genetic engineering technology,a variety of new vaccines have been developed and put into use.Among them,avian influenza DNA vaccine has many advantages,such as high safety,simple preparation,easy storage and transportation.Common HA DNA vaccine,NA DNA vaccine,M DNA vaccine,NP DNA vaccine.Avian influenza DNA vaccine introduces a recombinant plasmid containing the target gene sequence into animal cells to induce a humoral and cellular immune response.In order to improve the immune effect of avian influenza DNA vaccine,researchers at home and abroad have made some achievements in enhancing the transfection efficiency and gene expression level of DNA vaccine by adding appropriate adjuvants,introducing target genes into ideal plasmid vectors and optimizing antigen sequence.Since the development of DNA vaccines,many subtypes of avian influenza DNA vaccines,including H1,H3,H5,H7 and H9 subtypes,have been gradually developed.In 2018,the H5 subtype DNA vaccine developed by Harbin Veterinary Research Institute of The Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences obtained the National Class Ⅰ Veterinary Medicine certificate,which is the first DNA vaccine of avian influenza to be approved in China,greatly promoting the development of DNA vaccines.This review mainly discusses the development and innovation of avian influenza DNA vaccine in terms of vector construction,immune mechanism,adjuvant and vector selection,and vaccine research and development,and briefly analyzes its application prospect,in order to provide new ideas and references for researchers to develop new avian influenza vaccine.     

禽流感DNA疫苗研究进展

禽流感（avian influenza,AI）是由禽流感病毒（AIV）引起的一种禽类烈性综合征,威胁动物和人类公共健康,严重影响中国养禽业发展,接种疫苗一直是控制禽流感病毒传播最有效的手段。基于基因工程技术的不断发展,各种新型疫苗相继研发并投入使用。其中,禽流感DNA疫苗具有安全性高、制备方法简单、易于储藏和运输等优点,受到了广泛关注。常见的禽流感疫苗有HA DNA疫苗、NA DNA疫苗、M DNA疫苗、NP DNA疫苗等。禽流感DNA疫苗是将含有目的基因序列的重组质粒导入动物细胞,诱导动物机体产生体液和细胞免疫应答。为了提高禽流感DNA疫苗的免疫效果,国内外学者通过添加合适的佐剂、将目的基因导入理想质粒载体、对抗原序列优化,增强DNA疫苗的转染效率和基因表达水平,取得了一定的研究成果。自DNA疫苗开始研发至今,H1、H3、H5、H7、H9等众多亚型禽流感DNA疫苗逐步研发。2018年,由中国农业科学院哈尔滨兽医研究所研制的禽流感H5亚型DNA疫苗获得国家一类新兽药证书,是中国首个获得批准的禽流感DNA疫苗,极大地推动了DNA疫苗的发展。文章主要论述了禽流感DNA疫苗的载体构建、免疫机制、佐剂和载体选择以及疫苗研发等方面的研究进展和创新,并对其应用前景进行简要分析,旨在为科研工作者研制新型禽流感疫苗提供新的思路和参考。