Supervisors: Georgios Banos, Xavier Donadeu
Project Description:
Changes in microRNA (miRNA) levels in blood circulation can provide extremely useful information about tissue function and disease. Quantification of blood miRNAs is already being used for disease diagnosis in humans (1). An exciting prospect, yet to be fully explored, is the possibility to use circulating miRNAs to predict future health in animals and humans (2).
Food-animal industries would benefit considerably from the identification of early-life biological predictors of future productivity and overall health. This would be particularly useful in dairy cattle where a high percentage of animals are culled because of ill-health before they reach peak productivity, constituting a huge problem both in economic and animal welfare terms. As in the human field, identifying early-life biomarkers of future health would potentially have huge implications for preventive medicine in animals.
This study will use RNA-sequencing to characterise miRNA populations in circulation during early life in dairy cows. Blood samples already collected from two research dairy herds will be used in the study. Global miRNA profiles at birth as well as changes in miRNAs during the first 2 years of life will be analysed to identify specific miRNAs with predictive value for different animal traits including production (milk, fertility) and health (lameness, mastitis, endometritis) later in life. In addition, the physiological basis of such associations between miRNA levels/changes and animal traits will be determined by (i) investigating the function of candidate miRNAs through determining expression in different bovine tissues, (ii) bioinformatics approaches and (iii) functional in vitro assays (3). Finally, in collaboration with our industrial partner the study will explore the use of chemical cutting edge technology for measuring miRNAs in livestock as an alternative to traditional PCR with the aim of eventually developing diagnostic platforms that can be conveniently used on-farm.
The student will acquire a solid understanding of small RNA biology, and nucleic acid sequencing and analyses as well as dairy production and genomics. He/she will become proficient in a wide variety of techniques including next-generation sequencing, qPCR, bioinformatics, advanced statistical analyses, and culture and genetic manipulation of animal cells. The project is a collaboration between the Roslin Institute and Scotland’s Rural College that brings together the complementary expertise of the co-supervisors in reproductive biology and miRNA biology (Dr Donadeu) and livestock genetics (Prof Banos). In addition, through his/her placement with the industrial partner, the student will acquire a solid understanding of industry including project management, business strategy and finance.
References:
1.Schwarzenbach H, Nishida N, Calin GA, Pantel K. Clinical relevance of circulating cell-free microRNAs in cancer. Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2014;11(3):145-56. doi:10.1038/nrclinonc.2014.5.
2. Ioannidis J, Sánchez-Molano E, Psifidi A, Donadeu FX*, Banos G. Association of plasma microRNA expression with age, genetic background and functional traits in dairy cattle. Sci Rep. 2018;8(1):12955.
3. Mohammed BT, Sontakke SD, Ioannidis J, Duncan WC, Donadeu FX. The adequate corpus luteum: Mir-96 promotes luteal cell survival and progesterone production. The Journal of clinical endocrinology and metabolism 2017;102:2188-2198.
If you wish to apply for this project, please check this link and send your application to this email.
