Overview of research projects

Funding: DFG (Heisenberg), 256.200 EUR

Project Details:
The objective of this research work is to evaluate the genetic architecture of body size using a pig model in a multi-omics approach. It particularly aims at in-depth investigations of interrelations of size determining variants, transcriptional variation among miniature and large size as well as the identification of topologically associated domains (TADs) and putative enhancers involved in body size determination. This study is particularly focusing on the elucidation of the regulatory landscape in pigs and its essential role in the determination of body size.Initial analyses of whole genome sequencing data of miniature versus standard sized breeds/populations are supposed to identify potential signatures of selection reflecting high selection pressures in both directions- miniature and large size- harboring variants causative for the miniaturization across-breeds. Subsequently, I aim at detecting chromatin interactions defined as TADs and putative enhancer elements in the region of these variants involved in size-determination by targeting high intensity peaks of chromatin interactions from Hi-C analysis as well as high histone modification levels associated with active enhancers (H3K27ac and H3K4me1) from ChIP-seq in the growth plates of the long bones. These marks of active DNA sequences will then be linked to transcriptional variation in-between miniature and large pigs. An in vitro model will be established for further functional validation.This will be the first study investigating genomic and functional effects on body size specifically targeting growth plates in pigs. Based on these data, we aim at increasing the knowledge of biological processes in mammals regulating growth and determining the size of a body. This profound understanding of body size development will not only be of high importance for livestock breeding but will also provide better understanding of growth biology, developmental genetics and disturbances in growth processes.

Results:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12864-022-08801-4

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr. Stefan Mundlos, Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Genetik, Berlin

Funding: DFG, 466.350 EUR

Project Details:
The objective of this research work is to evaluate the genetic architecture of body size using a pig model in a multi-omics approach. It particularly aims at in-depth investigations of interrelations of size determining variants, transcriptional variation among miniature and large size as well as the identification of topologically associated domains (TADs) and putative enhancers involved in body size determination. This study is particularly focusing on the elucidation of the regulatory landscape in pigs and its essential role in the determination of body size.Initial analyses of whole genome sequencing data of miniature versus standard sized breeds/populations are supposed to identify potential signatures of selection reflecting high selection pressures in both directions- miniature and large size- harboring variants causative for the miniaturization across-breeds. Subsequently, I aim at detecting chromatin interactions defined as TADs and putative enhancer elements in the region of these variants involved in size-determination by targeting high intensity peaks of chromatin interactions from Hi-C analysis as well as high histone modification levels associated with active enhancers (H3K27ac and H3K4me1) from ChIP-seq in the growth plates of the long bones. These marks of active DNA sequences will then be linked to transcriptional variation in-between miniature and large pigs. An in vitro model will be established for further functional validation.This will be the first study investigating genomic and functional effects on body size specifically targeting growth plates in pigs. Based on these data, we aim at increasing the knowledge of biological processes in mammals regulating growth and determining the size of a body. This profound understanding of body size development will not only be of high importance for livestock breeding but will also provide better understanding of growth biology, developmental genetics and disturbances in growth processes.

Results:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12864-022-08801-4

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Stefan Mundlos, Max-Planck-Institut für Molekulare Genetik, Berlin

Project Details:
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Project Details:
Kniegelenkserkrankungen kommen bei Pferden regelmäßig vor. Bei der ultrasonographischen Untersichung ihrer Menisken entstehen akustische Artefakte, die mit krankhaften Befunden verwechselt werden können. In dieser Studie sollen ultrasonographische Befunde an Menisken von Pferden ohne Kniegelenkserkrankung mit anatomischen und feingeweblichen Befunden verglichen werden, um eine bessere Abgrenzung zwischen normalen Ultraschall-Befunden mit den üblichen akustischen Artefakten einerseits und pathologischen Veränderungen andererseits zu ermöglichen. Durch eine Einteilung der Präparate in verschiedene Lebensaltersgruppen wird zudem eine Einordnung alterungsbedingter morphologischer Veränderungen am Meniskus erwartet.

Results:

Geburek, F., Bodem, L., Staszyk, C.

Tears or Artifacts? Comparison between normal ultrasound and macro-anatomy of the medial femorotibial meniscus.

In: Scientific Abstracts of the 29th Annual Scientific Meeting of the ECVS. Vet. Surg. 2020, 49(S2), p. O195

https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.13478

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr. C. Staszyk, Institut für Veterinär-Anatomie, -Histologie und -Embryologie, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen

Funding: Deutscher Akadademischer Austausch Dienst (DAAD-PROCOPE), 9.108 EUR

Project Details:
Nonverbal vocal communication in humans contains information about the emotional state of the sender which can be used by the receiver. Comparing the acoustic structure and the context of production of these vocalizations across mammalian species revealed cross-taxa similarities suggesting a pre-human origin in encoding emotional information acoustically (e.g., Davila Ross et al., 2009, Newman, 1985, Zimmermann et al., 2013). In contrast to human laughter and cries, our knowledge on other nonverbal sounds such as the Sigh is limited. Therefore, the current study investigated whether vocalizations comparable to the human sigh can be found in nonhuman mammals and whether these vocalizations can be related to emotional states of the sender as well as to the quality of social interaction.
In the order Perissodactyla, horses and rhinoceros are known to produce noisy vocalizations at a high call rate (e.g. Policht et al., 2008, Yeon et al., 2011). The Snort is one of this noisy vocalizations, characterized as an explosive more or less pulsed breathing sound produced by nostril vibrations while expulsing the air. The function of this call type is not yet clear. First, it was proposed that this call type might have a hygienic function rather than a communicative function (e.g., Yeon et al., 2011, Linn et al., 2018). Second, it was proposed that the Snort might be an indicator of positive emotions or at least a relaxed state in horses. In the rhinoceros infant Snorts occurred also during affiliative interactions supporting to function as an indicator of the positive emotional state (Linn et al., 2018). This suggests that either the Snort has a communicative function to signal socially acceptance to group members or express an internal relaxed state of the sender which might affect group members via an emotional contagion mechanism.
To clarify the function of Snorts and to investigate to which extent there are cross-taxa similarities at least in the order Perissodactyla, we aim to compare Snort production between horses and rhinoceros.

Cooperation Partners:

Idu Azogu-Sepe, Serengeti Park Hodenhagen

Prof. Alban Lemasson, Rennes 1 University, France

Prof. Martine Hausberger, Rennes 1 University, France

Dr. Mathilde Stomp, Rennes 1 University, France

Planét Sauvage, Frankreich

Project Details:
Part A.) Warmblood horses without back pain are trained three times per week up to 30 minutes on a water treadmill. The remaining days the horses are in ridden training as usual. Back dimensions are objectively assessed at week 0, 3, 6 and 9 by using a flexible curved ruler. The cross-sectional areas of the deep muscles (Mm. multifidi) are determined by ultrasound examination.

Part B.) Warmblood riding horses with clinical signs of back pain are randomized into three groups to participate in a 6-week water treadmill, lunge training or dry treadmill training program at otherwise same conditions. A structured clinical examination of the thoracic and lumbar back region is performed independently by two clinicians at 3 time points (baseline, week 3, 6). Mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNT) are determined with pressure algometry.

Results:

Rogge, L., Geiger, T., Delarocque, J., Geburek, F. Water treadmill training causes a significant increase in back dimensions at the level of Th10 in warmblood riding horses without a history of back pain. In: Proceedings of the 4th Scientific Meeting of the European College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, ECVSMR; Maisons-Alfort, Paris, France, July 22-23, 2023; ECVSMR, p. 59, ISSN: 2510-8093

 

Geiger, T., Rogge, L., Delarocque, J., Geburek, F. Comparative effect of water treadmill training, lunging and treadmill training during rehabilitation of horses with back pain. In: Proceedings of the 4th Scientific Meeting of the European College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, ECVSMR; Maisons-Alfort, Paris, France, July 22-23, 2023; ECVSMR, ISSN: 2510-8093, p. 64

Funding: Pharmaceutical sector, 230.000 EUR

Project Details:
therapy development for neurodegenerative diseases

Funding: DFG Collaborative Research Centre (SFB) 1270 (2017-2025) ?Electrically Active Implants? ELAINE.

Project Details:
Der dtsz Hamster ist ein hervorragend charakterisiertes Modell für die Dystonie, der Gendefekt ist jedoch nicht bekannt. Eine Identifikation des Effektes ist wichtig zum Verständnis der Pathophysiologie der Dystonie und zur Therapieentwicklung. In diesem Projekt werden Genom und Transkriptom des Modells sequenziert und auf Gendefekte hin untersucht.

Funding: Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes

Project Details:
We investigate the pathophysiological pathways underlying post-COVID-19 syndrome with the goal to develop biomarkers and rational therapeutic intervention.

Cooperation Partners:

Prof. Dr. Gülsah Gabriel (TiHo, HPI Hamburg), Prof. Dr. Günter Höglinger (Neurology, MHH), Prof. Dr. Ulrich Kalinke (TWINCORE Hannover)

Funding: Bundesministerium für Gesundheit, Berlin (als Bestandteil der Finanzierung des WHO-CC)

Project Details:
Outside Europe, data on real antibiotic usage in veterinary medicine are available only in a few countries. In the frame of the project VetCAb-ID, a worldwide usable data base was developed that is provided to project partners for the recording of antibiotic usage in animal populations and to determine the treatment frequency of a herd or flock. The database can be individually adapted to the relevant conditions of the respective country and its animal husbandry. The concept is based on the long-time project VetCAb, where data on veterinary prescription of antibiotics in Germany are collected and analysed continuously in a standardised manner. So far, collaboration was started with partners from Chile, Pakistan, Zambia und, St. Kitts.
Link: https://ibei.tiho-hannover.de/vetcab-id

Results:

Mohsin M, Farooq U, Hartmann M, Brogden S, Kreienbrock L, Stoffregen J. Case Study: Using a Shared International Database to Document Veterinary Consumption of Antibiotics in Pakistan. Antibiotics (Basel). 2023 Feb 15;12(2):394. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics12020394.

https://ibei.tiho-hannover.de/vetcab-id

Cooperation Partners:

- Médico Veterinario, Departamento de Medicina Preventiva, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias y Pecuarias, Universidad de Chile;

- Institute of Microbiology, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad, Pakistan

- Department of Disease Control, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zambia

- Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine, Basseterre, St. Kitts und Nevis