Abstract
Application of proteomic investigation to veterinary and animal sciences has grown over the last decade, but has still not reached its full potential of application in animal health and production research [1]. Nevertheless, establishing a versatile methodology has allowed the application of quantitative proteomics for increased understanding of physiological and pathophysiological challenges, and especially to identify potential biomarkers of disease in a range of animal species. A pipeline of sample preparation and mass spectrometry followed by statistical, bioinformatic and biochemical analyses has been established to deal with biofluids and tissue samples from cattle, sheep, pigs, chickens, dogs and cats as well as wild animals. Quantitative proteomic investigation of milk in an experimental model of Streptococcus uberis mastitis of dairy cows has identified potential novel biomarkers with implications for diagnosis and treatment of this major disease. Proteins in milk which have potential as disease biomarkers, such as cathelicidin, haptoglobin and mammary associated serum amyloid A3, are significantly increased in abundance during bovine mastitis. Proteomic investigation has confirmed that these biomarkers are also increased in milk during subclinical and clinical mastitis. Proteomic analysis of plasma from chicken following stimulation of the inflammatory response to Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide endotoxin has characterised major changes in the chicken plasma proteome. Novel biomarker candidates of hemopexin and fatty acid binding protein have been identified. This proteomic pipeline can be incorporated into many areas of research, providing novel findings at the forefront of animal and veterinary science. Such proteomic investigation requires close interdisciplinary collaboration between experts in mass spectrometry, bioinformatics, statistics and animal production in order to fully exploit recent technological advances in the omic sciences.[1] P. Bilic, et al, Proteomics in Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science: Neglected Scientific Opportunities with Immediate Impact, Proteomics. 47 (2018) 1–7. doi:10.1002/pmic.201800047.