Milk proteins in bovine mastitis: biomarkers of disease and biological function
Supervisors:
Dr Robert Graham, Institute for Global Food Security (Queen's University Belfast)
Dr Mark McLaughin, School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine (University of Glasgow)
Prof Ciaren Graham, Institute for Global Food Security (Queen's University Belfast)
Dr Lorenzo Viora, School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine (University of Glasgow)
Mr George King, School of Biodiversity, One Health and Veterinary Medicine (University of Glasgow)
Summary:
The PhD project on Milk proteins in bovine mastitis: biomarkers of disease and biological function aims to identify and develop biomarker panels for better diagnosis of bovine mastitis, which is the disease in dairy cows that causes significant loss of production and reduced health and welfare for the animals. Mastitis is caused by bacterial infection of the mammary gland and early detection of subclinical infections, would allow more rapid treatment and elimination of infection thus reducing the use of antimicrobials. Furthermore, a laboratory investigation on the functions of a milk protein, haptoglobin, which is only secreted in milk during mastitis will reveal whether this protein has a detrimental effect in enhancing the host response to the infection and could therefore be a target for future therapeutic intervention.
The project will provide training for research in advanced proteomics, in vitro tissue culture, diagnostic test development and critical assessment and in the investigation for improvement of animal welfare relating to health and disease. It will also introduce concepts of technology transfer with issues related to the introduction of novel technology to stakeholders and end-users on farm and in veterinary practices.