Progress 08/15/24 to 08/14/25
Outputs
Target Audience:During this reporting period, my efforts reached a diverse range of audiences across academic, scientific, and industry communities. These included: Academic researchers and graduate students in animal science, nutrition, and veterinary medicine through presentations at national(e.g., ADSA) and international (e.g., EAAP) conferencesand departmental seminars. Undergraduate students and trainees, particularly those involved in laboratory research, through mentorship and hands-on training in experimental design, cell culture techniques, and data analysis. Industry professionals and stakeholders in the dairy production and animal health sectors, via informal discussions at conferences and extension-related events, where I communicated the practical implications of my research on improving dairy cow health during the transition period. Scientific peers and collaborators, through manuscript preparation, peer review exchanges, and collaborative data interpretation sessions that fostered interdisciplinary learning and feedback. Efforts were made to tailor communication style and content based on the technical background of each audience, promoting broader understanding and application of the research findings. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Career advancement: The PD actively participated in the MSU BEST (Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training) program, which provided professional development opportunities beyond academia. Through this program, she attended career panels, networking sessions, and site visits to companies in the animal health and biomedical sectors. These experiences expanded her awareness of diverse career paths and strengthened her communication and networking skills. Mentorship and leadership experience: During this period, the PD mentored undergraduate students involved in adipocyte culture and sample processing. This experience enhanced her leadership and organizational skills and contributed to a collaborative and productive research environment. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The results of this project have been actively disseminated to both scientific and agricultural communities through multiple channels: Scientific Conferences and Meetings: Research findings were presented at national and international conferences, including the American Dairy Science Association (ADSA) Annual Meetings,Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases (CRWAD), the European Federation of Animal Science (EAAP) Annual Meeting, andPhi Zeta Research Day, Michigan State University.Presentations included oral and poster formats and focused on the mechanistic effects of oleic acid on adipocyte metabolism. These events provided opportunities to engage with academic researchers, industry professionals, veterinarians, and graduate students. Peer-Reviewed Publication: A first-author peer-reviewed manuscript was published in Animal (Abou-Rjeileh et al., 2025; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2025.101505). This publication is openly accessible to the scientific community and serves as a formal record of the project's key findings. Industry Engagement and Networking Events: Through participation in the MSU BEST (Broadening Experiences in Scientific Training) program, the PD attended industry site visits and career panels, where she shared her research and engaged with professionals in animal nutrition, biotechnology, and animal health sectors. Mentorship and Educational Outreach: The PD mentored undergraduate in the lab, using her project as a teaching tool to explain cellular and metabolic principles relevant to animal health. This hands-on experience enhanced students' understanding of agricultural research and inspired interest in livestock science careers. Internal Seminars and Departmental Presentations: Project updates and findings were shared through departmental seminars and lab meetings at Michigan State University, encouraging discussion and feedback from faculty, staff, and students in related fields. These dissemination efforts have helped ensure that the project's outcomes reach stakeholders across academia, industry, and education, contributing to improved understanding of fatty acid metabolism in dairy cattle. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?During the next reporting period, efforts will focus on advancing the second aim of the project: to determine the effects of oleic acidon mitochondrial function in bovine adipocytes under stress conditions. Building on the preliminary work already completed, the following activities are planned: Complete data collection and analysis related to mitochondrial function: Experiments will continue using Seahorse XF Analyzer technology to assess the impact of oleic acid on mitochondrial respiration parameters (e.g., basal respiration, ATP production, spare respiratory capacity, and proton leak) during lipolytic and oxidative challenges. Additional biochemical assays will be conducted to evaluate reactive oxygen species production, antioxidant capacity, and mitochondrial membrane potential. Integrate results into a mechanistic framework: The goal is to integrate findings from mitochondrial function assays with earlier data on lipid metabolism and gene expression to develop a more comprehensive model describing how oleic acid supports adipocyte metabolic resilience during stress. Disseminate findings through scientific conferences: The PD will present updated research at national and international scientific meetings. These presentations will facilitate scholarly exchange and feedback to guide final data interpretation and manuscript development. Manuscript preparation and submission: Results from the mitochondrial studies will be compiled into a manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed journal. This will contribute to the overall goal of publishing high-quality research and sharing outcomes with the scientific community. Continued mentorship and training of students: The PD will continue mentoring undergraduate students, offering hands-on training in cell culture, oxidative stress assays, and data analysis. These efforts contribute to workforce development and STEM engagement in agricultural science. Professional development and career exploration: The PD will remain active in the MSU BEST program and seek additional opportunities for professional development, including workshops, networking events, and site visits with industry partners. These activities support her long-term goal of becoming an independent research scientist in dairy health and nutrition. Together, these efforts will advance the project's research objectives while further developing the PD's technical, analytical, and leadership skills.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Significant progress was made toward the scientific and training goals of the fellowship during this reporting period, with a major milestone being the publication of the PD's first-author peer-reviewed article in Animal (Abou-Rjeileh et al., 2025; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.animal.2025.101505). This work directly addresses the central research objective of understanding how oleic acid regulates lipid metabolism in bovine adipose tissue. Research Objectives: Completion and publication of key mechanistic findings: The PD led a study demonstrating that oleic acid promotes lipid accumulation in differentiated bovine adipocytes via activation of PPARα signaling pathways. This work established that oleic acid upregulates genes involved in lipid uptake (CD36), esterification (AGPAT2), and storage (PLIN2-3). This finding provides critical mechanistic insight into how oleic acid may reduce lipid mobilization during the periparturient period. Relevance to practical applications in dairy cow health: These results highlight the potential for oleic acid supplementation to limit excessive lipolysis and preserve adipose energy stores during early lactation, contributing to improved metabolic balance and health in high-producing dairy cows. The work directly supports the project's long-term goal of identifying nutritional strategies that improve production efficiency and resilience to metabolic stress. Foundation for future in vivo research: The publication lays the groundwork for subsequent translational studies in periparturient cows to assess whether dietary oleic acid can activate similar signaling pathways in vivo. This supports the AFRI program priority area of Animal Health and Production by contributing mechanistic knowledge relevant to nutritional interventions in transition cows. Training and Career Development Objectives: Research skill development and scientific output: The PD independently led the design, execution, and analysis of the published study, including experimental troubleshooting, data interpretation, and manuscript preparation. This process strengthened the PD's critical thinking, data analysis, and scientific writing skills. Scientific communication and visibility: The PD presented her findings at multiple national and international conferences, where she was recognized with several prestigious awards: ADSA Midwest Young Scholar Award, American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting, June 2025, Louisville, KY Alltech Inc. 2024 Graduate Student Paper Publication Award, American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting, 2024, West Palm Beach, FL ADSA/EAAP PhD Student Travel Award, sponsored by Novus International, American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting, to travel and present at EAAP in Florence, Italy. These honors reflect the high quality and impact of the PD's research and her effectiveness in communicating results to the scientific community.
Publications
- Type:
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2025
Citation:
Abou-Rjeileh U, Lock AL, and Contreras GA. Oleic Acid Promotes Lipid Accumulation in Bovine Adipocytes: The Role of Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor alpha (PPARA) signaling. animal. 2025. Animal. 2025 May; 19(5):101505. doi: 10.1016/j.animal.2025.101505.
- Type:
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2025
Citation:
Chirivi M, Abou-Rjeileh U, Myers M, Parales-Giron J, Worden L, Lock AL, and Contreras GA. TLR4 and prostaglandin pathways at the crossroads of endotoxemia-induced lipolysis. Front Immunol. 2025 May 19; 16:1591210. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2025.1591210
- Type:
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2025
Citation:
Chirivi M, Abou-Rjeileh U, Gandy J, Parales-Gir�n J, Panda V, Terrian L, Bhattacharya S, Lock AL, and Contreras GA. Chromium and Palmitic Acid Supplementation Modulate Adipose Tissue Insulin Sensitivity in Postpartum Dairy Cows. J Dairy Sci. 2025. Jan; 108(1):1078-1091. doi: 10.3168/jds.2024-24972.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2025
Citation:
U. Abou-Rjeileh, A. L. Lock, and G. A. Contreras (2025). Fatty acids preserve mitochondrial function and reduce oxidative stress in bovine adipocytes. International Veterinary Immunology Symposium.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2025
Citation:
U. Abou-Rjeileh (2025). Oleic acid enhances triglyceride synthesis and maximizes mitochondrial energy output for efficient adipose tissue metabolism in dairy cows. American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting. Abstract number 9004.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2025
Citation:
U. Abou-Rjeileh, A. L. Lock, and G. A. Contreras (2025). Palmitic and oleic Acids Restore Mitochondrial Respiration in Bovine Adipocytes During a Negative Energy Challenge. American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting. Abstract number 1217.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2025
Citation:
U. Abou-Rjeileh, A. L. Lock, and G. A. Contreras (2025). Rescuing Respiration: Oleic and Palmitic Acids Influence Mitochondrial Function Under Metabolic Stress. Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Lipids Conference.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2025
Citation:
U. Abou-Rjeileh, A. L. Lock, and G. A. Contreras (2025). Oleic acid promotes lipogenesis and improves mitochondrial function in bovine adipocytes: the role of PPARA signaling. The Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
U. Abou-Rjeileh, M. Grusczynski, and G. A. Contreras (2024). Lipogenic effects of palmitic and oleic acids in subcutaneous and visceral adipocytes. American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting. Abstract number 2024.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
U. Abou-Rjeileh, A. L. Lock, and G. A. Contreras (2024). Oleic acid promotes lipogenesis in bovine adipocytes: the role of PPAR? activity. Phi Zeta Research Day, Michigan State University.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2024
Citation:
U. Abou-Rjeileh, M. Chirivi, H. Reisinger, M. L. Miller, B. Bradford, A. L. Lock, and G. A. Contreras (2024). Effect of abomasal infusion of docosahexaenoic acid on adipose tissue in lactating dairy cows. American Dairy Science Association Annual Meeting. Abstract number 2440.
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