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Our research involves investigating environmental effects on fetal development and developmental physiology. Currently, we are investigating the effects of different colostrum sources on the immune development of lambs and the effects of cold stress on umbilical blood flow and fetal and placental development in sheep. In an upcoming trial, we will evaluate the effects of length of day during breeding (melatonin concentrations) on umbilical blood flow, lambing and placental weights. Further, in collaboration with the Department of Animal Science, we will continue to study environmental and nutritional effects on fetal, placental and offspring development in sheep, cattle and other domesticated species.

Currently two master’s students, Mara Johnson and Clay Schoen, and five undergraduate students, Kelcy Nagel, Cadence Goblirsch, Katy Davis, Alexis Stolicker and Emma Hille, work/help in our research.

Community characterization and functional analysis of the ��ֱ���� microbiota

The microbiota of mammals contributes significantly to various fundamental aspects of productivity and health. Whereas the human microbiota has been studied in great detail and depth, the microbiota of ��ֱ����s is much less well known. Our research focuses on analyzing the variation in the microbiota in ��ֱ����s in response to different nutrition, its association with reproduction, disease and the interactions with the ��ֱ���� hosts. One focus area of our research is the microbiota of the reproductive tract of different livestock species.

Most of the current research on microbiota describes communities at different times and conditions (i.e. “who is there”). While this is an important first step, we are applying functional analyses by using metagenome shotgun and metatranscriptome sequencing as tools to analyze the functional capacity (“what can they do”) function and activity of microbiota in situ (“what are they doing”). Both descriptive and functional methods are thus essential for our research. Interdisciplinary research is crucial to understanding the complex interactions between ��ֱ����s and their microbiota.

Food safety – persistence of Listeria monocytogenes in food production environments

The foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes is a great concern for food safety because of the high mortality rate associated with listeriosis and because of the wide occurrence of Listeria monocytogenes in food production environments. Furthermore, the long-term survival of Listeria monocytogenes in food production environments — which is also called “persistence” — poses additional risks for food safety. However, the molecular mechanisms enabling the persistence of Listeria monocytogenes are still largely unknown. To elucidate molecular mechanisms of Listeria monocytogenes’ persistence, we apply community characterization, genome and transcriptome sequencing as hypothesis-generating tools and postgenomic analyses, such as functional characterization of genes of interest using molecular biology approaches to identify genetic determinants involved in persistence. To improve food safety, a detailed knowledge on the molecular mechanisms underlying survival of Listeria monocytogenes is needed.