4d.Progress report.
This report serves to document research conducted under a specific cooperative agreement between ARS and the Iowa State University (ISU) entitled "Identification of Cattle with Different Genotypes for BSE Inoculation." Additional details of research can be found in the report for the parent project 3625-32000-073-00D, Transmission, Differentiation, and Pathobiology of Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs).

The objectives of this cooperative research are (i) to identify bull calves from the Iowa State University's Ankeny Holstein population that represent different genotypes for a polymorphism in the promoter region of the PrP gene, and (ii) to identify differences in gene expression in the central nervous system between cattle affected, and not affected, with bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) using microarray technology.

The National Animal Disease Center (NADC) was provided buccal swabs from more than 80 bull calves born in the ISU's Ankeny Holstein population from July 2005 through March 2006. These samples were used to genotype calves for a polymorphism in the PrP gene. The NADC has taken possession of 40 bull calves representing different PrP genotypes that will be used for this cooperative research.

Analysis of gene expression profiles comparing BSE affected and non-affected animals has not yet been initiated.