Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding Polish Academy ... - PolSCA

Institute of Genetics andAnimal BreedingPolish Academy of SciencesJASTRZEBIEC near WarsawPolandResearch peritinent to the role of early-life events on development and growthin animals

Research ActivityMolecular genetics, cytogenetics and immunogeneticsExperimental embryology (including embryo biotechnology) BiochemistryPhysiology of animal stressAnimal behavior and welfare, behavioural geneticsAdaptation of animal genotypes to environmental conditions and productiondemandsandIntroduction of the results of basic investigations into animal improvementprograms

IGAB Scientific CollaborationOur Institute cooperates with 30 national and 23 foreign scientificand research institutions and it is also an educational centre,cooperating with Polish and foreign universities.USA,Italy,Sweden,the NetherlandsRussian Federation,Ukraine,Germany,Great Britain,France,Belgium,the Czech Republic,Slovakia.

Scientific StaffAltogether there are 30 scientists working at IGAB,including 9 professors, 9 assistant professors (D.Sc,hablitated doctors), and 13 scientists with PhD degree.The Institute has rightto conferhigher scientific degrees(Ph.D., D.Sc.) in the fieldof agricultural sciences,specialisation in animalgenetics, embryology,physiology, and breeding.SCIENTIFICCOUNCIL

EducationThe Institute conducts educational activity such as Ph.D.courses - 19 postgraduate students at presentIGAB scientists supervise undergraduate students ofAgricultural Universities in conducting the experimentalwork and preparing their Masters’ thesesIGAB scientists give specialised lectures at the AnimalBreeding and BiotechnologyDepartments of Universities,organize local and internationalconferences, workshops and courses.

IGAB PublicationsThe Institute publishes two periodicals:- English-language quarterly“Animal Science Papers and Reports”;Now included into Science CitationReports List- Polish-language periodical“Prace i MateriałyZootechniczne”.

Structureof theInstituteScientific CouncilPresident: Prof. Marian RóŜyckiDirectorProf. Edward DymnickiDeputy Director (research)Prof. Lech ZwierzchowskiDeputy Director (fundamentals)Prof. Jarosław O. HorbańczukPostgraduate StudiesHead: Dr JolantaOprzadekDepartment of ImmunogeneticsHead: Prof. Grzegorz GrzybowskiDepartment of Animal BreedingHead: Prof. Jarosław O. HorbańczukDepartment of Molecular BiologyHead: Prof. Lech ZwierzchowskiResearch Coordination and ScientificLiaison UnitHead: Cyprian TomasikFinance UnitHead: Wanda KarolakPublishing Unit; Editors:Prof. Marek ŁukaszewiczDr Jerzy PiotrowskiDepartment of Animal BehaviorKierownik: Prof. Tadeusz JezierskiAdministrative Support UnitHead: Jerzy WójcikExperimental FarmHead:Dr Wiesław JarmuŜDepartment of Molecular CytogeneticsHead: Prof. Kazimierz JaszczakDepartment of Experimental EmbryologyHead: Prof. Jacek ModlińskiLibraryMałgorzata Kilanowska

We are proud ofBeginning of mammal cloning (Science, Nature 1958-62)Andrzej TarkowskiFirst international transfer of viable embryosJacek Modlinski, Maria CzłonkowskaFirst „artificial” interspecies hybrid Goat-SheepAndrzej Guszkiewicz, Maria CzłonkowskaPhenol method (Trizol) of RNA isolationPiotr Chomczynski, > 56,000 citationsWild forest horse (Konik Polski, Tarpan)Endocrinology and reproduction of deerSubstantial contribution to national economy – animalproduction

IGAB Experimental FarmsThe arm is an integral part of the Institute. Its principal goal isthe maintenance of farm animals (cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, hensand quails) necessary for experiments conducted in the Institute.Our animals

IGAB LaboratoriesMolecular biology, embryology, GMO, radioactiveisotopes and biochemistry.Modern animal facilities for mice and rabbits.

IGAB research projects are carried outwithin five topics groupsFunctional genomics – studies of effects of gene polymorphisms onproduction traits of farm animals – milk and meat production, andalso health and reproduction traits.Biodiversity – studies of genetic markers applied to protection ofgenetic resources in domestic and wild animalsBiotechnology of reproductionBreeding methods applied to improvement of animal productivity,animal health and the quality of animal products.Genetic backgrounds of animal behaviourIn addition studies are carried out within 30 projects funded by the Ministryof Science and Higher Education (individual or PhD projects), and threeprojects funded by European Union

Projects funded by European Union NEWMOOD 6FP – „New molecules in mood disorders: a genomic,neurobiological and systems approach in animal models and humandisorder” 2004-2009 (12 partners in consortium) – Project headedby: Dr Artur H. Świergiel. OPTISCORE – a Marie Curie Action „Applying new electronicsensors to create animal condition scoring protocols for theautomated measurement of health and welfare traits for use insustainable organic dairy cow breeding programs” (11 partners inconsortium), 2006 – 2010 - Project headed by: Dr GraŜyna Sender. Q-PORKCHAINS - FP6 „Improving the quality of pork and porkproducts for the consumer: Development of innovative, integrated,and sustainable food production chains of high quality porkproducts matching consumer demands”, 2007 – 2011 (53 partners inconsortium) - Project headed by: Dr Joanna Wyszyńska-Koko.

Projects funded by European UnionCompleted ANIMBIOGEN – „Centre of Excellence in Genomics andBiotechnology Improving Functional Traits of Farm Animals andQuality of their Products”. 2003-2006 – Coordinated by: Prof.Zygmunt Reklewski WELFOOD - Leonardo da Vinci „Promoting Quality Assurancein Animal Welfare - Food Quality Interaction Studies throughupgraded e-Learning” 2004-2007, educational project (6partners) - Headed by: Prof. Tadeusz Jezierski INTERREG IIIC – Improvement of planning in animalproduction. 2006-2007 – Headed by: Dr Tomasz Sakowski

Centre of Excellence - ANIMBIOGEN in EU (FP7)„Genomics, Biotechnology and Quality of AnimalProducts in Sustainable Production Systems withconsideration of Animal Welfare”2009-2012, 700,000 EU2009-2012,700,000 EUAdvisory board -16 outstanding scientists from 8 Western European countries andIsrael.Project Coordinator: Professor Jarosław O. Horbańczuk, PhD, DScThe aims: to unlock and develop the long-term research potential of the Centre and strengthenthe capacities of the Centre’s researchers to participate successfully in research activities atthe European level, as well as to create strategic partnerships with EU renowned researchinstitutions.The realization of the project is divided into 6 work packages:WP 1 - Sustainable systems of animal production for product quality, consumer health, animal welfareand protection of biological resources (Prof. M. Łukaszewicz)WP 2 - Molecular biology tools in animal breeding, health and product quality (Prof. L. Zwierzchowski)WP 3 - Improving efficiency of basic and advanced reproductive technologies as a tool for multiplyingvaluable genotypes of farm animals (Prof. J.A. Modliński)WP 4 - Cooperation with SMEs and industry (Prof. E. Dymnicki)WP 5 - Promotion and dissemination (C. Tomasik)WP 6 - Coordination and management (Prof. J.O. Horbańczuk)

Other international projects conducted at IGABCBOL – Consortium for the BARCODE of life – an international initiative devotedto developing DNA barcoding as a global standard for the identification ofbiological species. It includes sequencing of mitochodnrial cytochrome oxidase gene(mtDNA; COI), as a „barcode” (reference sequence) for plant, animal and fungispecies.In Poland the project is coordinated by the Museum and Institute of Zoology PAS,Warsaw, and it includes four Polish partners and numerous partners all over the World.

Department of Animal BreedingHead – Prof. Jarosław O. Horbańczuk

Department of Animal BreedingPrincipal fields of researchAnimal breeding and genetics studies of different farm animalspecies - cattle, pigs, sheep, goats, horses, ostriches.Search for genetic markers of animal production traits, animal health traits(mastitis), and quality of animal products – meat, milk.Evaluation of the effectiveness of various methods of selection and animalimprovement.

Department of Animal BreedingPrincipal fields of research (cont.) Optimization of systems of animal maintenance and utilization in relation to thequality of animal products – including their nutritive and technological value Organic farming as an alternative for industrial agriculture andpreservation.biodiversity Ostrich breeding and management – genetics, reproduction, meat production and egglaying performance.

Department of Animal BreedingSelected achievements: Showing that one of the alleles of bovine DRB3 gene (*16) associateswith low somatic cell count in milk of Polish Holstein-Friesian cows. It canbe concluded that BoLA-DRB3 gene could be a promising candidate gene formastitis resistance in dairy cows. Showing that feeding season (pasture vs. indoor) and daily milkproduction affect significantly the fatty acid composition of cow’s milk.Milk produced during pasture season from cows of moderate yield containedmore PUFA in comparison with cows of high yield. Identification of new polymorphic forms of bovine and goat β-defensingenes and showing their association with animal production traits and healthstatus of the udder. Elaborating and publishing practical recommendations for proper storageand optimum parameters for incubation of ostrich eggs, applied in Polish andforeign ostrich breeding farms.

Department of Molecular CytogeneticsHead – Prof. Kazimierz Jaszczak

Department of Molecular CytogeneticsPrincipal fields of researchSearch for the occurrence of chromosome aberrations in farm animalsPolymorphisms of genes encoding proteolysis pathway enzymes (CAPN, CASP) andmyogenic factors (MRF) in bovine muscles.Search for QTLs affecting egg production traits in hensPolymorphism of genes encoding canine olfactory receptors

Department of Molecular CytogeneticsPrincipal fields of research (cont.) Biodiversity of farm and wild animal species based on analysis of polymorphism ofmicrosatellite sequences. Search for genetic markers of skeletal or cranial malformations in chicken. Genetic analysis of reference families and selected lines of poultry. Analysis of genetic factors affecting behavioral traits in mouse, especially thoselinked with pain and emotional behaviors (fear, depression, anorexia, abnormalbehaviors (vices)

Department of Molecular CytogeneticsSelected achievements: Identification by physical mapping in chicken of four chromosomemarkers linked with QTLs determining egg quality: thickness of egg shelland albumen weight at week 33 of hens life. Showing that the polymorphism of CAPN1, CAPN2, CAST, CATD andCATB genes is linked with certain slaughter and culinary properties of beef. Identification of critical association between the C/T transition atposition 320 in exon 2 of the delta opioid receptor gene withnociception in mice selected for high or low analgesia Finding of a linkage between specific alleles of canine olfactoryreceptors and odor recognition efficiency in dogs.

Department of ImmunogeneticsHead – Prof. Grzegorz Grzybowski

Areas of scientific activity:Department of Animal ImmunogeneticsPig MYF6 gene polymorphismPrincipal fields of researchSearch for effects of gene polymorphisms and expression on the meat production andfunctional traits in pigs, e.g. on health and reproduction.Transcriptomic profiles of pig muscles in relation with development and meatproduction.Identification of biological traces for forensic investigations and biodiversity

Areas of scientific activity:Department of Animal ImmunogeneticsPrincipal fields of research (cont.)Polymorphism of blood groups, blood proteins and microsatellites inparentage control of Arabian Horses and ThoroughbredsBiodiversity of domestic and wild animals, e.g. primitive horses, deer, wildboars, turtles.

Department of Animal ImmunogeneticsSelected achievements: Sequencing and characterization of selected porcine genes. Finding novelpolymorphisms in coding and regulatory regions of several genes - MyoD family genes,c-FoS, DGAT1, PRL, OPN, GH and GHR. Discovering associations of particulargenotypes with pig growth rate, carcass quality, and with reproduction traits. Identification of a sequence variant of the bovine amelogenin (AMEL-X) gene.Elaboration of a new sex determination method in cattle, based on DNA sizing ofAMEL gene. This method appeared easier and more accurate than previously usedmethods. Establishing genetic structure of Polish Red cattle and its position in cattlephylogenetic tree. The analysis of genetic distance confirmed that this breadcomprised a separate genetic group, differing from other populations of Europeancattle. Sequencing of a fragment of the cytochrome b gene in mtDNA in farm animalsand in selected wild species. Species-specificity of identified sequences was verifiedand sequences published in GenBank database.

Department of Experimental EmbryologyHead – Prof. Jacek Modliński

Areas of scientific activity:Department of Experimental EmbryologyPrincipal fields of research:Cryoconservation of oocytes and embryosBanking of somatic cells and cell lines of embryo origin aiming at preservation ofthreaten animal speciesObtaining chimaeric animals with the use of somatic cells.Studying nucleo-cytoplasmic interactions in the development of reconstructed animalembryos.

Department of Experimental EmbryologyPrincipal fields of research (cont.)Somatic cloning (including interspecies cloning) as a tool in animal biotechnology and inprotection of endangered animal speciesImprovement techniques of in vitro production of bovine embryosObtaining transgenic animals by microinjection of DNA into zygote pronuclei or byusing in vitro genetically modified cells.

Department of Experimental EmbryologySelected achievements: Obtaining, for the first time, of live-born rabbits derived from the thirdgeneration of serially cloned 8-cell embryos. Producing of live-born mice after transfer of 8-cell embryonic nuclei intoselectively enucleated zygotes. These studies revealed the importance ofnucleolar material in proper formation of nuclei in reconstituted oocytesand developing embryos. Obtaining embryo-somatic chimaeras in mouse and sheep aftermicrosurgical transfer of fetal fibroblasts into cleaving embryos. Showing that in mouse, lineage of primitive endoderm follows specificexpression pattern. It was found that endoderm-specific cells find theirposition within the endodermal layer by cell sorting and selective apoptosis.

Department of Animal BehaviourHead – Prof. Tadeusz Jezierski

Department of Animal BehaviourPrincipal fields of researchPhysiology of animal stress,Genetic and physiological basis for stress reactivity in animalsSearch for new molecules in mood disordersA role of genetic background for animal welfare and behaviorEffects of pre-natal stress, environmental, nutritional and toxic factors ondevelopment and behaviourTraining of dogs for detection of scent markers of cancer diseases in humans.

Department of Animal BehaviourSelected achievements: Proving that an effective divergent selection of rabbits lines forlocomotion activity in „open field” test resulted in correlated response inrabbit’s weight gains and fertility. Analysis of individual and representative DNA fingerprinting showed aspecific minisatellite allele (15,000 bp) in low activity line, which was absentin the line of rabbits selected for high activity. Showing that in mice the sickness behavior induced by LPS(lipopolysaccharide) does not disturb animal responses to essentialenivronmental cues. This shows that sickness behavior can be regarded asadaptative and defence reaction fitted to the current needs of theorganism. Elaborating a method of dog training for detection of odor markers ofcancer diseases in breath samples. It was shown that trained dogs are ableto distinguish breath samples of humans suffering from lung and breastcancer from those of healthy volunteers.

Department of Molecular BiologyHead - Prof. Lech Zwierzchowski

Department of Molecular BiologyExpressionof bovineSTAT5Agene – RealtimePCRPolymorphism of bovine PRL genePrincipal fields of research Regulation of gene expression in farm animals. Search for molecular markers of production traits in farm animals, e.g. genesaffecting milk and meat production traits (in cooperation with the Department ofAnimal Breeding). Functional genomics of cattle; effect of gene polymorphisms on gene expression orbiological properties of the coded proteins.

Department of Molecular BiologyPrincipal fields of research (cont.) Animal transgenesis in rabbits and fish. Analysis of transcriptomic profiles in muscle and liver of cattle breeds substantiallydiffering in capacity of milk and meat production and quality.

Department of Molecular BiologyA quailAnalysing gene expressionby macroarrayQuail’s oocyteovulating invitroPrincipal fields of research (cont.) Gene expression and metabolism of maternal RNAs during avian oogenesis andearly development, using Japanese quail as an animal model. Iron metabolism in mouse and in farm animals – iron supplementation ofpiglets. Interactions between intracellular iron metabolism and oxidative andnitrosative stress in mammalian cells.

Department of Molecular BiologySelected achievements:Identification of functional mutations in regulatory and coding regions of bovine candidategenes, affecting either biological properties of coded proteins, e.g. their binding to DNA(STAT5A), binding of ligands (GHR, ERα) or gene expression (caseins, PRL, STAT5A, LEP, MSTN).Showing differential gene expression profiles using microarray techniques in four cattlebreeds differing in milk and meat production – Polish Red, Limousin, Hereford and HF. Thecomparative expression profiles in liver and muscle showed down- or up-regulation of tens ofgenes engaged in different molecular events and biochemical pathways. Our findings provide adescription of molecular events that may underlay the phenotype differences between cattlebreeds.Showing downregulation of IRP1 in mice with KO of supeoxide dismutase gene (sod1-/-) ascompared to wt mice (sod1+/+). This establishes a new regulatory mechanism that provides thecorrect balance between oxygen-derived free radicals and iron. The modified protocol wasproposed of piglets iron supplementation with iron dextran (FeDex) that reduces toxicitycomparing with „traditional” supplementation.Detecting, for the first time, the presence of progesterone receptor transcripts in matureavian (Japanese quail) sperm. The presence of the receptor suggests that progesterone plays arole in physiology of avian sperm. Differentiated expression of melatonin receptor transcripts(mel-1a, mel-1b and mel-1c) was shown in avian oocytes at different stages of oogenesis, in quailsperm and early embryos.

Plans for the future Animal breeding - Studies of the quality of animal products, of theeffect of nutrition and feed composition on the quality of milk andmeat. Experimental embryology - Increasing the efficiency of somaticcloning and improvement of the quality of embryos obtained asresult of IVM/IVF. Animal behaviour - Identification of molecular genetic markers forselected behavioural traits in laboratory and farm animals. Molecular genetics – Studying of gene polymorphisms and theireffects on utility traits of farm animals. Functional genomics offarm animals studied using modern research methods andtechniques: transcriptomics, proteomics, microarrays.

Role of early-life events on development andgrowth in animals – current research Effects of pre-natal stress (pregnant mouse and rat) emotional andsocial behaviours Effects of administration of retinoic acid to pregnant mice on thehippocampal neurogenesis and depression-like behavior of their. Effects of stress (freezing, thawing, medium composition) on embryosviability and the postnatal development

Role of early-life events on development andgrowth in animals – plans fo future 11. The role of genetically determined depression-like behaviour of mother onpostnatal (and prenatal: by implantation of embryos form LA to HA mother)development and aging of adopted depression-resistant mice.In proposed project newborn mice from line selected for low sensitivity to stress will beswitched to females with high sensitivity to stress.The genetic resistance to stressing behavior of mother from line with geneticallydetermined high sensitivity to stress and the effect of mother behavior on stressresistantgenome of mice will be evaluated by changes in gene expression causingdifferences in aging and longevity in comparison to mice housed with natural mother.

Role of early-life events on development andgrowth in animals – plans for future 22. Modulation of postnatal development and aging by nutritional, alcohol and stressfactors during gestation period in mouse.Dietary and stress factors in pregnant animals have a profound effect on many aspects oflater health including age-related disorders, behavior and longevity of offspring, at leastpartly through interactions with the genome which result in altered gene expression.The application of high throughput genomics technologies in nutritional and stressresearch (nutri-and behavior-genomics) offers a new approach to understanding themolecular mechanisms by which nutrition and stress affects aging.The main areas, which appear to be particularly promising are 1) Nutrition- and stressrelatedmodulation of DNA damage and repair and 2) Nutritional modulation ofepigenetic markings.Epigenetic-mediated changes in gene expression in response to dietary and prenatalstress exposures appear to be a major molecular mechanism linking environmentalfactors with the genome with consequences for cell function and health throughout thelife course.

Role of early-life events on development andgrowth in animals – plans for future 33. The role of epigenetic factors in chromosome instability caused by postnatal housingof newborn mice from line of low sensitivity to stress with mother from line of highsensitivity to stress.Genome stability and resistance to genome damaging by mutagens are one of the mostimportant factors of ageing and longevity.Our earlier study showed that mice selected for high sensitivity to stress are morepronounced to chromosome aberrations when compared to mice resistant to stress.

Role of early-life events on development andgrowth in animals – plans for future 44. Early development of bovine embryos in vitro is similar to the development ofhuman embryos.Therefore, the bovine embryos may be used as a model to understand mechanismsof developmental processes at the very early stages of the human embryosdevelopment.A) Genetic markers of the CNS diseases – expression occurs at the early stages thebovine embryos development in vitro, that is from the moment of switchin in a controlby the bovine genome.B) Efects of medium in which the bovine embryos develop on the differentation ofneurons and formation of the peripheral and central nervous system.

Thank You forYour attention