BRIEF COMMUNICATION: Use of cDNA microarrays to investigate gene regulation in mastitis as a result of Escherichia coli infection in the bovine mammary gland

摘要

Bovine mastitis is the result of an inflammatory event in the mammary gland usually caused by a variety of bacteria in the udder and is one of the three major causes of disease in the Dairy industry world wide. The cost of mastitis in New Zealand is estimated at NZ 180 million dollar for the industry and (Dairymsight, 2006). Around parturition and during early lactation Escherichia coli mastitis occurs with a divergent range of clinical symptoms leading to several cow deaths each year. The host's immune reaction to E. coli mastitis is an important factor influencing the outcome of the disease. In order to obtain a greater insight into the host's immune reaction, cDNA microarray analysis has been performed. Applying an appropriate pipeline of normalization, clustering and pathway analysis of genes significantly differently expressed between diseased and non diseased state, can greatly assist in the identification of key genes and pathways involved in the cow's innate immune defense system. Ultimately this information could lead to the development of new strategies to combat mastitis.