Beyond the Chicken: Alternative Avian Models for Developmental Physiological Research

Biomedical research focusing on physiological, morphological, behavioral, and other aspects of development has long depended upon the chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) as a key animal model that is presumed to be typical of birds and generally applicable to mammals. Yet, the modern chicken in its many forms is the result of artificial selection more intense than almost any other domesticated animal. A consequence of great variation in genotype and phenotype is that some breeds have inherent aberrant physiological and morphological traits that may show up relatively early in development (e.g., hypertension, hyperglycemia, and limb defects in the broiler chickens). While such traits can be useful as models of specific diseases, this high degree of specialization can color general experimental results and affect their translational value. Against this background, in this review we first consider the characteristics that make an animal model attractive for developmental research (e.g., accessibility, ease of rearing, size, fecundity, development rates, genetic variation, etc.). We then explore opportunities presented by the embryo to adult continuum of alternative bird models, including quail, ratites, songbirds, birds of prey, and corvids. We conclude by indicating that expanding developmental studies beyond the chicken model to include additional avian groups will both validate the chicken model as well as potentially identify even more suitable avian models for answering questions applicable to both basic biology and the human condition.

Download Full-text

Recent advances in animal model experimentation in autism research

Acta Neuropsychiatrica ◽

10.1017/neu.2013.58 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 26 (5) ◽

pp. 264-271 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Mousumi Tania ◽

Md. Asaduzzaman Khan ◽

Kun Xia

Keyword(s):

Animal Model ◽

Animal Models ◽

Human Condition ◽

Behavioral Alterations ◽

Important Place ◽

Adult Mice ◽

Recent Advances ◽

Model Study ◽

Disease Biology ◽

Animal Model Study

ObjectiveAutism, a lifelong neuro-developmental disorder is a uniquely human condition. Animal models are not the perfect tools for the full understanding of human development and behavior, but they can be an important place to start. This review focused on the recent updates of animal model research in autism.MethodsWe have reviewed the publications over the last three decades, which are related to animal model study in autism.ResultsAnimal models are important because they allow researchers to study the underlying neurobiology in a way that is not possible in humans. Improving the availability of better animal models will help the field to increase the development of medicines that can relieve disabling symptoms. Results from the therapeutic approaches are encouraging remarkably, since some behavioral alterations could be reversed even when treatment was performed on adult mice. Finding an animal model system with similar behavioral tendencies as humans is thus vital for understanding the brain mechanisms, supporting social motivation and attention, and the manner in which these mechanisms break down in autism. The ongoing studies should therefore increase the understanding of the biological alterations associated with autism as well as the development of knowledge-based treatments therapy for those struggling with autism.ConclusionIn this review, we have presented recent advances in research based on animal models of autism, raising hope for understanding the disease biology for potential therapeutic intervention to improve the quality of life of autism individuals.

Download Full-text

Molecular mechanisms of growth depression in broiler chickens (Gallus Gallus domesticus) mediated by immune stress: a hepatic proteome study

Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology ◽

10.1186/s40104-021-00591-1 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Aijuan Zheng ◽

Anrong Zhang ◽

Zhimin Chen ◽

Shoaib Ahmed Pirzado ◽

Wenhuan Chang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Broiler Chickens ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Gallus Gallus ◽

Gallus Domesticus ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Poultry Production ◽

Gallus Gallus Domesticus ◽

Growth Depression ◽

Stress Group ◽

Immune Stress

Abstract Background Immunological stress decreases feed intake, suppresses growth and induces economic losses. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unclear. Label-free liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry (LC-MS) proteomics techniques were employed to investigate effects of immune stress on the hepatic proteome changes of Arbor Acres broilers (Gallus Gallus domesticus) challenged with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Results Proteomic analysis indicated that 111 proteins were differentially expressed in the liver of broiler chickens from the immune stress group. Of these, 28 proteins were down-regulated, and 83 proteins were up-regulated in the immune stress group. Enrichment analysis showed that immune stress upregulated the expression of hepatic proteins involved in defense function, amino acid catabolism, ion transport, wound healing, and hormone secretion. Furthermore, immune stress increased valine, leucine and isoleucine degradation pathways. Conclusion The data suggests that growth depression of broiler chickens induced by immune stress is triggered by hepatic proteome alterations, and provides a new insight into the mechanism by which immune challenge impairs poultry production.

Download Full-text

Another animal model for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis: how close to the human condition?

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition ◽

10.1093/ajcn/79.3.350 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 79 (3) ◽

pp. 350-351 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Amin A Nanji

Keyword(s):

Animal Model ◽

Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis ◽

Human Condition ◽

The Human Condition

Download Full-text

A model-driven framework for multi-paradigm modeling and holistic simulation of healthcare systems

SIMULATION ◽

10.1177/0037549717744888 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 94 (3) ◽

pp. 235-257 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Ignace Djitog ◽

Hamzat O Aliyu ◽

Mamadou K Traoré

Keyword(s):

Model Transformation ◽

Healthcare Systems ◽

Integrative Approach ◽

Efficient Design ◽

Model Driven ◽

Dynamic Update ◽

Modeling Methodology ◽

Multiple Levels ◽

High Degree ◽

Answering Questions

The domain of healthcare is characterized by a high degree of complexity and a diversity of perspectives, and modelers are often confronted with the challenge of formulating a simulation model that captures this complexity in a systematic and manageable manner. Most often, the diverse perspectives of healthcare systems are studied in isolation and using specific formalisms. As it turns out, answering questions concerning behavioral properties of the overall system becomes difficult and therefore not sufficient for an efficient design and analysis of the system under study. In this article, we propose a framework for multi-paradigm modeling and holistic simulation of healthcare systems. We present a modeling methodology with a plethora of formalisms to allow the modeler to choose an appropriate formalism at a given level of abstraction while model transformation relates the different formalisms. Furthermore, we develop an integrative approach for the interactions between models of different perspectives through dynamic update of model output-to-parameter integration during concurrent simulations. Such an approach provides multiple levels of explanation for the same system, while offering, at the same time, an integrated view of the whole. The framework has successfully been applied to study part of the Nigerian healthcare system.

Download Full-text

A Review of Current Knowledge on Staphylococcus agnetis in Poultry

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10081421 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (8) ◽

pp. 1421

Author(s):

Gustaw M. Szafraniec ◽

Piotr Szeleszczuk ◽

Beata Dolka

Keyword(s):

Virulence Factors ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Gallus Domesticus ◽

Gallus Gallus Domesticus ◽

Poultry Industry ◽

Emerging Pathogen ◽

Welfare Losses ◽

Host Jump ◽

Global Problems

This review aims to summarize recent discoveries and advancements regarding the characteristics of Staphylococcus agnetis (S. agnetis) and its role in poultry pathology. S. agnetis is an emerging pathogen that was primarily associated with mastitis in dairy cattle. After a presumed host jump from cattle to poultry, it was identified as a pathological agent in broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus), causing lameness induced by bacterial chondronecrosis with osteomyelitis (BCO), septicemia, and valvular endocarditis. Economic and welfare losses caused by lameness are global problems in the poultry industry, and S. agnetis has been shown to have a potential to induce high incidences of lameness in broiler chickens. S. agnetis exhibits a distinct repertoire of virulence factors found in many different staphylococci. It is closely related to S. hyicus and S. chromogenes, hence infections caused by S. agnetis may be misdiagnosed or even undiagnosed. As there are very few reports on S. agnetis in poultry, many facts about its pathogenesis, epidemiology, routes of transmission, and the potential impacts on the poultry industry remain unknown.

Download Full-text