This aim of this study was to investigate the key genes and pathways involved in the response to pain in goat and sheep by transcriptome sequencing. Chronic pain was induced with the injection of the complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) in sheep and goats. The animals were divided into four groups: CFA-treated sheep, control sheep, CFA-treated goat, and control goat groups (n = 3 in each group). The dorsal root ganglions of these animals were isolated and used for the construction of a cDNA library and transcriptome sequencing. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in CFA-induced sheep and goats and gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis was performed. In total, 1748 and 2441 DEGs were identified in CFA-treated goat and sheep, respectively. The DEGs identified in CFA-treated goats, such as C-C motif chemokine ligand 27 (CCL27), glutamate receptor 2 (GRIA2), and sodium voltage-gated channel alpha subunit 3 (SCN3A), were mainly enriched in GO functions associated with N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, inflammatory response, and immune response. The DEGs identified in CFA-treated sheep, such as gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-related DEGs (gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptor gamma 3 subunit [GABRG3], GABRB2, and GABRB1), SCN9A, and transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily V member 1 (TRPV1), were mainly enriched in GO functions related to neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, NMDA receptor, and defense response. Our data indicate that NMDA receptor, inflammatory response, and immune response as well as key DEGs such as CCL27, GRIA2, and SCN3A may regulate the process of pain response during chronic pain in goats. Neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction and NMDA receptor as well as GABA-related DEGs, SCN9A, and TRPV1 may modulate the process of response to pain in sheep. These DEGs may serve as drug targets for preventing chronic pain.

Doxorubicin (Dox)-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC) is a major clinical challenge in cancer therapy. Camel milk exosomes (CMEs) have been applied in anti-tumor treatments as they have a variety of effects, including on inflammation, oxidative stress, metastasis, and apoptosis. However, their role in DIC treatment remains incompletely understood. This research was designed to evaluate the protection provided by CMEs against DIC. The DIC mice were treated with Dox intraperitoneally and divided into a model group and groups treated with different doses of CMEs. Dox-induced H9c2 cell injury was also established and divided into a model group and groups treated with different concentrations of CMEs. The evaluation parameters in vitro included H9c2 cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondria, and apoptotic cells. The apoptosis and autophagy markers, as well as the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways, were assessed via Western blotting both in vivo and in vitro. In addition, transcriptome sequencing of cardiac tissue was also applied to investigate the related mechanisms. Our results indicate that CMEs significantly attenuated the cell viability reduction, apoptosis, and ROS production in H9c2 cells caused by Dox. CMEs also regulated autophagy, inhibited apoptosis, and inhibited the NF-κB and MAPK pathways. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate that CMEs exert a cardiac protective effect against DIC by inhibiting apoptosis and regulating autophagy via NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways.

Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) causes a highly fatal disease that severely impacts small ruminant production and global food security. This study aimed to develop a rapid, user-friendly colloidal gold immunochromatographic test strip for detecting PPRV-specific antibodies using a double-antigen sandwich format. Bioinformatic analysis using DNASTAR Protean was performed to predict candidate antigenic regions in the PPRV H and N proteins. Three predicted candidate regions from each protein were selected and incorporated into the design of the recombinant fusion antigen PPRV-H₃N₃EP. The recombinant antigen was expressed in E. coli, purified, and refolded to obtain a final concentration of 8.52 mg/mL. The strip was assembled with colloidal gold-labeled fusion protein as the detection probe and unlabeled protein coated on the test line, plus an independent mouse IgG/goat anti-mouse IgG control system. Performance evaluation showed that the results were readable within 10–15 min. The strip showed satisfactory analytical sensitivity and cross-reactivity performance, consistent qualitative results in within-batch repeatability testing, and preliminary short-term storage stability. In a comparative evaluation using sheep serum samples and a commercial competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, the overall agreement reached 97.9%. Collectively, the constructed PPRV-H₃N₃EP antigen enabled a simple, rapid, and reliable strip assay suitable for field detection of PPRV antibodies and post-vaccination monitoring, while also providing a methodological reference for developing antibody tests for other pathogens.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious animal disease caused by foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV), primarily affecting cloven-hoofed animals such as swine, cattle, and sheep. As a core metabolic pathway for maintaining cellular homeostasis, lipid metabolism is frequently hijacked by viruses via metabolic reprogramming mechanisms to support their infection cycle. Studies have demonstrated that positive-sense single-stranded RNA viruses can reshape the host cell membrane system and modulate the lipid metabolic network, thereby constructing a favorable microenvironment for their invasion and replication. However, the molecular mechanisms by which FMDV—also a positive-sense single-stranded RNA virus—promotes viral replication through the regulation of lipid metabolism remain incompletely elucidated. In this study, we found that inhibiting the key enzymes involved in the lipid metabolic pathway could significantly suppress FMDV proliferation. Exogenous supplementation of the downstream products catalyzed by these key enzymes notably restored FMDV replication, indicating that FMDV replication is dependent on lipids. Furthermore, we observed a significant upregulation in the protein expression of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A (CPT1A) in host cells following FMDV infection. Inhibition of this enzyme led to a marked reduction in FMDV replication, suggesting that FMDV may enhance the fatty acid β-oxidation pathway to supply energy for its replication. In conclusion, this study comprehensively verified the critical role of lipid metabolism in FMDV replication through multidimensional assays involving the administration of inhibitors targeting key enzymes in the lipid metabolic pathway. These findings provide novel theoretical insights for the development of antiviral drugs and the prevention and control of FMD.

This study focuses on optimizing the liquid preservation protocol for Mongolian sheep semen at 17 °C. We systematically compared the protective effects of eight extender formulations on sperm quality and analyzed dynamic metabolic changes under optimal storage conditions via LC-MS/MS metabolomics, aiming to provide experimental evidence for improving semen preservation techniques and to establish a foundation for the selection of preservation media in future germplasm conservation efforts. By comparing eight diluents, a semen preservation formulation for Mongolian sheep was optimized. The eighth diluent, including fructose, lactose, and Tris, effectively sustained sperm motility during liquid storage at 17 °C. To clarify the underlying metabolic mechanism, LC-MS/MS metabolomics identified 2669 metabolites in spermatozoa at storage times of 0, 48, 96, and 144 h. Based on the metabolomics analysis of differential metabolites, three antioxidants including vitamin E (acting as the basic antioxidant protection), lycopene (for targeted inhibition of lipid peroxidation) and resveratrol (suggested to have endogenous protective effects) were used for exogenous addition experiments. Subsequently, the optimal concentrations for addition were screened: resveratrol (25 μM), lycopene (5 μM), and vitamin E (1.5 μM). Verification experiments revealed that each of the three antioxidants could independently sustain sperm viability above 50% for up to 7 days. Moreover, the combined supplementation exhibited a synergistic effect, increasing sperm viability to 55.05%. This study not only elucidates the underlying mechanism of sperm preservation at the metabolic level, but also provides a validated formulation basis and theoretical support for the development of efficient sheep semen preservatives.