Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) toxicity in livestock and human beings is a major economic and health concern. Natural polyphenolic substances with antioxidant properties have proven to be effective in ameliorating AFB1-induced toxicity. Here we assessed the potential anti-AFB1 activity of curcumin (pure curcumin, C, and curcumin from Curcuma longa, CL) in a bovine fetal hepatocyte-derived cell line (BFH12). First, we measured viability of cells exposed to AFB1 in presence or absence of curcumin treatment. Then, we explored all the transcriptional changes occurring in AFB1-exposed cells cotreated with curcumin. Results demonstrated that curcumin is effective in reducing AFB1-induced toxicity, decreasing cells mortality by approximately 30%. C and CL induced similar transcriptional changes in BFH12 exposed to AFB1, yet C treatment resulted in a larger number of significant genes compared to CL. The mitigating effects of curcuminoids towards AFB1 toxicity were mainly related to molecular pathways associated with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory response, cancer, and drug metabolism. Investigating mRNA changes induced by curcumin in cattle BFH12 cells exposed to AFB1 will help us to better characterize possible tools to reduce its consequences in this susceptible and economically important food-producing species.

Aflatoxins, and particularly aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), are toxic mycotoxins to humans and farm animal species, resulting in acute and chronic toxicities. At present, AFB1 is still considered a global concern with negative impacts on health, the economy, and social life. In farm animals, exposure to AFB1-contaminated feed may cause several untoward effects, liver damage being one of the most devastating ones. In the present study, we assessed in vitro the transcriptional changes caused by AFB1 in a bovine fetal hepatocyte-derived cell line (BFH12). To boost the cellular response to AFB1, cells were pre-treated with the co-planar PCB 3,3′,4,4′,5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126), a known aryl hydrocarbon receptor agonist. Three experimental groups were considered: cells exposed to the vehicle only, to PCB126, and to PCB126 and AFB1. A total of nine RNA-seq libraries (three replicates/group) were constructed and sequenced. The differential expression analysis showed that PCB126 induced only small transcriptional changes. On the contrary, AFB1 deeply affected the cell transcriptome, the majority of significant genes being associated with cancer, cellular damage and apoptosis, inflammation, bioactivation, and detoxification pathways. Investigating mRNA perturbations induced by AFB1 in cattle BFH12 cells will help us to better understand AFB1 toxicodynamics in this susceptible and economically important food-producing species.

Cytochrome P450 3A is the most important CYP subfamily in humans, and CYP3A4/CYP3A5 genetic variants contribute to inter-individual variability in drug metabolism. However, no information is available for bovine CYP3A (bCYP3A). Here we described bCYP3A missense single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and evaluated their functional effects. CYP3A28, CYP3A38 and CYP3A48 missense SNVs were identified in 300 bulls of Piedmontese breed through targeted sequencing. Wild-type and mutant bCYP3A cDNAs were cloned and expressed in V79 cells. CYP3A-dependent oxidative metabolism of testosterone (TST) and nifedipine (NIF) was assessed by LC-MS/MS. Finally, SNVs functional impact on TST hydroxylation was measured ex vivo in liver microsomes from individually genotyped animals. Thirteen missense SNVs were identified and validated. Five variants showed differences in CYP3A catalytic activity: three CYP3A28 SNVs reduced TST 6β-hydroxylation; one CYP3A38 variant increased TST 16β-hydroxylation, while a CYP3A48 SNV showed enhanced NIF oxidation. Individuals homozygous for rs384467435 SNV showed a reduced TST 6β-hydroxylation. Molecular modelling showed that most of SNVs were distal to CYP3A active site, suggesting indirect effects on the catalytic activity. Collectively, these findings demonstrate the importance of pharmacogenetics studies in veterinary species and suggest bCYP3A genotype variation might affect the fate of xenobiotics in food-producing species such as cattle.

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Aim The aim of the study was to validate a rapid method to detect and quantify colistin resistance genes (mcr‐1 to mcr‐5) by real‐time polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR) in diverse matrices. Methods and results The detection limit of two newly designed SYBR Green real‐time PCR assays for mcr‐4 and mcr‐5 and of previously published protocols for mcr‐1 to mcr‐3 was assessed using serial dilutions of reference strains. The assays could detect all five mcr genes with the lower limit of 102 copy numbers. Escherichia coli isolates (n = 1062) and environmental samples (n = 93) were tested for the presence of mcr genes. The assays enabled the detection of colistin resistance genes both in bacterial isolates and in complex environmental samples. Conclusions This method represents a set of sensitive, rapid and effective assays for the screening of colistin resistance directly from the environment. Significance and Impact of the Study Colistin is an antimicrobial commonly used in animals and has recently emerged as a last‐resort treatment in humans. Plasmid‐mediated mcr genes confer resistance to colistin and represent a major threat for public health since they can be easily disseminated through horizontal gene transfer. The rapid and sensitive detection of mcr genes is of utmost necessity.