2007 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416) The objective of this research area is to develop novel imaging technologies aimed at confronting critical issues facing production animal agriculture by monitoring, in real-time, cellular and molecular processing in the context of the living organism. Specific research projects will cover a broad range of research in the cellular and molecular biological sciences, disease-environment interactions, and growth and developmental physiology with applications aimed at understanding physiological mechanisms for enhancing production performance in livestock. 1b.Approach (from AD-416) As part of this initiative, novel technologies which utilize the photon (light), thermal signatures (heat) and fluorescence will be adapted to cellular- and molecular-based strategies to permit physiological processes to be monitored in a dynamic fashion at the levels of single, living cells to entire livestock in vivo. These non-invasive technologies (e.g., biophotonics, which uses light as a quantitative indicator beacon of molecular processes) will enable the expression of genes, the invasiveness of bacteria, or hormone-receptor interactions to be visualized in living systems both in the laboratory and under traditional livestock production environments. Faculty with expertise in functional imaging will interface with collaborating scientists working in the animal and veterinary sciences to develop these novel systems aimed at addressing specific hypothesis-driven and production-based questions. Results from this initiative will not only develop new models to advance scientific progress in reproductive biology, food safety, disease and environmental physiology, but will also develop technological advancements that will address experimentally critical questions which heretofore have not been addressable in living animals. 3.Progress Report This report serves to document research conducted under Specific Cooperative Agreement between ARS and Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station. Additional details of research can be found in the report for the in-house project 6402-21310-001-00D, “Genomics and Bioinformatics Research in Catfish, Cotton, and Soybeans.” The ADODR has utilized personal meetings and email communication to monitor performance. Approach: The purpose of this initiative is to develop novel, real-time imaging technologies to confront critical issues facing production animal agriculture. As part of this initiative, novel technologies that utilize the photon (light) and thermal signatures (heat) are being adapted to molecular-based strategies which will permit live animal imaging of specific physiological processes. 2007 Research Progress: A minimally invasive approach for monitoring Salmonella bacteria in a swine model awas developed. These procedures will be extended into an applied model system of bacterial transmission during transport and holding in the upcoming year. Studies have also employed a modified E. coli organism to investigate pathogen progression in the horse and ewe in-vivo from the uterine environment to the fetus. In addition, we are continuing to develop an in-vitro model for monitoring bacterial turn-over in an artificial rumen system using biophotonic applications, which may shed new light on the function of the rumen and the efficiency of bacterial populations in converting feedstuffs and forages. Studies are also continuing to evaluate the use of thermography (skin/coat surface heat detection) to monitor heat load and evaporative cooling in various breeds of dairy and beef cattle. We have identified skin surface vs core temperature-related differences among breeds using thermal imaging that are more resolved than other techniques. We have also determined that thermal imaging of the muzzle (nose) may be a highly sensitive region for body temperature determination and may have value as a rapid screening tool for identifying sick cattle in feedlots and dairy parlors. We have also been addressing the relationship between thermal signatures of beef cattle of different breed types and temperament to develop a rapid screening tool for evaluating animal stress, temperament and/or health during the growing and finishing phases of development. Finally, studies are continuing to evaluate the usefulness of thermal imaging for the purpose of detecting estrus in swine and for the monitoring equine laminitis detection and general hoof health monitoring. In our swine studies, we have identified a distinct estrus-related thermal signature which may reduce the incidence of a missed estrus in production swine breeding operations.