Aspen Scott, a Washington State University student from Sunnyside, WA, is focusing his summer research fellowship on the immune system adjustments of dairy cows transitioning from late pregnancy to early lactation. Under the guidance of Dr. Caio Figueiredo, Scott employs advanced transcriptomic techniques to investigate this critical phase in a cow's life.
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Utilizing RNA sequencing technology, his research analyzes the expression of over 20,000 genes in white blood cells from dairy cows before and after calving. This study contrasts healthy cows with those experiencing transition-period diseases and explores variations linked to parity, liver health, and physiological changes around calving. By identifying differentially expressed genes and their associated biological pathways, Scott aims to elucidate how the immune system responds to the challenges faced during this critical period.
This project addresses a significant gap in dairy cattle health research. Conditions like metritis, ketosis, and hypocalcemia can severely impact animal health and productivity, yet there is limited understanding of gene expression changes in immune cells in relation to calving. Scott's findings could pave the way for enhanced diagnostic tools that enable veterinarians and producers to detect health issues early, thereby improving animal welfare and treatment decisions. Scott remarked, "Transcriptomics is the future of human medicine, and it is extremely likely to play a vital role in the future of veterinary medicine as well. I got into veterinary medicine because I want to help people, and I would love to see my work used someday for improving diagnostics and cow welfare."