We have previously bred Chinese local dairy sheep through grading up with local Small-Tailed Han (STH) sheep as female parent and DairyMeade (DM) sheep as male parent. In this research communication we characterize the whey protein profile of STH sheep and their offspring (F1, F2) to reveal physiological differences and variation in milk traits. A total of 1032 whey proteins were identified through tandem mass tag labeling (TMT) proteome profiling. Three proteins were significantly differentially abundant between F1 and STH milk, six between F2 and STH milk and five between F1 and F2 milk. In terms of differential changes between generations, WASHC4 and CUTA of F1 and Ig-like domain-containing protein of F2 milk were dominant whey proteins. Overall, the results showed that the whey protein profiles of different generations varied little. The crossbreeds of STH and DM sheep would be suitable for the development of the Chinese local sheep milk industry, and the F2 may be a better population for sheep milk production.

There is an increasing interest in improving neurocysticercosis (NCC) diagnosis through the search of new and alternative antigenic sources, as those obtained from heterologous antigens. The aim of this study was to obtain potential biomarkers for NCC diagnosis after gel filtration chromatography [gel filtration fraction (GFF)] from the total saline extract (SE) from Taenia saginata metacestodes, followed by protein identification and application in immunodiagnostic. SE and GFF proteic profiles were characterized in gel electrophoresis, and diagnostic performance was verified by testing 160 serum samples through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunoblotting. Sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp) and other diagnostic parameters were calculated. Polypeptides of interest in the diagnosis of human NCC present at GFF were analysed by mass spectrometry (MS) and B-cell epitopes were predicted. GFF had the best diagnostic parameters: Se 93·3%; Sp 93%; AUC 0·990; LR+ = 13·42 and LR− = 0·07, and proved to be useful reacting with serum samples in immunoblotting. Proteic profile ranged from 64 to 68 kDa and enolase and calcium binding protein calreticulin precursor were identified after MS. The enolase and calcium-binding protein calreticulin precursor showed 18 and 10 predicted B-cell epitopes, respectively. In conclusion we identified important markers in the GFF with high efficiency to diagnose NCC.

Trypanosoma brucei is the etiological agent of devastating parasitic disease in humans and livestock in sub-saharan Africa. The pathogenicity and growth of the parasite are intimately linked to its shape and form. This is in turn derived from a highly ordered microtubule cytoskeleton that forms a tightly arrayed cage directly beneath the pellicular membrane and numerous other cytoskeletal structures such as the flagellum. The parasite undergoes extreme changes in cellular morphology during its life cycle and cell cycles which require a high level of integration and coordination of cytoskeletal processes. In this review we will discuss the role that proteomics techniques have had in advancing our understanding of the molecular composition of the cytoskeleton and its functions. We then consider future opportunities for the application of these techniques in terms of addressing some of the unanswered questions of trypanosome cytoskeletal cell biology with particular focus on the differences in the composition and organisation of the cytoskeleton through the trypanosome life-cycle.

To better understand the molecular mechanisms involved in the biodegradation of hydrocarbon compounds from the “Erika” oil-spill, we have studied the ability of Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus strain sp 17 to cope with hexadecane as sole carbon and energy source. Growth kinetics of cultures shifted from acetate to hexadecane revealed the presence of a 20 hours adaptation phase. Changes in global protein expression in response to hexadecane was analyzed by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. Of the 370 proteins detected 42 had their expression level altered in presence of hexadecane indicating that alkane adaptation may involve many cellular functions.

The sequencing of the human genome represented a watershed in the biological sciences. Post-genomic biology will be marked not only by vastly greater knowledge about the human genome and those of other species but will see an increasing application of novel and highly sophisticated technologies. Genomic strategies, together with those that look at the proteome of cells and tissues, are likely to revolutionize scientific research over the coming years. The ease with which novel and homologous genes can be isolated using the new databases and technologies, and the ability to study the expression of thousands of genes simultaneously at a global cellular level will be the major factors in this revolution. Genomic information is already being used to further our understanding of physiology and gene evolution in fish. Furthermore, the highly compact pufferfish (Takifugu rubripes) genome is being used extensively as a model to interpret those of tetrapods. Currently, studies of the fish genome are limited to gene evolution and to a much lesser extent, environmental toxicology. However, as interpretation of fish genomes gathers pace, we are likely to see the increasing involvement of other key areas such as reproduction, growth, pathology of disease, and flesh development/quality. Here, we present some of the advanced genomic technologies currently available and discuss how these might influence our knowledge of fish biology.