Advances in proteomics for animal and food sciences

Authors: ALMEIDA, A - Avenida Da Universidade Tecnica; BASSOLS, A - University Of Barcelona; BENDIXEN, E - Aarhus University; BHIDE, M - University Of Veterinary And Pharmaceutical Sciences; CECILIANI, F - University Of Milan; CRISTOBAL, S - Linkoping University; ECKERSALL, P - University Of Glasgow; HOLLUNG, K - Nofima; LISACEK, F - Swiss Institute Of Bioinformatics; MAZZUCCHELLI, G - University Of Liege; MCLAUGHLIN, M - University Of Glasgow; MILLER, I - University Of Veterinary Medicine; Nally, Jarlath; PLOWMAN, J - Agresearch; RENAUT, J - Centre De Recherche Public - Gabriel Lippmann; RODRIGUES, P - University Of Algarve; RONCADA, P - University Of Milano; STARIC, J - University Of Ljubljana; TURK, R - University Of Zagreb

Submitted to: Animal-The International Journal of Animal Biosciences
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2014
Publication Date: 1/5/2015
Citation: Almeida, A.M., Bassols, A., Bendixen, E., Bhide, M., Ceciliani, F., Cristobal, S., Eckersall, P.D., Hollung, K., Lisacek, F., Mazzucchelli, G., Mclaughlin, M., Miller, I., Nally, J.E., Plowman, J., Renaut, J., Rodrigues, P., Roncada, P., Staric, J., Turk, R. 2015. Advances in proteomics for animal and food sciences. Animal-The International Journal of Animal Biosciences. 9(1):1-17. DOI: 10.1017/S1751731114002602.

Interpretive Summary: Proteomics is the study of all proteins present in a defined biosystem. Whilst proteomic technologies have advanced significantly over the last decade and are being routinely applied to investigate a range of scientific questions, they are only recently being applied to address scientific questions related to animal production and health. Thus a unique consortium was formed and funded by a European Union Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action entitled Farm Animal Proteomics (www.cost-faproteomics.org). This COST action had 3 working groups (WG): WG1 covered the application of farm animal proteomics and animal health, WG2 covered proteomics of food of animal origin and WG3 covered advancing methodologies for farm animal proteomics. This manuscript describes the activities of the COST action on Farm Animal Proteomics since it was formed, including organization of seminars, workshops and major scientific conferences, the organization of training schools, the financing of Short Term Scientific Missions between laboratories as well as the generation of scientific literature and the successful applications of proteomics in animal production and health.

Technical Abstract: Animal production and health (APH) are important sectors to the world economy, representing a large proportion of the budget of all member states in the EU and in other continents. APH are highly competitive sectors with a strong emphasis on innovation and, albeit country to country variations, on scientific research. Proteomics (the study of all proteins present in a given tissue or fluid, i.e. the proteome) has an enormous potential when applied to APH. Nevertheless, for a variety of reasons and in contrast to disciplines such as plant sciences or human biomedicine, such potential is only now being tapped. To counter such limited usage, six years ago we created a consortium dedicated to the applications of Proteomics to APH, specifically in the form of a Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action, termed FA1002 – Proteomics in Farm Animals: www.cost-faproteomics.org. In four years, the consortium quickly enlarged to a total of 31 countries in Europe, as well as Israel, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand. This article has a triple purpose. First, we aim to provide clear examples on the applications and benefits of the use of proteomics in all aspects related to APH. Second, we will provide insights and possibilities on the new trends and objectives for APH proteomics applications and technologies for the years to come. Finally we provide an overview and balance of the major activities and accomplishments of the COST action on Farm Animal Proteomics. These include activities such as the organization of seminars, workshops and major scientific conferences, organization of summer schools, financing STSMs – Short Term Scientific Missions and the generation of scientific literature. Overall, the Action has attained all the proposed objectives and made a considerable difference by putting proteomics on the global map for animal and veterinary researchers in general and contributing significantly to reduce the East-West and North-South gaps existing in European farm animal research. Future activities of significance in the field of scientific research, involving members of the action, as well as others, will likely be established in the future.