Roslin Institute

A single transcriptional regulator is crucial for the adaptation of Staphylococcus aureus to diverse niches

Adaptation of bacterial pathogens to new hosts often involves the exchange of mobile genetic elements, or generally the highly variable accessory genome. However, adaptation to different niches is often plastic, mediated by conserved pathways in the core genome. The general stres...

Enhancing the translational potential of the ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma model

Ovine pulmonary adenocarcinoma (OPA) is a transmissible lung cancer of sheep caused by Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV), resulting in substantial animal welfare concerns and economic losses worldwide. We previously developed a bronchoscopic JSRV catheter instillation technique...

Long‐term survival after surgical removal of an intermediate grade pancreatic carcinoma in a cat

Abstract An 11‐year‐old male neutered domestic shorthair cat presented with a history of acute diarrhoea, decreased appetite, and a palpable abdominal mass. Following clinical staging and histopathological examination after partial pancreatectomy, the cat was diagnosed with a com...

Optimizing multi‐trait selection for profitability in Illinois wheat using a factor analytic mixed model and an economic selection index

Abstract Economic selection indices can improve the efficiency of selection for multiple traits, but they are underutilized in plant breeding due to limited research on the economic values of traits and a lack of well‐documented case examples employing economic indices. This stud...

The rate and spectrum of germline mutations in chicken from a commercial pedigree line

Abstract Background Pedigree-based studies of germline mutations provide a direct understanding of the origin and consequences of genetic variation, and allow quantification of how mutations affect functional variation. Here, we use whole-genome sequencing data from 194 chicken (...

Gastrointestinal nematode diversity in Kenyan cattle at wildlife–livestock interfaces: a deep-amplicon sequencing approach

Abstract Background Gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) have significant economic impacts on livestock production worldwide. Comprehensive information on their epidemiology is crucial for effective control. In Africa, limited data are available on the genetic diversity of GIN, as mo...

Comparative Phenotypic and Molecular Characterisation of Feline Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines Reveals Marked Biological Heterogeneity

ABSTRACT Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC) is the most common oral malignancy, characterised by aggressive local invasion, frequent bone involvement, and poor prognosis. The limited availability of well‐characterised in vitro models has hindered the understanding of tum...

Impact of genomic selection for disease resistance on the spread of infection in a simulated aquaculture population

Abstract Background In aquaculture, selection for disease resistance is typically based on mortality records from challenge tests performed on relatives of selection candidates. However, commercial success depends on limiting disease transmission, particularly the incidence and s...

Fine‐needle aspirates and computed tomography assisting in the diagnosis of cholesteatoma in a dog with recurrent otitis

Summary A 10‐year‐old, male, neutered Bichon‐Frisé, with a history of recurrent otitis externa, was presented to a referral centre with sudden‐onset head tilt. Neurological examination was consistent with right peripheral vestibular syndrome and facial neuropathy. There was suspi...

‘My dog is my life’: One Health approaches to healthcare for people and their companion animals experiencing homelessness in the United Kingdom

Around one in ten people seeking shelter from homelessness in the United Kingdom have a companion animal, most commonly a dog. Dog ownership when homeless can pose a barrier to accessing healthcare and accommodation, and may force individuals to sleep on the streets. People exper...

Standardised and collaborative approaches to the development of tools to control infectious and zoonotic diseases in livestock using STAR IDAZ IRC roadmaps

Abstract The Strategic Alliance for Research into Infectious Diseases of Animals and Zoonoses (STAR IDAZ) International Research Consortium (IRC) is a global network of funders and scientists with interests in livestock health and wellbeing. STAR IDAZ IRC provides a unique platfo...

Age-related shifts of dissolved hydrogen and its impact on rumen fermentation dynamics and microbial communities in goats (Capra hircus)

Abstract The rumen is a complex anaerobic fermentation ecosystem in which microbial communities undergo dynamic changes during host development, influencing fermentation efficiency, hydrogen utilization, and methane (CH₄) production. However, how rumen maturation reshapes hydroge...

Intraoperative monitoring and anaesthetic complications in horses: A secondary analysis of the CEPEF4 multicentre cohort

Abstract Background CEPEF4 provides the most comprehensive contemporary dataset on perianaesthetic risk in horses. Intraoperative complications, monitoring and American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)‐stratified associations with death remain incompletely described. Objectives...

Viperin as a putative antiviral effector in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) cells identified by CRISPR-Cas9 functional analysis following exposure to inactivated viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus

Abstract Viperin is recognized for its potent broad-spectrum antiviral activity; however, its role in the antiviral immune response of rainbow trout ( Oncorhynchus mykiss ) remains poorly characterized. In this study, the contribution of viperin to the innate immune response agai...

Social communication during a sow-piglet foraging paradigm

Offspring may use various sensory modalities to learn from the mother, but this has in pigs received relatively little research attention. The objective of this study was to investigate social cues between sow and piglet during a learning scenario related to foraging. We hypothes...

Quantifying welfare impairment from respiratory disease in fattening pigs using adaptive conjoint analysis

Abstract Respiratory disease remains highly prevalent in pig production and constitutes a major health and welfare challenge worldwide. However, most studies assessing pig welfare impairment from respiratory disease rely on isolated animal-based indicators, limiting integration a...

Evaluating Selection Strategies Based on Inbreeding Load via Simulation

Inbreeding load is the fraction of the mutation load that is due to recessive action of mutations. This load is only expressed in individual's inbred offspring. As such, inbreeding load contributes to genetic heterogeneity among individuals and can thus be used as a criterion of...

Faecal IgA but not salivary IgA is associated with canine atopic dermatitis

Objectives To characterise immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels in the faeces and saliva of dogs with canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) and healthy breed matched controls. Materials and Methods Dogs with canine atopic dermatitis were recruited based on history, clinical examination and dia...

Complex linkage disequilibrium and quantitative trait loci in chicken

Abstract Linkage disequilibrium (LD) underpins mapping studies of Quantitative Trait Loci Regions (QTLRs). A common yet misled assumption assumes the closest sites to a significant marker as causative mutation candidates. We studied chicken LD of mapped chicken QTLRs for Marek’s...