Animal Sciences Commons^™

Creating A Stat2 Knock-Out Rat With Crispr/Cas9 Using I-Gonad, Isabella Dejesus

Undergraduate Honors Capstone Projects

Through the use of genetically modified animals, a more holistic understanding of physiologic responses to various diseases and pathologies can be obtained^7,19. The STAT2 gene encodes a protein called Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 2 and is an excellent target for genetic manipulation due to its essential role in type I and III interferon signaling pathways¹¹. A member of the STAT family of transcription factors, this protein is directly involved in mediating cellular responses to various cytokines and growth factors, particularly those related to the innate immune response¹¹. While the STAT2 signaling pathway …

Evaluating The Economic Viability Of Feeding Hydroponic Barley Fodder To Growing Wethers, Fallon Johnson

All Graduate Reports and Creative Projects, Fall 2023 to Present

As the livestock industry combats challenges including rising feed costs and ensuring sustainable production practices, some attention is being given to hydroponic fodder as a feed source. Hydroponic fodder offers a potential alternative to traditional feed sources. Research has demonstrated hydroponic fodder production has increased water efficiency while providing a sustainable green feed source throughout the year. This study seeks to understand how using hydroponically produced barley fodder in a total mixed ration for growing wethers compares economically to feeding traditional feed sources. A stochastic simulation model is used to determine the expected total feed costs, costs of gain, and …

Greater Sage-Grouse Habitat Dynamics And Grazing, A Study Of Vegetation Indices And Survival, Codi R. Backen

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Fall 2023 to Present

North American rangelands are vast, open landscapes that support diverse ecosystems and provide many ecosystem services. Many wildlife call sagebrush rangelands home, including the Greater sage-grouse (sage-grouse; Centrocercus urophasianus). Sage-grouse habitat encompasses 165 million acres across western North America, and this bird has been of conservation concern as their populations drastically declined since the 1960s. Rangelands are also grazed by livestock, which has the potential to negatively affect sagebrush ecosystems when overgrazed or overstocked, which could be detrimental to sage-grouse nesting habitat. Additionally, sagebrush rangelands undergo annual variations in precipitation, temperature, growing season length, and vegetation vigor, which has …

Data From: The Dynamic Responses Of The Mouse Gut Microbiome To Dietary Supplementation With Various Anthocyanin-Rich Foods In The Context Of A Western Diet, Abby D. Benninghoff

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Background/Objectives: Anthocyanin (ACN)-rich foods may support gut health by modulating the microbiome and reducing inflammation, potentially lowering the risk of colitis-associated colorectal cancer. However, the dynamic response of the gut microbiome to ACN-rich diets is not well characterized, including in the context of structural and compositional differences among ACN-containing foods. This study examined the temporal response of the mouse gut microbiome to dietary ACNs, focusing on the impact of structural variation. We hypothesized that microbiome shifts would occur rapidly but require sustained dietary ACN intake to persist. Methods: C57BL/6J mice were fed the total Western diet (TWD) supplemented with freeze-dried …

Avian Detection Data And Environmental Covariates For Utah, Usa Over The Years 2017-2021, Amanda L. Hayes-Puttfarcken

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Integrated Monitoring in Bird Conservation Regions (IMBCR) detection data for the state of Utah, USA, and LANDFIRE uncharacteristic exotic Departure Score data over Utah during our study period, as well as additional environmental covariates used to make the model more ecologically accurate. Environmental covariates include average May precipitation, average June temperature, distance to the nearest road, percent canopy cover, and the percent of three habitat types as defined by LANDFIRE; open tree canopy, herbaceous, and shrubland.

Adaptation Of Influenza A Virus Strains A/Anhui/1/2013 (H7n9) And A/Shanghai/1/2013 (H7n9) For Development Of Effective Mouse Models, Spencer Mullen

Student Research Symposium

Introduction

Animal models are key to the research and development of antiviral interventions. Two strains of low-pathogenic avian influenza virus, A/Anhui/1/2013 and A/Shanghai/1/2013 (H7N9), isolated from a 2013 outbreak in China and acquired by USU’s Institute for Antiviral Research from the CDC, are the subject of this project.

Developing antiviral interventions against Influenza A H7N9 is essential because:

• Global outbreaks have caused high mortality among bird and human populations since 2013.^[1]

• Low-pathogenic avian flu viruses can mutate to become highly pathogenic.^[2]

• No current prophylactic or therapeutic human interventions exist.^[3]

BALB/c mice, commonly used for …

Establishing Methods For In Vitro Static Culture Of Gut Microbiomes For Nutritional Intervention Studies, Jeremy Case

Student Research Symposium

The National Cancer Institute reports colorectal cancer as the leading cause of cancer death for individuals under 50 in the United States (American Cancer Society). These rates continue to rise with poor diet, microbiome dysbiosis, and gut inflammation being the primary drivers.

Our lab performs nutrient- intervention studies on DSS/AOM colitis-induced mouse models fed the total Western diet, reflective of the average American’s diet. A poor diet promotes gut microbiome dysbiosis and subsequent colitis, ultimately yielding colon cancer. We seek to understand how the introduction of a bioactive compound may lessen or promote these effects in in vivo mouse models. …

Exercise And Its Effect On The Nad Content Of Tissues In Niacin Deficient Mice With Free Choice Running Wheels, Stellaluna Star

Student Research Symposium

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) content of tissues decreases over time during aging. In our study, we determine if physical exercise has an effect on the NAD content in tissues of transgenic mice that were NAD- deficient because of vitamin B3-free diet. The underlying hypothesis of this study is that exercise can prevent NAD decline and maintain higher level of NAD in tissue. A potential impact of this study is that exercise could be used to lengthen healthspan compared to individuals not participating in any physical exercise.

Protective Efficacy Of A Yellow Fever Virus Rna- Based Vaccine In A Hamster Model, Abby Sherman

Student Research Symposium

• Yellow Fever virus (YFV) remains a concern as of 2023, 34 countries in Africa and 13 countries in South America are endemic, with a case fatality rate of 11% shown in preliminary data.^[3]

Effects Of C-Section Birth On Vasopressin 1a Receptors In The Prairie Vole Brain, Caleb Hart

Student Research Symposium

The goal of this study was to understand how the brain might change depending on the birth experience: a vaginal birth or a cesarean section. C-sections have been associated with an increased risk of obesity and other behavioral and metabolic health conditions that are related to the function of hypothalamic hormones in the brain¹. Vasopressin is one neuropeptide hormone that is produced in the hypothalamus and influences a variety of metabolic functions and behaviors, including water balance and social pair bonding². This study used prairie voles to assess the effect of birth experience on the brain …

Mdpk Cell Lines Can Be Used For In Vitro Antiviral Testing With Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (H5n1), Jada L. Westover

Student Research Symposium

• Outbreak in agricultural poultry starting in 2022
• In March 2024 first confirmed case in Dairy Cattle
• Tested drugs T705, Oseltamivir, Baloxivir, Ribavirin, EIDD-2947, and EIDD-2749 on three different cell lines
• Goal: See if MDBK cell lines could be used for in vitro studies

Seasonal And Sex-Based Variation In Coyote Responses To Social Olfactory Stimuli, Giuliana Carneiro

Student Research Symposium

Coyotes (Canis latrans) are socially complex, often forming strong pair bonds that can persist across multiple breeding seasons³. Scent marking, particularly urine marking, is a key form of communication used to establish territory, convey reproductive status, and maintain social hierarchies¹. This behavior is influenced by factors such as sex and season, and is central to understanding their social dynamics⁴. This preliminary study is part of a broader investigation into coyote behavior, specifically examining how these factors affect responses to olfactory stimuli from familiar and unfamiliar individuals².

In this study, coyote …

Latency To Approach Social Olfactory Stimuli In Female Coyotes: Pairmate Vs Sibling, Jenny Malm, Caroline Long

Student Research Symposium

• Scent marking is a common form of communication among mammals, including coyotes¹.

Qualitative Assessment Of Coyote Olfactory Behavior In Response To Urine Stimuli, Sophie Isom, Caroline Long

Student Research Symposium

• The coyote (Canis latrans) marks territorial boundaries with scent cues.¹

Creating A Stat2 Knock-Out Rat With Crispr/Cas9 Using I-Gonad, Isabella Dejesus, Yanan Liu, Don Joo, Nathan Merrill

Student Research Symposium

The STAT2 gene encodes a protein called Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 2. This protein is a part of the STAT family of transcription factors, which are involved in mediating cellular responses to various cytokines and growth factors, particularly those related to the immune response. Here, we established a successful procedure for creating a STAT2 knock-out (KO) Rat that can be used for more accurate disease testing of serious human ailments such as Lupus, Polio, Herpes, RSV, and even cancer.

A Case Of Milkweed Poisoning In Cattle In Colorado, Raye Walck, Brett Webb, Steve Ensley, Daniel Cook

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Milkweeds, Asclepias spp., are herbaceous perennials of the Apocyanaceae family. Milkweeds contain several cardiac glycosides, cardenolides, that are toxic. Clinical signs associated with milkweed toxicity are generalized weakness, difficulty in breathing, rapid weak pulse, bloating, violent spasms, paralysis, and death. Here we report a clinical case of milkweed toxicity in cattle due to contaminated hay. Clinical signs observed in the poisoned animals were consistent with cardenolide toxicity. Milkweed was detected in the rumen contents of the poisoned cow using DNA metabarcoding. In summary, multiple lines of corroborative evidence were used to make the diagnoses of milkweed poisoning in this case.

Two Unique Cases Of Ponderosa Pine Needle-Induced Abortions, Kevin D. Welch, Megan A. Dietz, Steven E. Edmonds, Dale R. Gardener, Daniel Cook

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) needles can induce abortions in cows when consumed during the last trimester of pregnancy. Traditionally pine needle-induced abortions occur in areas where cattle are forced into a stand of ponderosa pine trees to seek shelter and feed during a winter storm that is either very cold, has heavy snow or high winds. However, here we report two incidences of pine needle-induced abortions in cattle that were unique. In one case, there was no weather-related event that forced the cattle into the stand of pine trees, rather the cattle went into the pine trees seeking …

Genomic-Transcriptomic Analysis Identifies The Syrian Hamster As A Superior Animal Model For Human Diseases, Chuchu Wang, Zhenguo Cheng, Jinxin Miao, Xia Xue, Yunshu Dong, Li Zhao, Haoran Guo, Jianyao Wang, Zhizhong Wang, Shuangshuang Lu, Guangming Fang, Ying Peng, Yafei Zhai, Zhongxian Zhang, Dongling Gao, Zhimin Wang, Pengju Wang, Lirong Zhang, Louisa S. Chard Dunmall, Jun Wang, Wenxue Tang, Xiaowei Li, Zhongren Ding, Xiaoyan Zhao, Ling Li, Nicholas R. Lemoine, Zhongde Wang, Daniel Tonge, Wenjie Tan, Jianzeng Dong, Yaohe Wang

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Background The Syrian hamster (Mesocricetus auratus) has shown promise as a human diseases model, recapitulating features of different human diseases including COVID-19. However, the landscape of its genome and transcriptome has not been systematically dissected, restricting its potential applications.

Results Here we provide a complete analysis of the genome and transcriptome of the Syrian hamster and found that its lineage diverged from that of the Chinese hamster (Cricetulus griseus) around 29.4 million years ago. 21,387 protein-coding genes were identified, with 90.03% of the 2.56G base pair sequence being anchored to 22 chromosomes. Further comparison of the …

Hatching And Caring For Chicks, Cory Farnsworth, Jacob Hadfield, Ashley Longmore

All Current Publications

There are many reasons people are interested in raising birds. Most people who desire to start are interested in saving money and becoming more self-sufficient. Many people find excitement in hatching eggs and raising chicks. This fact sheet will help you get started with hatching eggs and raising chicks.

Using Thermal Camera Drones In Beef Cattle Roundup, Justin Wyatt Clawson, Eric Galloway, Shalyn Drake, Shawn Barstow, Ross Israelsen, Michael Pate

All Current Publications

Using drones with thermal sensors can be an effective tool in finding and collecting livestock from summer mountain ranges in the West. Drones can complete searches in much less time than required on horseback in demonstrated areas. Using drones reduces the workload of the rider and horse, saving time and energy and reducing the risk of injury. With proper training and certification, livestock producers can use drones to locate cattle and perform many other cost-cutting operations.

Continuous Exposure To An Aversive Mixture: A Means Of Maintaining Aversion In Sheep Averted To Geigeria Ornativa O. Hoffm. (Vermeerbos) - An Assessment, Leendert D. Snyman

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Establishing aversion to Geigeria ornativa only lasts for some time, after which the induced aversion disappears and sheep start eating G. ornativa again. This behavior is aggravated by the social influence of non-averted sheep in mixed grazing situations. Exposing sheep continuously to a so-called “aversive mixture”, containing an aversive substance (lithium chloride) and the sensory characteristics of the plant (hexane extract of G. ornativa) mixed with a tasty meal (maize meal), following an initial aversion treatment, resulted in sustained aversion to G. ornativa in the field. This method proved to be applicable to mixed grazing situations with averted and …

What To Do Now That You've Trapped A Nuisance Wild Animal, Cory Farnsworth, S. Nicole Frey

All Current Publications

This fact sheet outlines specific guidelines for legally responding to nuisance wild animals. Management best practices, animal use, euthanasia, and proper disposal are discussed.

The Building Resistance Against Viral Entities (Brave) Innovation Center, Zhongde Wang

Funded Research Records

No abstract provided.

Sewing With Fur, Cory Farnsworth

All Current Publications

Today, trapping is one of the most regulated activities worldwide and is a useful tool in managing excess populations of furbearers and struggling populations of prey animals. Fur is slowly regaining popularity as people recognize it as more ethical, humane, economical, and renewable, but the ability to use fur is becoming a lost art. It is part of our heritage as a people and connects us with the land. Learning to sew fur projects can be fun and, in some cases, quite profitable, as fur sewn into an article will sell far above the price of the pelt itself. If …

Lake Powell Fish Sampling: Glen Canyon Dam Forebay Area, 2022 And 2023, Phaedra Budy, Casey Pennock

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Native fishes face imperilment due to habitat loss and fragmentation, megadrought, invasive species, and synergies amongst threats. These threats coalesce at Glen Canyon Dam (GCD), which impounds the Colorado River to create Lake Powell, a reservoir inhabited by a suite of nonnative fishes. Water level in Lake Powell has declined precipitously due to water overallocation and megadrought, increasing the risk of nonnative fish entrainment through the dam, as the penstocks draw water from the epilimnion. Our goal was to characterize the distribution and abundance of nonnative fishes in the vicinity of GCD and identify environmental conditions that may increase entrainment. …

Halogeton And Greasewood Poisoning In Cattle And Sheep In Utah, E. Jane Kelly, Stephen T. Lee, Ammon Brown, Daniel Cook

Poisonous Plant Research (PPR)

Halogeton (Halogeton glomeratus) is a fast-growing annual plant while greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) is a perennial shrub of the Western States. Oxalates are the toxic principle in halogeton and greasewood. Most losses occur when hungry animals are allowed to graze in heavy stands of halogeton and greasewood. Halogeton and greasewood are always dangerous and become more toxic as the growing season progresses. Here we report on two clinical cases of halogeton and greasewood poisoning in cattle and sheep. Histologically, oxalate crystals were observed in the kidneys of the cow and sheep consistent with oxalate poisoning. Oxalate was …

Species Differences In The Biotransformation Of Aflatoxin B1: Primary Determinants Of Relative Carcinogenic Potency In Different Animal Species, David L. Eaton, David E. Williams, Roger A. Coulombe

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

It has been known since the early days of the discovery of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) that there were large species differences in susceptibility to AFB1. It was also evident early on that AFB1 itself was not toxic but required bioactivation to a reactive form. Over the past 60 years there have been thousands of studies to delineate the role of ~10 specific biotransformation pathways of AFB1, both phase I (oxidation, reduction) and phase II (hydrolysis, conjugation, secondary oxidations, and reductions of phase I metabolites). This review provides a historical context and substantive analysis of each of these pathways as contributors …

Key Virulence Factors Responsible For Differences In Pathogenicity Between Clinically Proven Live-Attenuated Japanese Encephalitis Vaccine Sa14-14-2 And Its Pre-Attenuated Highly Virulent Parent Sa14, Byung-Hak Song, Sang-Im Yun, Joseph L. Goldhardt, Jiyoun Kim, Young-Min Lee

Animal, Dairy, and Veterinary Science Student Research

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a neuroinvasive and neurovirulent orthoflavivirus, can be prevented in humans with the SA₁₄-14-2 vaccine, a live-attenuated version derived from the wild-type SA₁₄ strain. To determine the viral factors responsible for the differences in pathogenicity between SA₁₄ and SA₁₄-14-2, we initially established a reverse genetics system that includes a pair of full-length infectious cDNAs for both strains. Using this cDNA pair, we then systematically exchanged genomic regions between SA14 and SA₁₄-14-2 to generate 20 chimeric viruses and evaluated their replication capability in cell culture and their pathogenic potential in …

Monograph Available: Urban Coyotes As A Source Of Conflict With Humans: An Evaluation Of Common Management Practices

Human–Wildlife Interactions

This is an announcement about the published monograph titled "Urban Coyotes as a Source of Conflict with Humans: An Evaluation of Common Management Practices." This publication, part of the HWI Monograph Series, is online and open access.

Habitat Loss And Its Behavioral Effects On A Female Gray Hawk In The Lower Rio Grande Valley Of Texas, Usa, Michael T. Stewart, Ashley M. Tanner, Brian A. Millsap, William S. Clark

Human–Wildlife Interactions

Habitat loss is a major threat to wildlife worldwide. While habitat loss is commonly associated with the fragmentation, degradation, or destruction of large tracts of suitable space, habitat loss in urban environments can be much more incremental and nuanced. We tracked an adult female gray hawk (Buteo plagiatus) in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, USA, before and after 70% of the trees (7.6 ha) were cleared from the core of the nesting territory. While the hawk’s overall activity budget between within-patch and exploratory movements was unchanged, the hawk undertook substantially longer exploratory movements after the trees …