JASTRZEBIEC near Warsaw

Poland

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Institute of Genetics and Animal Breeding

Polish Academy of Sciences

Research Activity

Molecular genetics, cytogenetics and immunogenetics

Experimental embryology (including embryo biotechnology) Biochemistry

Physiology of animal stress

Animal behavior and welfare, behavioural genetics

Adaptation of animal genotypes to environmental conditions and production demands

and

Introduction of the results of basic investigations into animal improvement programs

USA,Italy, Sweden,the Netherlands Russian Federation, Ukraine, Germany,Great Britain, France,Belgium,the Czech Republic, Slovakia.

Our Institute cooperates with 30 national and 23 foreign scientificand research institutions and it is also an educational centre,cooperating with Polish and foreign universities.

IGAB Scientific Collaboration

Scientific Staff

Altogether 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 field of agricultural sciences, specialisation in animal genetics, embryology, physiology, and breeding.

SCIENTIFIC COUNCIL

EducationThe Institute conducts educational activity such as Ph.D. courses - 19 postgraduate students at present

IGAB scientists supervise undergraduate students of Agricultural Universities in conducting the experimental work and preparing their Masters’ theses

IGAB scientists give specialised lectures at the Animal

Breeding and Biotechnology

Departments of Universities,

organize local and international

conferences, workshops and courses.

The Institute publishes two periodicals:

- English-language quarterly “Animal Science Papers and Reports”;

Now included into Science Citation Reports List

IGAB Publications

- Polish-language periodical “Prace i MateriałyZootechniczne”.

Scientific CouncilPresident: Prof. Marian RóŜycki

DirectorProf. Edward Dymnicki

Deputy Director (research)Prof. Lech Zwierzchowski

Deputy Director (fundamentals)Prof. Jarosław O. Horbańczuk

Department of ImmunogeneticsHead: Prof. Grzegorz Grzybowski

Department of Animal BreedingHead: Prof. Jarosław O. Horbańczuk

Department of Molecular BiologyHead: Prof. Lech Zwierzchowski

Department of Animal BehaviorKierownik: Prof. Tadeusz Jezierski

Department of Molecular CytogeneticsHead: Prof. Kazimierz Jaszczak

Department of Experimental EmbryologyHead: Prof. Jacek Modliński

Research Coordination and ScientificLiaison UnitHead: Cyprian Tomasik

Finance UnitHead: Wanda Karolak

Administrative Support UnitHead: Jerzy Wójcik

LibraryMałgorzata Kilanowska

Postgraduate StudiesHead: Dr Jolanta Oprzadek

Publishing Unit; Editors: Prof. Marek ŁukaszewiczDr Jerzy Piotrowski

Experimental FarmHead: Dr Wiesław JarmuŜ

Structure of the Institute

We are proud of

Beginning of mammal cloning (Science, Nature 1958-62)Andrzej Tarkowski

First international transfer of viable embryosJacek Modlinski, Maria Członkowska

First „artificial” interspecies hybrid Goat-SheepAndrzej Guszkiewicz, Maria Członkowska

Phenol method (Trizol) of RNA isolationPiotr Chomczynski, > 56,000 citations

Wild forest horse (Konik Polski, Tarpan)

Endocrinology and reproduction of deer

Substantial contribution to national economy – animalproduction

The arm is an integral part of the Institute. Its principal goal is the maintenance of farm animals (cattle, pigs, goats, sheep, hens and quails) necessary for experiments conducted in the Institute.

IGAB Experimental Farms

Our animalsOur animals

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

IGAB Laboratories

IGAB research projects are carried out within five topics groups

� Functional genomics – studies of effects of gene polymorphisms on production traits of farm animals – milk and meat production, andalso health and reproduction traits.

� Biodiversity – studies of genetic markers applied to protection of genetic resources in domestic and wild animals

� Biotechnology of reproduction

� Breeding methods applied to improvement of animal productivity, animal health and the quality of animal products.

� Genetic backgrounds of animal behaviour

In addition studies are carried out within 30 projects funded by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education (individual or PhD projects), and three projects 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 human disorder” 2004-2009 (12 partners in consortium) – Project headed by: Dr Artur H. Świergiel.

� OPTISCORE – a Marie Curie Action „Applying new electronic sensors to create animal condition scoring protocols for the automated measurement of health and welfare traits for use insustainable organic dairy cow breeding programs” (11 partners in consortium), 2006 – 2010 - Project headed by: Dr GraŜyna Sender.

� Q-PORKCHAINS - FP6 „Improving the quality of pork and pork products for the consumer: Development of innovative, integrated, and sustainable food production chains of high quality pork products matching consumer demands”, 2007 – 2011 (53 partners in consortium) - Project headed by: Dr Joanna Wyszyńska-Koko.

Projects funded by European UnionCompleted

� ANIMBIOGEN – „Centre of Excellence in Genomics and Biotechnology Improving Functional Traits of Farm Animals and Quality of their Products”. 2003-2006 – Coordinated by: Prof. Zygmunt Reklewski

� WELFOOD - Leonardo da Vinci „Promoting Quality Assurance in Animal Welfare - Food Quality Interaction Studies through upgraded e-Learning” 2004-2007, educational project (6 partners) - Headed by: Prof. Tadeusz Jezierski

� INTERREG IIIC – Improvement of planning in animal production. 2006-2007 – Headed by: Dr Tomasz Sakowski

Centre of Excellence - ANIMBIOGEN in EU (FP7)

„Genomics, Biotechnology and Quality of Animal Products in Sustainable Production Systems with

consideration of Animal Welfare”

2009-2012, 700,000 EU

Advisory board - 16 outstanding scientists from 8 Western European countries andIsrael.

Project Coordinator: Professor Jarosław O. Horbańczuk, PhD, DSc

The aims: to unlock and develop the long-term research potential of the Centre and strengthen the capacities of the Centre’s researchers to participate successfully in research activities at the European level, as well as to create strategic partnerships with EU renowned research institutions.

The realization of the project is divided into 6 work packages:

�WP 1 - Sustainable systems of animal production for product quality, consumer health, animal welfare and 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 multiplying valuable 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)

2009-2012, 700,000 EU

Other international projects conducted at IGAB

CBOL – Consortium for the BARCODE of life – an international initiative devoted to developing DNA barcoding as a global standard for the identification of

biological species. It includes sequencing of mitochodnrial cytochrome oxidase gene (mtDNA; COI), as a „barcode” (reference sequence) for plant, animal and fungi

species.

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 Breeding

Principal fields of research

� Animal breeding and genetics studies of different farm animal species - 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 animal improvement.

Department of Animal Breeding

Principal fields of research (cont.)

� Optimization of systems of animal maintenance and utilization in relation to the quality of animal products – including their nutritive and technological value

� Organic farming as an alternative for industrial agriculture and biodiversity preservation.

� Ostrich breeding and management – genetics, reproduction, meat production and egg laying performance.

Department of Animal BreedingSelected achievements:

� Showing that one of the alleles of bovine DRB3 gene (*16) associates with low somatic cell count in milk of Polish Holstein-Friesian cows. It can be concluded that BoLA-DRB3 gene could be a promising candidate gene for mastitis resistance in dairy cows.

� Showing that feeding season (pasture vs. indoor) and daily milk production affect significantly the fatty acid composition of cow’s milk. Milk produced during pasture season from cows of moderate yield contained more PUFA in comparison with cows of high yield.

� Identification of new polymorphic forms of bovine and goat ββββ-defensingenes and showing their association with animal production traits and health status of the udder.

� Elaborating and publishing practical recommendations for proper storage and optimum parameters for incubation of ostrich eggs, applied in Polish and foreign ostrich breeding farms.

Department of Molecular CytogeneticsHead – Prof. Kazimierz Jaszczak

Department of Molecular Cytogenetics

Principal fields of research

�Search for the occurrence of chromosome aberrations in farm animals

�Polymorphisms of genes encoding proteolysis pathway enzymes (CAPN, CASP) andmyogenic factors (MRF) in bovine muscles.

�Search for QTLs affecting egg production traits in hens

�Polymorphism of genes encoding canine olfactory receptors

Department of Molecular Cytogenetics

Principal fields of research (cont.)� Biodiversity of farm and wild animal species based on analysis of polymorphism of

microsatellite 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 shell and albumen weight at week 33 of hens life.

� Showing that the polymorphism of CAPN1, CAPN2, CAST, CATD and CATB genes is linked with certain slaughter and culinary properties of beef.

� Identification of critical association between the C/T transition at position 320 in exon 2 of the delta opioid receptor gene with nociception in mice selected for high or low analgesia

� Finding of a linkage between specific alleles of canine olfactory receptors and odor recognition efficiency in dogs.

Department of ImmunogeneticsHead – Prof. Grzegorz Grzybowski

Areas of scientificAreas of scientific activityactivity:

Department of Animal Immunogenetics

Principal fields of research�Search for effects of gene polymorphisms and expression on the meat production and

functional traits in pigs, e.g. on health and reproduction. �Transcriptomic profiles of pig muscles in relation with development and meat

production.�Identification of biological traces for forensic investigations and biodiversity

Pig MYF6 gene polymorphism

Areas of scientificAreas of scientific activityactivity:

Department of Animal Immunogenetics

Principal fields of research (cont.)

�Polymorphism of blood groups, blood proteins and microsatellites in parentage control of Arabian Horses and Thoroughbreds

�Biodiversity of domestic and wild animals, e.g. primitive horses, deer, wild boars, 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 particular genotypes 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 of AMEL gene. This method appeared easier and more accurate than previously used methods.

� Establishing genetic structure of Polish Red cattle and its position in cattle phylogenetic tree. The analysis of genetic distance confirmed that this bread comprised a separate genetic group, differing from other populations of European cattle.

� Sequencing of a fragment of the cytochrome b gene in mtDNA in farm animals and in selected wild species. Species-specificity of identified sequences was verified and sequences published in GenBank database.

Department of Experimental EmbryologyHead – Prof. Jacek Modliński

Areas of scientificAreas of scientific activityactivity:Department of Experimental Embryology

Principal fields of research:

�Cryoconservation of oocytes and embryos

�Banking of somatic cells and cell lines of embryo origin aiming at preservation of threaten animal species

�Obtaining chimaeric animals with the use of somatic cells.

�Studying nucleo-cytoplasmic interactions in the development of reconstructed animal embryos.

Department of Experimental Embryology

Principal fields of research (cont.)�Somatic cloning (including interspecies cloning) as a tool in animal biotechnology and in

protection of endangered animal species

�Improvement techniques of in vitro production of bovine embryos

�Obtaining transgenic animals by microinjection of DNA into zygote pronuclei or by using in vitro genetically modified cells.

Department of Experimental EmbryologySelected achievements:

� Obtaining, for the first time, of live-born rabbits derived from the third generation of serially cloned 8-cell embryos.

� Producing of live-born mice after transfer of 8-cell embryonic nuclei into selectively enucleated zygotes. These studies revealed the importance of nucleolar material in proper formation of nuclei in reconstituted oocytesand developing embryos.

� Obtaining embryo-somatic chimaeras in mouse and sheep after microsurgical transfer of fetal fibroblasts into cleaving embryos.

� Showing that in mouse, lineage of primitive endoderm follows specific expression pattern. It was found that endoderm-specific cells find their position within the endodermal layer by cell sorting and selective apoptosis.

Department of Animal BehaviourHead – Prof. Tadeusz Jezierski

Department of Animal Behaviour

Principal fields of research

�Physiology of animal stress,

�Genetic and physiological basis for stress reactivity in animals

�Search for new molecules in mood disorders

�A role of genetic background for animal welfare and behavior

�Effects of pre-natal stress, environmental, nutritional and toxic factors on development and behaviour

�Training 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 for locomotion activity in „open field” test resulted in correlated response in rabbit’s weight gains and fertility.

� Analysis of individual and representative DNA fingerprinting showed a specific minisatellite allele (15,000 bp) in low activity line, which was absent in 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 essential enivronmental cues. This shows that sickness behavior can be regarded as adaptative and defence reaction fitted to the current needs of the organism.

� Elaborating a method of dog training for detection of odor markers of cancer diseases in breath samples. It was shown that trained dogs are able to distinguish breath samples of humans suffering from lung and breast cancer from those of healthy volunteers.

Department of Molecular BiologyHead - Prof. Lech Zwierzchowski

Department of Molecular Biology

Principal fields of research

� Regulation of gene expression in farm animals.

� Search for molecular markers of production traits in farm animals, e.g. genes affecting milk and meat production traits (in cooperation with the Department of Animal Breeding).

� Functional genomics of cattle; effect of gene polymorphisms on gene expression orbiological properties of the coded proteins.

Polymorphism of bovine PRL gene

Expression of bovine STAT5A gene – Real-time PCR

Department of Molecular Biology

Principal fields of research (cont.)

� Animal transgenesis in rabbits and fish.

� Analysis of transcriptomic profiles in muscle and liver of cattle breeds substantially differing in capacity of milk and meat production and quality.

Department of Molecular Biology

Principal fields of research (cont.)

� Gene expression and metabolism of maternal RNAs during avian oogenesis and early development, using Japanese quail as an animal model.

� Iron metabolism in mouse and in farm animals – iron supplementation of piglets. Interactions between intracellular iron metabolism and oxidative and nitrosative stress in mammalian cells.

Analysing gene expression by macroarray

A quail

Quail’s oocyteovulating in vitro

Department of Molecular BiologySelected achievements:

� Identification of functional mutations in regulatory and coding regions of bovine candidate genes, 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 cattle breeds differing in milk and meat production – Polish Red, Limousin, Hereford and HF. The comparative expression profiles in liver and muscle showed down- or up-regulation of tens of genes engaged in different molecular events and biochemical pathways. Our findings provide a description of molecular events that may underlay the phenotype differences between cattle breeds.

� Showing downregulation of IRP1 in mice with KO of supeoxide dismutase gene (sod1-/-) as compared to wt mice (sod1+/+). This establishes a new regulatory mechanism that provides the correct balance between oxygen-derived free radicals and iron. The modified protocol was proposed of piglets iron supplementation with iron dextran (FeDex) that reduces toxicity comparing with „traditional” supplementation.

� Detecting, for the first time, the presence of progesterone receptor transcripts in mature avian (Japanese quail) sperm. The presence of the receptor suggests that progesterone plays a role 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 quail sperm and early embryos.

Plans for the future

� Animal breeding - Studies of the quality of animal products, of the effect of nutrition and feed composition on the quality of milk and meat.

� Experimental embryology - Increasing the efficiency of somatic cloning and improvement of the quality of embryos obtained as result of IVM/IVF.

� Animal behaviour - Identification of molecular genetic markers for selected behavioural traits in laboratory and farm animals.

� Molecular genetics – Studying of gene polymorphisms and their effects on utility traits of farm animals. Functional genomics of farm animals studied using modern research methods and techniques: 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 1

1. The role of genetically determined depression-like behaviour of mother on

postnatal (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 be

switched to females with high sensitivity to stress.

The genetic resistance to stressing behavior of mother from line with genetically

determined high sensitivity to stress and the effect of mother behavior on stress-

resistant genome of mice will be evaluated by changes in gene expression causing

differences 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 2

2. Modulation of postnatal development and aging by nutritional, alcohol and stress

factors during gestation period in mouse.

Dietary and stress factors in pregnant animals have a profound effect on many aspects of

later health including age-related disorders, behavior and longevity of offspring, at least

partly through interactions with the genome which result in altered gene expression.

The application of high throughput genomics technologies in nutritional and stress

research (nutri-and behavior-genomics) offers a new approach to understanding the

molecular mechanisms by which nutrition and stress affects aging.

The main areas, which appear to be particularly promising are 1) Nutrition- and stress-

related modulation of DNA damage and repair and 2) Nutritional modulation of

epigenetic markings.

Epigenetic-mediated changes in gene expression in response to dietary and prenatal

stress exposures appear to be a major molecular mechanism linking environmental

factors with the genome with consequences for cell function and health throughout the

life course.

Role of early-life events on development andgrowth in animals – plans for future 3

3. The role of epigenetic factors in chromosome instability caused by postnatal housing

of newborn mice from line of low sensitivity to stress with mother from line of high

sensitivity to stress.

Genome stability and resistance to genome damaging by mutagens are one of the most

important factors of ageing and longevity.

Our earlier study showed that mice selected for high sensitivity to stress are more

pronounced to chromosome aberrations when compared to mice resistant to stress.

Role of early-life events on development andgrowth in animals – plans for future 4

4. Early development of bovine embryos in vitro is similar to the development of

human embryos.

Therefore, the bovine embryos may be used as a model to understand mechanisms

of developmental processes at the very early stages of the human embryos

development.

A) Genetic markers of the CNS diseases – expression occurs at the early stages the

bovine embryos development in vitro, that is from the moment of switchin in a control

by the bovine genome.

B) Efects of medium in which the bovine embryos develop on the differentation of

neurons and formation of the peripheral and central nervous system.

ThankThank YouYou for for

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