• Coussens, Paul (molecular pathogenesis, immunobiology, functional genomics)
• Ernst, Cathy (swine and bovine molecular genetics, growth biology, meat science)
• Templeman, Robert (biometry, livestock genetic evaluation, functional genomics)

Paul M. Coussens, Professor
Principal Investigator, Molecular Pathogenesis Laboratory
Depts. Animal Science and Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
Chris Colvin, Research Technician and Laboratory Coordinator

The Molecular Pathogenesis Laboratory (MPL) focuses on the nature, cause, and host response to infectious diseases in livestock species. As many of the pathogens of importance to livestock species are zoonotics, our work often has biomedical implications, as well as relevance to animal health. Pathogens currently under study with a network of national and international collaborators include Mycobacterium paratuberculosis (Johne's disease), M. bovis (bovine tuberculosis), bovine viral diarrhea virus, Brucella abortus, and several parasitic diseases in cattle. Work within the MPL is aided by an outstanding base of state-of-the-art equipment and tools for functional genomics. Although highly molecular in our approach to studying pathogenesis, all students in the MPL work with the appropriate host species, gaining experience in sampling and recognizing the effects of infectious disease. Students within the MPL also have ample opportunities for travel to multiple international laboratories of our collaborators during their course of study.

Catherine W. Ernst, Associate Professor
Principal Investigator, Molecular Genetics Laboratory
Nancy Raney, Research Technician and Laboratory Coordinator

The overall goal of the Molecular Genetics Laboratory is to identify and evaluate molecular markers for the genetic improvement of pigs and beef cattle with emphasis on performance traits and carcass composition. Current research projects involve mapping and functional evaluation of genes and genetic markers in pigs and cattle, identification of differentially expressed genes in developing pig skeletal muscle, determination of nutritionally regulated gene expression patterns in pigs, and establishment of resource populations for identifying quantitative trait loci (QTL) for carcass merit and meat quality in pigs and beef cattle. A major emphasis area for the lab is comparative mapping of genes in the pig. Pig sequence-tagged sites (STS) are developed from human gene sequence and are placed on the INRA-University of Minnesota radiation hybrid map. These STS are also screened for the presence of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which are then used for linkage mapping on the international PiGMaP or USDA-MARC genetic maps. Another major research area involves identification of differentially expressed genes in developing pig skeletal muscle in order to better understand the mechanisms controlling skeletal muscle growth and development. Initial studies have utilized differential display PCR and cDNA microarray analysis, and further transcriptional profiling studies are planned in collaboration with Dr. Matt Doumit. Similar techniques are also being employed in a collaborative study with Dr. Gretchen Hill to identify genes regulated by zinc supplementation of nursery pigs. An F2 swine resource population involving an initial cross of Pietrain and Duroc animals is currently under development in collaboration with Dr. Ron Bates. DNA, tissues and extensive phenotypic records are being stored for each animal in the population and when completed, the population will be one of the largest in the world for performing QTL analyses in swine. An F2 population is also being developed for beef cattle with Angus and Limousin foundation animals in collaboration with Drs. Dennis Banks and Richard Pursley. In addition to numerous collaborations with MSU scientists, projects in the molecular genetics lab also involve collaborations with other university, USDA and international scientists, including a collaboration with scientists at the National Food Centre in Dublin, Ireland.

Robert J. Tempelman, Professor
Quantitative Genetics Laboratory

Our research program is centered around the development and application of hierarchical statistical models to inferential problems in animal breeding and genetics. Hierarchical Bayesian models are particularly useful for modeling multiple layers of variability and heterogeneity as characteristic of field data and genomics data. Our two broad areas of application are currently in 1) livestock genetic evaluation and 2) functional genomics. One recent specific application from our group has involved the genetic evaluation of calving ease, where models allowing for outlier-robustness and heterogeneous variability across environments (for example, herds) were found to fit field data much better than conventional genetic evaluation models. Other recent applications include the development of genetic evaluation models when uncertain paternity is common (as in extensive cattle production systems), and multi-breed genetic evaluations. Our current efforts are directed towards the construction of hierarchical models for the analysis of cDNA microarray data in the anticipation of better control over false negative and false positive rates on conclusions regarding differential gene expression. We also collaborate extensively with many other researchers on campus, particularly in the application of mixed effects and/or Bayesian model analyses to experimental and observational data.