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Department of Ruminant Science
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| DVIR HAY |
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Team:Hay Dvir, Ramgopal Mopuri, Mugagga Kalyesubula, Ido Toyber, Alex Rosov |
| Fatty liver in sheep as a model system for hepatic steatosis in human |
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a growing worldwide epidemic. The rise in its prevalence paralleled that of obesity, metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, all of which are tightly associated with overnutrition and sedentary lifestyle. We have established a nutritional model for hepatic steatosis in sheep. The project aims at studying the role of dietary factors in modulation of hepatic steatosis, and at testing their benefits as therapeutic agents.
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| DVIR HAY |
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Team:Hay Dvir, Ramgopal Mopuri, Mugagga Kalyesubula, Ido Toyber, Alex Rosov |
| Sheep model for Diabetes Ketoacidosis & therapy development |
Diabetes patients are susceptible to increased levels of blood ketone bodies. At high levels, a serious complication known as diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA) may develop. Based on our successful treatment of hyperketonemia in sheep, this project aims at evaluating the treatment in a sheep model for DKA, with the goal of developing efficient therapy.
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| DVIR HAY |
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Team:Hay Dvir, Ramgopal Mopuri, Mugagga Kalyesubula, Alex Rosov |
| Treatment of Pregnancy Toxemia in Sheep |
Pregnancy toxemia develops high-producing sheep and goats as a result of insufficient energy consumption during late pregnancy. This state triggers fat mobilization from the adipose tissue for the catabolism in the liver. Such a state of negative energy balance enhances hepatic fat accumulation. In fact, fatty liver is the major pathological metabolic derangement associated with pregnancy toxemia. We have recently found a treatment of capacity to reduce hepatic steatosis in lambs. Based on this discovery, the aim of this project is to test its efficiency in treatment of pregnancy toxemia in pregnant ewes.
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Poultry and Aquaculture
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| Epigenetic regulation of stress response |
The research will focus on heritability of stress phenotype concentrating on alterations in epigenetic markers in the Hypothalamus including DNA methylation, histone post-translational modifications and microRNA
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| Involvement of thyroid axis function during larval development on the epigenetic programing of fish metabolism. |
Thyroid hormones play a critical role during early development of vertebrates and drive metamorphosis of fish larvae. Accumulating evidence suggests that perturbations of thyroid axis function during early stages of development can affect the physiology of the adult animal. Our research investigates how changes in the function of the thyroid axis during fish larval development can epigenetically program the metabolism of the juvenile and adult fish. Main methods include the generation and use of transgenic fish, in vivo imaging, and molecular biology.
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| The role of cell-cell communication in control of GnRH neuronal migration |
Reproduction in vertebrates is dependent upon correct migration of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neurons from their birthplace in the nose to the hypothalamus. We have shown that in fish these cells form a tightly synaptically-wired circuit during early development and that this coupling is critical for the proper migration of the cells. Our research is now focused on revealing how the population exerts its control over the individual cells by dissecting the molecular processes that mediate the strength of the coupling and underlie the decision of a single cell to stop or migrate.
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| Generating Nile tilapia with heightened appetite using genome editing technology |
We are currently establishing genome-editing approaches for the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), one of the world’s most important food fishes. Cocaine and amphetamine regulated transcript (CART) is a neuropeptide that strongly and negatively regulate appetite in fish, and the tilapia genome contains six potential CART genes. The current project aims to: 1. Identify the appetite regulating CART genes in the tilapia genome. 2. Induce loss-of-function mutations in the tilapia CART genes to generate tilapia with increased-appetite. The study will involve molecular work as well as in-vivo experiments in Nile tilapia.
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| Regulation of alternative splicing in the zebrafish brain |
Pac1 is the cognate receptor of the neuropeptide PACAP. Activity dependent shift in the expression of Pac1 splice-isoforms was previously demonstrated in the brain of zebrafish responding to stress. We have recently developed a Pac1 splice-specific knockout zebrafish. This mutant display perturbed behavioral stress response. The current project aims to: 1. Identify the molecular and cellular pathways regulating the perturbed behavioral response of the knockout fish. 2. Identify novel homeostatic functions regulated by Pac1 isoforms. The study will involve cutting-edge molecular work as well as in-vivo experiments in zebrafish.
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| Updated on: 08/08/19 10:01 |
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