Understanding the molecular pattern of fertility is considered as an important step in breeding of different species, and despite the high importance of the fertility, little success has been achieved in dissecting the interactome basis of sheep fertility. However, the complex mechanisms associated with prolificacy in sheep have not been fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to use competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks to evaluate this trait to better understand the molecular mechanisms responsible for fertility. A competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network of the corpus luteum was constructed between Romanov and Baluchi sheep breeds with either good or poor genetic merit for prolificacy using whole-transcriptome analysis. First, the main list of lncRNAs, miRNAs, and mRNA related to the corpus luteum that alter with the breed were extracted, then miRNA–mRNA and lncRNA–mRNA interactions were predicted, and the ceRNA network was constructed by integrating these interactions with the other gene regulatory networks and the protein–protein interaction (PPI). A total of 264 mRNAs, 14 lncRNAs, and 34 miRNAs were identified by combining the GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. In total, 44, 7, 7, and 6 mRNAs, lncRNAs, miRNAs, and crucial modules, respectively, were disclosed through clustering for the corpus luteum ceRNA network. All these RNAs involved in biological processes, namely proteolysis, actin cytoskeleton organization, immune system process, cell adhesion, cell differentiation, and lipid metabolic process, have an overexpression pattern (Padj < 0.01). This study increases our understanding of the contribution of different breed transcriptomes to phenotypic fertility differences and constructed a ceRNA network in sheep (Ovis aries) to provide insights into further research on the molecular mechanism and identify new biomarkers for genetic improvement.

Doogh is a popular Iranian drink with high nutritional value and in recent years has attracted the attention of many consumers. Nowadays, the problems caused by malnutrition and lack of useful compounds with high nutritional value and increasing shelf life are essential in the food industry. This research was performed in Shirin Cheshmeh Dairy Production Company and all experiments were performed in the Food Control Laboratory of the Food and Drug Administration, Guilan University of Medical Sciences. In this study, olive leaf extract was added to doogh at five levels of zero, 0.2, 0.5, 1, and 2% and stored for 45 days, its physicochemical, microbial, and sensory properties at two refrigerators at 2°C and room temperature 25 ° C were evaluated. Sampling was analyzed on days 0, 15, 30, and 45 days in 3 replications with Duncan's statistical analysis. The effect of using different treatments and storage time on most characteristics showed a significant difference. This study showed that the effect of olive leaf extract on the pH, mold, and yeast of the treatments is decreasing and the percentage of acidity and serum volume is increasing. According to the hedonic method, the acceptability of treatment 2 on the 15th day of maintenance was higher. In general, according to the results, it can be said that the production of useful products with plant compounds can promote an effective step to produce and design useful drinks in the consumer market and food industry factories.

Various agricultural products are known to have anti-microbial, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. As we can mention, Walnut (Juglans regia) husk, orange (Citrus sinensis) peel, Broad bean (Vicia faba) peel, and Nettle (Urtica urens) are proven to have antimicrobial and anticancer actions. Also, plant diseases such a Pectobacterium carotovorum, Ralstonia solanacearum, Dickeya chrysanthemi, and Pseudomonoas syringae are known to cause annual damage to plant products. Therefore, in the current study, the researchers evaluated their antibacterial activity on the mentioned bacteria under in vitro conditions. Extracts of J. regia husk, C. sinensis peel, V. faba outer peel and U. urens were prepared by maceration method and their anti-bacterial activity on P. carotovorum, D. chrysanthemi, P. syringae, R. solancearum was evaluated using blank disk and well diffusion to obtain minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values. J. regia (husk) and V. faba (outer peel) extracts revealed an anti-bacterial effect on all 4 studied bacteria, while C. sinensis (peel) only inhibited the growth of P. syringae and U. urens only had this effect on P. syringae and R. Solancearum. The inhibition zones varied from 8 to 14 mm, while almost all MIC and MBC rates were 6.25 and 12.5 mg/mL, respectively. Based on the antimicrobial results, the extracts that showed suitable antibacterial effects on certain bacteria can be further studied to be used as natural pesticides.