Massimo Bionaz - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Massimo Bionaz

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Deoxynivalenol and Fumonisins Fed in Combination to Beef Cattle: Immunotoxicity and Gene Expression

Research paper thumbnail of Hepatic transcriptomic adaptation from prepartum to postpartum in dairy cows

Journal of Dairy Science, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Analysis of model organism viability through an interspecies pathway comparison pipeline using the dynamic impact approach

Research paper thumbnail of Transcriptome analysis showed differences of two purebred cattle and their crossbreds

Italian Journal of Animal Science, Jul 17, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Coprophagy Prevention Decreases the Reproductive Performance and Granulosa Cell Apoptosis via Regulation of CTSB Gene in Rabbits

Frontiers in Physiology

Coprophagy is an instinctive behavior in rabbit with important effects on growth and reproductive... more Coprophagy is an instinctive behavior in rabbit with important effects on growth and reproductive performance. The underlying mechanism of this effect in rabbit is unknown. Here, we used Elizabeth circle as a coprophagy preventing model in female rabbits and assess feed intake, growth, and reproductive performance. We found that preventing coprophagy did not affect feed intake but decreased body weight and weight of several organs and tissues and resulted in complete reproductive failure during the late pregnancy period, accompanied by reduced levels of plasma progesterone. RNA-seq analysis of rabbit ovarian tissues revealed that preventing coprophagy affected significantly 241 genes (DEGs), with the large majority being downregulated. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that those DEGs are mostly involved in apoptosis, immune response, and metabolic pathways. Among DEGs, the lysosomal cysteine protease cathepsin B (CTSB) was significantly downregulated in the coprophagy prevention grou...

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Pasture Type on Metabolism, Liver and Kidney Function, Antioxidant Status, and Plant Secondary Compounds in Plasma of Grazing, Jersey Dairy Cattle During Mid-lactation

Frontiers in Animal Science, 2021

Some pasture species are rich in phytochemicals, able to improve milk yield and quality and to re... more Some pasture species are rich in phytochemicals, able to improve milk yield and quality and to reduce the environmental impacts of livestock farming. The phytochemicals interact with the different gene networks within the animal, such as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), but their overall impact on animal health remains to be fully understood. The objective of this study was to identify the effects of pasture Legumes and non-leguminous Forbs containing high bioactive compounds on metabolism and activity of the liver, antioxidant response, kidney function, and inflammation of dairy cows using a large array of blood parameters associated with metabolism and the innate immune system. For this purpose, 26 parameters and the concentration of certain bioactive compounds were assessed in blood plasma, collected from the Jersey cows grazing either Grass, Legume, or Forb-based pastures. In addition, serum collected from all the cows was utilized to detect the changes in NRF...

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of deoxynivalenol and fumonisins fed in combination on beef cattle: health and performance indices

World Mycotoxin Journal, 2020

Interactions between livestock management practices and toxicological outcomes of mycotoxin expos... more Interactions between livestock management practices and toxicological outcomes of mycotoxin exposure may explain the range of tolerable toxin levels reported for various species. In the current study, we investigated the effect of concurrent mycotoxin exposure with a high starch diet in 12 beef steers in a partial cross-over experiment using a 21-day treatment period, followed by a 14-day clearance. During the treatment period, animals were assigned to one of two diets: a low mycotoxin control total mixed ration (TMR) (0.2±0.1 mg deoxynivalenol (DON) and 0.2±0.2 mg fumonisins (FUM)/kg TMR) and a high mycotoxin TMR treatment (1.7±0.2 mg DON and 3.5±0.3 mg FUM/kg TMR). We evaluated the impacts of these mycotoxins on performance, physiology and biochemistry; and the ability of the clearance period to return animals to a naïve state in the cross-over model. The lack of acute ruminal acidosis observed indicates that the animals were able to withstand the physiological stresses of the hig...

Research paper thumbnail of Selenium Biofortified Alfalfa Hay Supplemented to Dairy Heifers During the Peripartum Affects the Antioxidant Function of Albumin but Has Little Impact on Metabolic and Immune Function

Background: the peripartum is the most critical period in dairy cows with high incidence of disea... more Background: the peripartum is the most critical period in dairy cows with high incidence of diseases due to immune dysfunctions, often paired with systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. Selenium is a trace mineral that plays an important role in anti-oxidative function and immune response. We hypothesize that supplementing dairy cows with a relatively small amount of Se-biofortified hay during the last 40 days of pregnancy and early lactation improves performance, metabolism, oxidative status, and immune response.Methods: ten Jersey and 8 Holstein pregnant dairy heifers were divided into two groups and supplemented with 1 kg/100 kg BW of Se-biofortified (Sel; n=9; 3.2 ppm Se) or non-biofortified (Ctr; n=9; 0.4 ppm Se) alfalfa hay from 40 days prior- to 2 weeks post-partum. Heifers were monitored daily for feed intake, activity, and milk yield, and weekly for BW and BCS. Milk samples were assessed for components and fatty acid profile. Blood samples were collected regularly to a...

Research paper thumbnail of Selenium biofortified alfalfa hay fed in low quantities improves selenium status and glutathione peroxidase activity in transition dairy cows and their calves

Journal of Dairy Research, 2020

The hypothesis of the study was that feeding a relatively low amount of Se biofortified alfalfa h... more The hypothesis of the study was that feeding a relatively low amount of Se biofortified alfalfa hay during the dry period and early lactation would improve selenium status and glutathione peroxidase activity in dairy cows and their calves. Ten Jersey and 8 Holstein primiparous dairy cows were supplemented with Se biofortified (TRT; n = 9) or non-biofortified (CTR; n = 9) alfalfa hay at a rate of 1 kg/100 kg of BW mixed with the TMR from 40 d prior parturition to 2 weeks post-partum. Se concentration in whole blood, liver, milk, and colostrum, the transfer of Se to calves, and the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were assessed. TRT had 2-fold larger (P < 0.05) Se in blood v. CTR that resulted in larger Se in liver and colostrum but not milk and larger GPx activity in plasma and erythrocytes but not in milk. Compared to CTR, calves from TRT had larger Se in blood but only a numerical (P = 0.09) larger GPx activity in plasma. A positive correlation was detected between Se in th...

Research paper thumbnail of Analysis of model organism viability through an interspecies pathway comparison pipeline using the dynamic impact approach

BackgroundComputational biologists investigate gene expression time-series data using estimation,... more BackgroundComputational biologists investigate gene expression time-series data using estimation, clustering, alignment, and enrichment methods to make biological sense of the data and provide compelling visualization. While there is an abundance of microarray and RNA-seq data available, interpreting the data while capturing the dynamism of a time-course experiment remains a difficult challenge. Advancements in RNA-seq technologies have allowed us to collect extensive profiles of diverse developmental processes but also requires additional methods for analysis and data integration to capture the increased dynamism. An approach that can both capture the dynamism and direction of change in a time-course experiment in a holistic manner and simultaneously identify which biological pathways are significantly altered is necessary for the interpretation of systems biology data. In addition, there is a need for a method to evaluate the viability of model organisms across different treatment...

Research paper thumbnail of Transcriptome analysis showed differences of two purebred cattle and their crossbreds

Italian Journal of Animal Science, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Monensin controlled-release capsule administered in late-pregnancy differentially affects rumination patterns, metabolic status, and cheese-making properties of the milk in primiparous and multiparous cows

Italian Journal of Animal Science, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of The role of altered immune function during the dry period in promoting the development of subclinical ketosis in early lactation

Journal of Dairy Science, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Flaxseed and Carbohydrase Enzyme Supplementation Alters Hepatic n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Molecular Species and Expression of Genes Associated with Lipid Metabolism in Broiler Chickens

Veterinary Sciences, 2019

Flaxseed is rich in α-linolenic acid and is used in broiler chicken diets to enrich tissues with ... more Flaxseed is rich in α-linolenic acid and is used in broiler chicken diets to enrich tissues with n-3 fatty acids (FA). However, non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) in flaxseed decreases nutrient digestibility and limits the availability of n-3 FA. Addition of carbohydrase enzymes to flaxseed-based diets can decrease the anti-nutritive effects of NSP. We hypothesized that flaxseed and enzyme supplementation affect lipid content and alter expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in broiler liver. Five day-old broiler chicks were fed a corn-soybean basal diet with 0% flaxseed, a basal diet with 10% of flaxseed, or 10% flaxseed + 0.05% enzyme diet up to day 42 of growth. Total lipids, including long-chain (≥20C) n-3 FA and monounsaturated FA, were increased in flax-fed broiler livers. Enzyme addition reduced arachidonic acid and total long chain n-6 FA. These changes were similarly reflected in phosphatidylcholine lipid species. Dietary flax and enzyme treatments up-regulated PPARα ...

Research paper thumbnail of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) deficiency affects fatty acid metabolism in goat mammary epithelial cells

Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, Jan 5, 2018

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) is a fatty acid desaturase catalyzing the cis double bond format... more Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) is a fatty acid desaturase catalyzing the cis double bond formation in Δ9 position to produce monounsaturated fatty acids essential for the synthesis of milk fat. Previous studies using RNAi methods have provided support for a role of SCD1 in goat mammary epithelial cells (GMEC); however, RNAi present several limitations that might preclude a truthful understanding of the biological function of SCD1. To explore the function of SCD1 on fatty acid metabolism in GMEC, we used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated SCD1 knockout through NHEJ (Non-Homologous End-Joining) and HDR (Homology-Directed Repair) pathways in GMEC. We successfully introduced nucleotides deletion and mutation in the SCD1 gene locus through NHEJ pathway, and disrupted its second exon via insertion of an EGFP-PuroR segment using HDR pathway. In clones derived from the latter, gene and protein expression data indicated that we obtained a monoallelic SCD1 knockout. A T7EN1-mediated assay revealed absenc...

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of Suitable Internal Control Genes for RT-qPCR in Yak Mammary Tissue during the Lactation Cycle

Research paper thumbnail of Nutrigenomics Approaches to Fine-Tune Metabolism and Milk Production: Is This the Future of Ruminant Nutrition?

Advances in Dairy Research, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Transcriptomics Comparisons of Mac-T cells Versus Mammary Tissue during Late Pregnancy and Peak Lactation

Advances in Dairy Research, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of The dilution effect and the importance of selecting the right internal control genes for RT-qPCR: a paradigmatic approach in fetal sheep

Research paper thumbnail of Blood immunometabolic indices and polymorphonuclear neutrophil function in peripartum dairy cows are altered by level of dietary energy prepartum

Journal of dairy science, 2012

Cows experience some degree of negative energy balance and immunosuppression around parturition, ... more Cows experience some degree of negative energy balance and immunosuppression around parturition, making them vulnerable to metabolic and infectious diseases. The effect of prepartum feeding of diets to meet (control, 1.34 Mcal/kg of dry matter) or exceed (overfed, 1.62 Mcal/kg of dry matter) dietary energy requirements was evaluated during the entire dry period (∼45 d) on blood polymorphonuclear neutrophil function, blood metabolic and inflammatory indices, and milk production in Holstein cows. By design, dry matter intake in the overfed group (n=9) exceeded energy requirements during the prepartum period (-4 to -1 wk relative to parturition), resulting in greater energy balance when compared with the control group (n=10). Overfed cows were in more negative energy balance during wk 1 after calving than controls. No differences were observed in dry matter intake, milk yield, and milk composition between diets. Although nonesterified fatty acid concentration pre- (0.138 mEq/L) and pos...

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Deoxynivalenol and Fumonisins Fed in Combination to Beef Cattle: Immunotoxicity and Gene Expression

Research paper thumbnail of Hepatic transcriptomic adaptation from prepartum to postpartum in dairy cows

Journal of Dairy Science, 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Analysis of model organism viability through an interspecies pathway comparison pipeline using the dynamic impact approach

Research paper thumbnail of Transcriptome analysis showed differences of two purebred cattle and their crossbreds

Italian Journal of Animal Science, Jul 17, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Coprophagy Prevention Decreases the Reproductive Performance and Granulosa Cell Apoptosis via Regulation of CTSB Gene in Rabbits

Frontiers in Physiology

Coprophagy is an instinctive behavior in rabbit with important effects on growth and reproductive... more Coprophagy is an instinctive behavior in rabbit with important effects on growth and reproductive performance. The underlying mechanism of this effect in rabbit is unknown. Here, we used Elizabeth circle as a coprophagy preventing model in female rabbits and assess feed intake, growth, and reproductive performance. We found that preventing coprophagy did not affect feed intake but decreased body weight and weight of several organs and tissues and resulted in complete reproductive failure during the late pregnancy period, accompanied by reduced levels of plasma progesterone. RNA-seq analysis of rabbit ovarian tissues revealed that preventing coprophagy affected significantly 241 genes (DEGs), with the large majority being downregulated. Bioinformatic analyses revealed that those DEGs are mostly involved in apoptosis, immune response, and metabolic pathways. Among DEGs, the lysosomal cysteine protease cathepsin B (CTSB) was significantly downregulated in the coprophagy prevention grou...

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of Pasture Type on Metabolism, Liver and Kidney Function, Antioxidant Status, and Plant Secondary Compounds in Plasma of Grazing, Jersey Dairy Cattle During Mid-lactation

Frontiers in Animal Science, 2021

Some pasture species are rich in phytochemicals, able to improve milk yield and quality and to re... more Some pasture species are rich in phytochemicals, able to improve milk yield and quality and to reduce the environmental impacts of livestock farming. The phytochemicals interact with the different gene networks within the animal, such as nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), but their overall impact on animal health remains to be fully understood. The objective of this study was to identify the effects of pasture Legumes and non-leguminous Forbs containing high bioactive compounds on metabolism and activity of the liver, antioxidant response, kidney function, and inflammation of dairy cows using a large array of blood parameters associated with metabolism and the innate immune system. For this purpose, 26 parameters and the concentration of certain bioactive compounds were assessed in blood plasma, collected from the Jersey cows grazing either Grass, Legume, or Forb-based pastures. In addition, serum collected from all the cows was utilized to detect the changes in NRF...

Research paper thumbnail of Effects of deoxynivalenol and fumonisins fed in combination on beef cattle: health and performance indices

World Mycotoxin Journal, 2020

Interactions between livestock management practices and toxicological outcomes of mycotoxin expos... more Interactions between livestock management practices and toxicological outcomes of mycotoxin exposure may explain the range of tolerable toxin levels reported for various species. In the current study, we investigated the effect of concurrent mycotoxin exposure with a high starch diet in 12 beef steers in a partial cross-over experiment using a 21-day treatment period, followed by a 14-day clearance. During the treatment period, animals were assigned to one of two diets: a low mycotoxin control total mixed ration (TMR) (0.2±0.1 mg deoxynivalenol (DON) and 0.2±0.2 mg fumonisins (FUM)/kg TMR) and a high mycotoxin TMR treatment (1.7±0.2 mg DON and 3.5±0.3 mg FUM/kg TMR). We evaluated the impacts of these mycotoxins on performance, physiology and biochemistry; and the ability of the clearance period to return animals to a naïve state in the cross-over model. The lack of acute ruminal acidosis observed indicates that the animals were able to withstand the physiological stresses of the hig...

Research paper thumbnail of Selenium Biofortified Alfalfa Hay Supplemented to Dairy Heifers During the Peripartum Affects the Antioxidant Function of Albumin but Has Little Impact on Metabolic and Immune Function

Background: the peripartum is the most critical period in dairy cows with high incidence of disea... more Background: the peripartum is the most critical period in dairy cows with high incidence of diseases due to immune dysfunctions, often paired with systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. Selenium is a trace mineral that plays an important role in anti-oxidative function and immune response. We hypothesize that supplementing dairy cows with a relatively small amount of Se-biofortified hay during the last 40 days of pregnancy and early lactation improves performance, metabolism, oxidative status, and immune response.Methods: ten Jersey and 8 Holstein pregnant dairy heifers were divided into two groups and supplemented with 1 kg/100 kg BW of Se-biofortified (Sel; n=9; 3.2 ppm Se) or non-biofortified (Ctr; n=9; 0.4 ppm Se) alfalfa hay from 40 days prior- to 2 weeks post-partum. Heifers were monitored daily for feed intake, activity, and milk yield, and weekly for BW and BCS. Milk samples were assessed for components and fatty acid profile. Blood samples were collected regularly to a...

Research paper thumbnail of Selenium biofortified alfalfa hay fed in low quantities improves selenium status and glutathione peroxidase activity in transition dairy cows and their calves

Journal of Dairy Research, 2020

The hypothesis of the study was that feeding a relatively low amount of Se biofortified alfalfa h... more The hypothesis of the study was that feeding a relatively low amount of Se biofortified alfalfa hay during the dry period and early lactation would improve selenium status and glutathione peroxidase activity in dairy cows and their calves. Ten Jersey and 8 Holstein primiparous dairy cows were supplemented with Se biofortified (TRT; n = 9) or non-biofortified (CTR; n = 9) alfalfa hay at a rate of 1 kg/100 kg of BW mixed with the TMR from 40 d prior parturition to 2 weeks post-partum. Se concentration in whole blood, liver, milk, and colostrum, the transfer of Se to calves, and the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were assessed. TRT had 2-fold larger (P < 0.05) Se in blood v. CTR that resulted in larger Se in liver and colostrum but not milk and larger GPx activity in plasma and erythrocytes but not in milk. Compared to CTR, calves from TRT had larger Se in blood but only a numerical (P = 0.09) larger GPx activity in plasma. A positive correlation was detected between Se in th...

Research paper thumbnail of Analysis of model organism viability through an interspecies pathway comparison pipeline using the dynamic impact approach

BackgroundComputational biologists investigate gene expression time-series data using estimation,... more BackgroundComputational biologists investigate gene expression time-series data using estimation, clustering, alignment, and enrichment methods to make biological sense of the data and provide compelling visualization. While there is an abundance of microarray and RNA-seq data available, interpreting the data while capturing the dynamism of a time-course experiment remains a difficult challenge. Advancements in RNA-seq technologies have allowed us to collect extensive profiles of diverse developmental processes but also requires additional methods for analysis and data integration to capture the increased dynamism. An approach that can both capture the dynamism and direction of change in a time-course experiment in a holistic manner and simultaneously identify which biological pathways are significantly altered is necessary for the interpretation of systems biology data. In addition, there is a need for a method to evaluate the viability of model organisms across different treatment...

Research paper thumbnail of Transcriptome analysis showed differences of two purebred cattle and their crossbreds

Italian Journal of Animal Science, 2018

Research paper thumbnail of Monensin controlled-release capsule administered in late-pregnancy differentially affects rumination patterns, metabolic status, and cheese-making properties of the milk in primiparous and multiparous cows

Italian Journal of Animal Science, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of The role of altered immune function during the dry period in promoting the development of subclinical ketosis in early lactation

Journal of Dairy Science, 2019

Research paper thumbnail of Flaxseed and Carbohydrase Enzyme Supplementation Alters Hepatic n-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Molecular Species and Expression of Genes Associated with Lipid Metabolism in Broiler Chickens

Veterinary Sciences, 2019

Flaxseed is rich in α-linolenic acid and is used in broiler chicken diets to enrich tissues with ... more Flaxseed is rich in α-linolenic acid and is used in broiler chicken diets to enrich tissues with n-3 fatty acids (FA). However, non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) in flaxseed decreases nutrient digestibility and limits the availability of n-3 FA. Addition of carbohydrase enzymes to flaxseed-based diets can decrease the anti-nutritive effects of NSP. We hypothesized that flaxseed and enzyme supplementation affect lipid content and alter expression of genes related to lipid metabolism in broiler liver. Five day-old broiler chicks were fed a corn-soybean basal diet with 0% flaxseed, a basal diet with 10% of flaxseed, or 10% flaxseed + 0.05% enzyme diet up to day 42 of growth. Total lipids, including long-chain (≥20C) n-3 FA and monounsaturated FA, were increased in flax-fed broiler livers. Enzyme addition reduced arachidonic acid and total long chain n-6 FA. These changes were similarly reflected in phosphatidylcholine lipid species. Dietary flax and enzyme treatments up-regulated PPARα ...

Research paper thumbnail of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) deficiency affects fatty acid metabolism in goat mammary epithelial cells

Journal of agricultural and food chemistry, Jan 5, 2018

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) is a fatty acid desaturase catalyzing the cis double bond format... more Stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1 (SCD1) is a fatty acid desaturase catalyzing the cis double bond formation in Δ9 position to produce monounsaturated fatty acids essential for the synthesis of milk fat. Previous studies using RNAi methods have provided support for a role of SCD1 in goat mammary epithelial cells (GMEC); however, RNAi present several limitations that might preclude a truthful understanding of the biological function of SCD1. To explore the function of SCD1 on fatty acid metabolism in GMEC, we used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated SCD1 knockout through NHEJ (Non-Homologous End-Joining) and HDR (Homology-Directed Repair) pathways in GMEC. We successfully introduced nucleotides deletion and mutation in the SCD1 gene locus through NHEJ pathway, and disrupted its second exon via insertion of an EGFP-PuroR segment using HDR pathway. In clones derived from the latter, gene and protein expression data indicated that we obtained a monoallelic SCD1 knockout. A T7EN1-mediated assay revealed absenc...

Research paper thumbnail of Evaluation of Suitable Internal Control Genes for RT-qPCR in Yak Mammary Tissue during the Lactation Cycle

Research paper thumbnail of Nutrigenomics Approaches to Fine-Tune Metabolism and Milk Production: Is This the Future of Ruminant Nutrition?

Advances in Dairy Research, 2014

Research paper thumbnail of Transcriptomics Comparisons of Mac-T cells Versus Mammary Tissue during Late Pregnancy and Peak Lactation

Advances in Dairy Research, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of The dilution effect and the importance of selecting the right internal control genes for RT-qPCR: a paradigmatic approach in fetal sheep

Research paper thumbnail of Blood immunometabolic indices and polymorphonuclear neutrophil function in peripartum dairy cows are altered by level of dietary energy prepartum

Journal of dairy science, 2012

Cows experience some degree of negative energy balance and immunosuppression around parturition, ... more Cows experience some degree of negative energy balance and immunosuppression around parturition, making them vulnerable to metabolic and infectious diseases. The effect of prepartum feeding of diets to meet (control, 1.34 Mcal/kg of dry matter) or exceed (overfed, 1.62 Mcal/kg of dry matter) dietary energy requirements was evaluated during the entire dry period (∼45 d) on blood polymorphonuclear neutrophil function, blood metabolic and inflammatory indices, and milk production in Holstein cows. By design, dry matter intake in the overfed group (n=9) exceeded energy requirements during the prepartum period (-4 to -1 wk relative to parturition), resulting in greater energy balance when compared with the control group (n=10). Overfed cows were in more negative energy balance during wk 1 after calving than controls. No differences were observed in dry matter intake, milk yield, and milk composition between diets. Although nonesterified fatty acid concentration pre- (0.138 mEq/L) and pos...