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Beef is an excellent source of nutrients; unfortunately, most nutritional recommendations suggest limiting or even avoiding it. Studies have shown that the fatty acid composition of meat influences weight loss. This randomized controlled clinical trial evaluated the anthropometric and serum lipid changes after a food intervention that included frequent beef consumption (120 g consumed four days/week for four weeks). Volunteers were randomly assigned to the commercial or Wagyu-Cross beef groups, with the latter beef possessing higher fat and MUFA contents. Both groups exhibited reductions in body measurements and lipid profiles; however, the Wagyu-Cross group exhibited greater changes in weight (−3.75 vs. −2.90 kg) and BMI (−1.49 vs. −1.03) than the commercial group, without a significant difference between them. No significant group differences in lipid profiles were observed; however, the Wagyu-Cross group exhibited a more favorable change in decreasing the TC concentration (−7.00 mg/dL) and LDL-C concentration (−12.5 mg/dL). We suggest that high MUFA beef could be included in weight-loss programs since it does not affect weight loss and hasn’t a negative influence on lipid metabolism.

Reports in the literature suggest that a transient surge of ghrelin secretion (TSGS) just before a scheduled meal may be triggered by an appetite mechanism. Also, it is known that circulating ghrelin concentrations fluctuate relative to nutritional status and influence feeding behavior. The aim of the present study was to search for genetic variants in five selected genes (GHRL, GHSR1a, MBOAT4, NPY and AgRP) within the ghrelin gene (GHRL) interaction network. gDNA was extracted from the six highest- and six lowest-RFI Hampshire non-castrated male lambs, out of a total of 25 lambs in a 56-d GrowSafe SystemsÒ feeding trial and the complete genes were amplified by PCR. Libraries were prepared and sequenced in the ILLUMINA platform MiniSeq Sequencing System. Variations were identified using the genomic variant call format (GVCF) workflow with HaplotypeCaller using the reference genome oviAri 4 - Oar_v4 (GCA_000298732.2). One hundred and ninety-two SNPs were found in the five analyzed genes. Most of them had been reported in the SNPs data base. Linear models including each SNP genotype at a time as fixed effects, in addition to ADG and mid test metabolic body weight as covariates for some variables, were adjusted. Forty-three of these SNPs had different genotype frequencies in the two RFI groups, and appear to be associated (p < 0.05) with traits such as RFI, feed intake (FI), feed conversion (FC) and ghrelin hormone concentration in plasma (GHRL) at the TSGS; especially SNPs rs399405301, rs421869734, rs604106535, rs417836509, rs600356564, rs590893697 at the MBOAT4 gene which resulted highly significant (p < 0.01) for RFI and GHRL. The SNP rs423156356 at the GHSR1a gene was highly significant (p < 0.01) for FI and FC. These SNPs (Table 1) have the potential to be used as genetic markers for improvement of feed efficiency in Hampshire sheep, but validation on a larger sample deserves further research efforts.

Channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, is one of the most important fish species for aquaculture worldwide. Egg mass production is directly related to the success and profitability of hatchery farms assuring an adequate egg and consequently fry and fingerling quantity. Most of the success of hatchery farms in Mexico rely on the capacity of production for enough fry to cover the demand of grow-out farms. An analysis was performed with the purpose of estimate the effect of year, month, color, pond and water temperature on egg mass weight data (EMW, g) (n = 3201). The overall mean for EMW was 683.21 g. The effect of all assessed factors was highly significant (P < 0.0001). Pond and year effects suggested an effect possibly related to management strategies. Month indicated an important effect on early spawning, and water temperature showed a highly significant effect of gradient pattern on EMW (P < 0.0001), with a linear slope of −67.8 g by increasing temperature degree. Results confirmed the importance of non-genetic influence on egg mass production, supporting the need for attention of this highly variable trait and suggested the possible improvement on this reproductive indicator through the better control of environmental sources of variation.

Fueron obtenidas muestras de toros Charolais de registro (N=130) candidatos a sementales para hatos pie de cría manejados en un centro de pruebas de comportamiento productivo, con la finalidad de estimar las frecuencias genotípicas y alélicas de tres marcadores simples de un solo nucleótido que han sido asociados con características de calidad de la carne en ganado bovino. Se analizaron dos polimorfismos en el gen Calpaína, CAPN316 y CAPN4751, y la mutación Q204X, privada de la raza Charolais, en el gen Miostatina. Se encontró alta frecuencia del alelo normal en CAPN316 (f=0.85) y frecuencia similares de los alelos normal y mutado para el marcador CAPN4751 (f= 0.58 y 0.48, respectivamente). Se analizó la frecuencia de la mutación Q204X del gen Miostatina, encontrándose baja frecuencia (f= 0.03) atribuible a la selección negativa para la característica de doble musculatura en los últimos 30 años. Se discuten las implicaciones del estudio y validación del efecto de estos marcadores en el sistema de productor de carne bovina. La implementación del uso de estos marcadores podría ayudar a incentivar el desarrollo del sistema, el fomento de nichos de mercado para la calidad de la carne y sobre aumentar la rentabilidad de los sistemas de producción de carne actuales.Foram obtidas amostras de machos da raça Charolês registrado (N=130) candidatos a serem reprodutores para fazendas de cria, manejados em una central de teste de desempenho, com a finalidade de estimar as freqüências genotípicas e gênicas de três marcadores de um só nucleótido, associados com características de qualidade da carne bovina. Foram analisados os polimorfismos do gen da Calpaína, CAPN316 e CAPN4751, e a mutação Q204X, privada da raza charolês, no gen da Miostatina. Foram encontradas freqüências altas do alelo normal na CAPN316 (f= 0.85) e freqüências similares dos alelos normal e mutado para o marcador CAPN4751 (f=0.58 e 0.48, respectivamente). Foi encontrada baixa freqüência da mutação Q204X do gen Miostatina (f=0.03) devido à seleção negativa para a característica de dupla musculatura nos últimos 30 anos. O uso destes marcadores poderia ajudar a incentivar o desenvolvimento e fomento de mercados específicos para qualidade de carne e aumentar a rentabilidade dos sistemas de produção de carne atuais.Samples from registered Charolais sire candidate bulls for breeding herds and managed in a performance test station (N=130) were analyzed in order to estimate genotypic and allelic frequencies of three single nucleotide polymorphisms associated to beef quality traits. Two Calpain gene SNP markers, CAPN316 and CAPN4751, and the Charolais private mutation Q204X associated to double-muscling phenotype, were assessed. High frequency of normal allele was observed in CAPN316 (f=0.85) and similar frequencies for normal and favorable alleles in CAPN4751 (f=0.58 and 0.42, respectively). For Q204X, a low prevalence for the double muscling promoter allele was observed (f=0.03) attributable to negative selection criterion over this trait in the last 30 years. Implication and validation effects of the marker effects on the beef production system are discussed. Implementation of marker assisted management could help system development, support creation of quality meat niches and facilitate the increasing profitability for current beef production industry.

A microsatellite has previously been identified in myostatin in cattle. Sequencing of this region from other artiodactyls coupled with phylogenetic analysis has been used to uncover the potential origins of the microsatellite event, which appears either to have been born twice or to have been gained and lost within ruminants. While caprids and ovids share the ancestral state with pigs and other mammals, microsatellite activity (length polymorphism) is uncovered in both deer and bovids. The dynamic process of microsatellite evolution, including birth, is discussed here in light of several models. Finally, these models are evaluated in the context of patterns of microsatellite conservation between closely related mammalian genomes.

Brucelosis is a severe acute febrile disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella. Its current diagnosis is based on clinical observations that may be complemented by serology and microbiological culture tests; however, the former is limited in sensitivity and specificity, the latter is time consuming. To improve brucelosis diagnosis we developed a test which is specific and sensitive and is capable of differentiating the six species of Brucella. Four primers were designed from B. abortus sequences at the well-conserved Omp2 locus that are able to amplify the DNAs of all six species of Brucella. Our test detected all six species of Brucella. Their differentiation resulted directly from differences in the amplification patterns or was achieved indirectly using a RFLP present in one of the PCR products. The sensitivity and specificity of the new test were then determined; it was applied successfully in confirming the diagnosis of a patient whose clinical history and serology indicated infection with Brucella. The results make possible the use of a PCR test for Brucella detection and differentiation without relying on the measurement of the antibodies or microorganism culture. Our first results showed that the PCR test can confirm the presence of Brucella in blood samples of infected patients.

"La terneza y el marmoreo son características poligénicas e indicadoras de calidad en la carne bovina. Uno de los genes relacionados con la terneza en la carne es el gen de µ-calpaína (CAPN), en el cual se han identificado dos polimorfismos CAPN316 y CAPN4751 asociados significativamente a esta característica. En el gen de la Tiroglobulina (TG5) relacionado con el marmoleo, se ha identificado un polimorfismo en la posición -537del gen, asociado a la deposición de grasa intramuscular en bovinos. Objetivo: estimar las frecuencias genotípicas y alélicas de tres marcadores genéticos y su asocación con carcaterísticas de calidad de la carne bovina. Métodos: a partir de muestras de sangre de 80 toretes Charolais de 12 meses de edad mantenidos en pruebas de comportamiento, se caracterizaron polimorfismos en los marcadores CAPN316 y CAPN4751 identificados mediante el diseño de oligonucleótidos y la creación de sitios de restricción en la reacción en cadena de la polimerasa (PCR-ACRS) y de TG5 identifificado mediante PCRRFLP, se utilizaron cebadores previamente reportados. Resultados: las frecuencias alélicas y genotípicas de los polimorfismo de CAPN4751 y TG5 mostraron estar en equilibrio genético; más no para CAPN316. Los análisis de asociación mostraron una diferencia significativa del marcador CAPN4751 sobre el área del músculo Longissimus dorsi (REA) (p

Fueron obtenidas muestras de toros Charolais de registro (N=130) candidatos a sementales para hatos pie de cría manejados en un centro de pruebas de comportamiento productivo, con la finalidad de estimar las frecuencias genotípicas y alélicas de tres marcadores simples de un solo nucleótido que han sido asociados con características de calidad de la carne en ganado bovino. Se analizaron dos polimorfismos en el gen Calpaína, CAPN316 y CAPN4751, y la mutación Q204X, privada de la raza Charolais, en el gen Miostatina. Se encontró alta frecuencia del alelo normal en CAPN316 (f=0.85) y frecuencia similares de los alelos normal y mutado para el marcador CAPN4751 (f= 0.58 y 0.48, respectivamente). Se analizó la frecuencia de la mutación Q204X del gen Miostatina, encontrándose baja frecuencia (f= 0.03) atribuible a la selección negativa para la característica de doble musculatura en los últimos 30 años. Se discuten las implicaciones del estudio y validación del efecto de estos marcadores en el sistema de productor de carne bovina. La implementación del uso de estos marcadores podría ayudar a incentivar el desarrollo del sistema, el fomento de nichos de mercado para la calidad de la carne y sobre aumentar la rentabilidad de los sistemas de producción de carne actuales. Samples from registered Charolais sire candidate bulls for breeding herds and managed in a performance test station (N=130) were analyzed in order to estimate genotypic and allelic frequencies of three single nucleotide polymorphisms associated to beef quality traits. Two Calpain gene SNP markers, CAPN316 and CAPN4751, and the Charolais private mutation Q204X associated to double-muscling phenotype, were assessed. High frequency of normal allele was observed in CAPN316 (f=0.85) and similar frequencies for normal and favorable alleles in CAPN4751 (f=0.58 and 0.42, respectively). For Q204X, a low prevalence for the double muscling promoter allele was observed (f=0.03) attributable to negative selection criterion over this trait in the last 30 years. Implication and validation effects of the marker effects on the beef production system are discussed. Implementation of marker assisted management could help system development, support creation of quality meat niches and facilitate the increasing profitability for current beef production industry. Foram obtidas amostras de machos da raça Charolês registrado (N=130) candidatos a serem reprodutores para fazendas de cria, manejados em una central de teste de desempenho, com a finalidade de estimar as freqüências genotípicas e gênicas de três marcadores de um só nucleótido, associados com características de qualidade da carne bovina. Foram analisados os polimorfismos do gen da Calpaína, CAPN316 e CAPN4751, e a mutação Q204X, privada da raza charolês, no gen da Miostatina. Foram encontradas freqüências altas do alelo normal na CAPN316 (f= 0.85) e freqüências similares dos alelos normal e mutado para o marcador CAPN4751 (f=0.58 e 0.48, respectivamente). Foi encontrada baixa freqüência da mutação Q204X do gen Miostatina (f=0.03) devido à seleção negativa para a característica de dupla musculatura nos últimos 30 anos. O uso destes marcadores poderia ajudar a incentivar o desenvolvimento e fomento de mercados específicos para qualidade de carne e aumentar a rentabilidade dos sistemas de produção de carne atuais.