As American fast food restaurants duke it out for dominance in the chicken sandwich wars, MAFES researchers are hard at work ensuring that the poultry products those restaurants need are of the highest quality. One particularly pesky quality issue is known as woody breast, which as the name suggests, leaves the chicken with a wood-like texture of varying severity. The team sought to identify differences found in protein expression, biological pathways, and the microbial composition of the gut between unaffected birds and birds with woody breast. Specific genetic varieties were found to be more vulnerable to the woody breast condition, and environment, diet, gut microbiome, and others were some of the factors impacting woody breast.

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From crayons to soymilk to animal feed, soybeans are versatile and a mainstay in Mississippi agriculture. The row crop is one of the state's top commodities, with a value of $1.21 billion in 2020. While the legume is used in a variety of products, perhaps the most popular food derived from soybean is tofu. In a process similar to cheesemaking, tofu is made of coagulated soy milk that is formed into solid white blocks with or without pressing. Tofu is classified by texture, where the firmness dictates how likely it is to retain its structure under various cooking methods. In a project that has lasted nearly ten years, MAFES scientists have been on a mission to find the best soybean cultivar for tofu production. They have studied and grown dozens of soybean varieties across three states in an effort to find the best cultivars for growers. By growing food-grade soybeans that can translate to high-quality tofu, MAFES researchers believe growers can increase their selling price significantly.

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Scientists with the MSU Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology are attempting to increase populations of a number of vulnerable amphibian species held in captive breeding programs, specifically gopher frogs. Unfortunately, encouraging frogs to mate naturally in captivity is not always easy; however, assisted reproductive technologies, such as exogenous hormone administration, are being used to bypass these cues and induce the production and release of sperm and eggs for in vitro fertilization. The ability to collect gametes in this way also allows researchers the opportunity to investigate protocols for the long-term frozen storage of sperm and embryos through cryopreservation.

Researchers at MAFES have been tackling the understanding of a little-known mineral known as selenium, which can be found in foods such as Brazil nuts and seafood. Selenium has a role in a large number of the body's digestive and metabolic processes, but this study specifically hopes to understand the link between type-2 diabetes and inadequate selenium levels. The research suggests that, though the majority of people maintain an optimized selenium level through healthy eating, those whose levels are slightly too low may experience accelerated aging—and specifically the onset of type-2 diabetes—if their numbers remain elevated for a prolonged period.

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It is no secret that many ants live beneath the leaves, bark and soil of the Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge, but no one knew how diverse the population was until Mississippi State University entomologists dug up the facts. Their findings show that imported fire ants and other exotics have not displaced the natives. More importantly, the distribution and diversity of ants at the refuge indicate a well-managed, healthy ecosystem.

Food insecurity impacts 8.5 percent of adults age 65 and older in the U.S. That percentage climbs to 12.3 in Mississippi, the state with the greatest number of older adults who experience some level of food security. David Buys, researcher in the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and health specialist with the MSU Extension Service, recently authored a chapter about food insecurity and older Americans in the third edition of the "Handbook of Clinical Nutrition and Aging" published by Humana Press. The chapter discusses how food insecurity impacts public health. Buys is conducting research on programs for people returning home from the hospital. His study has found that the health implications of food insecurity in older adults are considerable, specifically for those who have been admitted to the hospital for treatment of chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension. Buys said food insecurity increases these individuals' chances of returning to the hospital.

While ambrosia beetles are believed to have been introduced into the U.S. from Asia in the early 2000s, they were not known to cause damage to healthy trees until the Laurel wilt epidemic. Laurel wilt can readily kill any plant in the family Lauraceae, which is more than a dozen species including swampbay, avocado, sassafras, and more. If Laurel wilt continues at its present pace, consumers might have to say goodbye to bay leaf, produced by the swampbay; guacamole, produced by avocado trees; and spicy gumbo, which contains sassafras. MAFES researchers are steadily working to understand both the disease and the beetles that carry it, having already uncovered that the beetles carrying Laurel wilt are all genetically identical. They have also produced a spatial model that revised the prediction of the disease's spread in hopes of finding a solution to save the vulnerable trees in the Southeast and beyond.

Scientists at Mississippi State University's Delta Research and Extension Center are researching new ways to reduce aflatoxin in infected corn, a fungus that can reduce profits and hurt marketability. MSU researchers have partnered with researchers from the USDA to obtain strains of the fungus that do not produce aflatoxin in hopes of protecting much of the state's corn harvest.

Researchers at Mississippi State University have developed technology that uses reflected light to analyze the presence of certain nematodes in cotton fields so producers can increase profits. The data was used to generate a field map showing areas of low, medium and high nematode populations. From that, a prescription map for applying different amounts of nematicide was created. For the producers, the yields were higher, which increases profits. Plus, they saved money by applying only the amount of chemical required rather than blanketing their field with the amount needed to treat the highest population of nematodes found in their soil samples. The third benefit is to the environment, because site-specific applications reduce the amount of chemical used.

Butterflies are the oft-forgotten pollinators of Mississippi, but MAFES researchers are striving to change that. They have begun creating a massive inventory of the butterflies in the Sam D. Hamilton Noxubee National Wildlife Refuge. By making note of butterfly species, populations, and habitats, researchers can shape a fuller idea of the best management practices to keep the Refuge's butterflies thriving.

An estimated 32 million Americans live with food allergies, one of the most common of which being peanuts. MAFES researchers hope to mitigate this problem by studying the legume itself. What makes peanut allergies so potent are the multiple allergens present in the legume. This study compared the concentration of the four major allergens found in peanuts across 122 varieties and found nine of those varieties had reduced amounts of allergens. They also studied how various preparation methods such as frying, baking, and broiling are more affect the potency of the peanut's allergens, as well as how enzymes could be used to minimize allergens.

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Scientists at MSU, in partnership with the Memphis Zoo, are studying model amphibious species like the tiger salamander to improve the reproduction protocols of the endangered salamander genus. These protocols will initially be applied to four targeted, endangered salamander species native to the United States. When successful, this research could lead to the breeding and release of captive born salamanders to the wild in order to bolster threatened populations.

A common concern among farmers first exploring the option of cover crops is the pests that use the cover crop as a "Green Bridge" onto the cash crop. Researchers at MAFES sought to determine the influence of winter annual cover crops and insect management strategies on surface and subsurface insect pests in soybeans. After conducting numerous variations of several management practices, they found neonicotinoid seed treatments and early termination of cover crops were sufficient in controlling pests and did not observe a "Green Bridge" phenomenon.

A Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station scientist in the School of Human Sciences is hamming it up with a MAFES food scientist, an entomologist at Kansas State University, and an agricultural economist at Oklahoma State University. Fashion and food have joined forces to design ham nets that will protect dry-cured ham from mites. The idea for the project began several years ago when scientists in the MSU Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion and Kansas State University developed a food-grade, patent pending solution that successfully deters mites. Dr. Wes Schilling and Dr. Charles Freeman then had to figure out the best way to apply the solution so that it provided continuous protection to the ham. By saturating the stockings with the solution and then allowing the hams to hang in the netting, the scientists have come up with an easy application process to help dry-cured ham producers find economical alternatives to using methyl bromide that has been steadily phased out of use due to it being an ozone depleting substance.

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Increasing the length of time fresh catfish fillets can spend in the supply chain would make it more feasible for processors to offer fresh, never-frozen, tray-packed products in the retail market. MAFES scientists Taejo Kim, Juan Silva, and Byron Williams tested the effectiveness of antimicrobials and antioxidants at enhancing the safety and shelf life of fresh, vacuum-tumbled catfish fillets. They found that marinating fillets with salt, an agglomerated phosphate blend, and a combination of commercially available potassium acetate and potassium lactate is an effective strategy for inhibiting growth of the bacteria that cause spoilage in refrigerated foods. Analysis by food scientist Wes Shilling revealed that this treatment enhances the sensory acceptability of fried catfish fillets. Treatment with antimicrobials did not detract from the acceptability of the marinated fillets

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, foodborne pathogens cause an estimated 47.8 million illnesses, 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Taejo Kim, scientist in the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and assistant research professor in the Department of Food Science, Nutrition and Health Promotion, has discovered a way to make industry-wide testing of Salmonella, Listeria, E.coli and certain strains of Vibrio fast, easy and affordable. His rapid test kits require no analytic instruments; can detect pathogens in 24 hours or less and are extremely reliable. Additionally, the kits culture whole cells so technicians don't have to be skilled in extracting DNA, making it easier to use than other commercial test kits currently on the market.

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MAFES scientists, Dr. Eric Stafne and Dr. Sam Chang, are working to bring a sweet treat to Mississippi's farms. Fruits such as bunch grapes, muscadines, and blackberries, are native to the state, but have not had much success in large-scale production due to disease and harvesting difficulties. Stafne's main research has been evaluating bunch grape cultivars to see how they perform in Mississippi where there is an endemic disease called Pierce's disease (Xylella fastidiosa), which infects grapes via insect transmission. Blackberry growers also face challenges, in the form of pests and genetic disorders. As for muscadines, the biggest difficulty is in production cost. However, Dr. Sam Chang's research on the health benefits of muscadines suggests that it may be worth it. Compared to other grapes, muscadines are high in antioxidant properties, and they also have several other health benefits that could make it an up-and-coming superfood. Chang's next step will be determining which portions of the grape contain the highest concentrations of ellagic acid and antioxidants.

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As consumer interests for forage-finished beef increases in the U.S., Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station scientists, Wes Schilling and Byron Williams, are studying different forages and the effects on beef quality and taste. Scientists conducted one study in the Experiment Station's Prairie Research Unit, examining the quality of beef foraged on native grasses and bermudagrass. In a separate study, scientists compared grain-finished and forage-finished cattle. In both studies, researchers found that native warm-season grasses are acceptable forage for beef cattle during the stocker phase, producing a lean, high protein product with positive consumer acceptability.

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MAFES scientists are studying the black soldier fly—an insect that can eat nearly anything, control microbes, live off water alone in the adult stage, and be a good source of protein for animal feed—as a potential solution to dealing with large amounts of waste while also generating a feed product. Harvested larvae can be dried and milled to create a high-protein meal for livestock, poultry and aquaculture consumption. Due to their high oil content, black soldier fly larvae may even be useful for biofuel production. They're not a known disease carrier, they don't bite or sting, and they're not a nuisance. They're a versatile species with huge potential.

Nationally, one in six seniors struggle with hunger, according to Meals on Wheels America. Scientists and students in the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences are investigating current trends in food access for seniors in order to help address hunger right here at home. Josh Turner, a recent doctoral candidate in human development and family studies with a gerontology emphasis, studied senior low access food as part of his doctoral dissertation. Turner analyzed data from the U.S. Census and the Department of Agriculture and determined factors that best predicted low food access among seniors in rural and non-metropolitan areas. He used the U.S. Department of Agriculture's metric for low food access: a household's proximity to a supermarket.Turner found that a persistent rate of county outmigration was the strongest predictor of an area being classified as a senior low food access county. While Turner is studying low food access across the U.S., Dr. David Buys, who specializes in gerontology, has long been interested in research focused on a particular program for food-insecure seniors: Meals on Wheels. Currently, almost 20,000 Mississippi seniors are served through Meals on Wheels programs. Seventy-two percent of those individuals live in poverty; almost 50 percent belong to a minority group, and 80 percent live in a rural community. To contribute to that body of science, Buys is currently partnering with Morrison Healthcare, the company that provides nutrition services for OCH Regional Medical Center. The researchers are currently enrolling individuals into a feasibility study in order to determine whether frozen meals given to seniors on hospital discharge will decrease the rate of hospital readmissions.

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Exotic insect species enter the United States through multiple routes, such as on wood shipping pallets, plant materials, and imported fruits and vegetables. The U.S. government sets trade restrictions to help prevent the introduction of nonnative pests, and its inspectors work at all borders to search for and confiscate materials carrying these insects. Some hidden pests do make it past inspection and move into U.S. crops. Once established, these pests can damage crops and native plant species, ultimately causing severe economic damage. Quick identification of invasive species is crucial to stopping their spread. The Mississippi Entomological Museum was recently designated as the Eastern Region Identification Center for the USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.

Food scientist Byron Williams, who spent 15 years in the food-processing industry before beginning his career at Mississippi State, focuses on food safety and value enhancement in his research and through educational workshops for processors and associated agencies. In a recent project, Williams studied pork processed through "hot boning," in which meat is removed from a carcass before chilling. He examined the effects of combining commonly used antimicrobial ingredients on the quality, bacterial content, and sensory characteristics of sausage patties made from hot-boned pork. Williams's study found the experimental patties were acceptable in all these traits, in addition to having an extra 3 days of shelf life. Other ongoing research explores strategies for improving quality and safety of raw materials and methods used in many Southeastern food-processing plants.

The redbay ambrosia beetle carries a pathogen that causes laurel wilt disease and threatens all members of the laurel family in the U.S., which includes sassafras, redbay, and commercially important avocados. Dr. John Riggins, a forest entomologist with the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, is leading MSU efforts to battle the insect. Efforts to control the pest are focused on educational campaigns. Researchers continue to look at ways to address the problem. Part of their effort is simply learning all there is to know about the insect, its habitat, and its life cycle. The next step in the research is to find resistant trees and plant them in the environment.

Limited access to fresh produce is an issue that plagues disadvantaged communities throughout the United States. Dr. Marie Allsopp, former assistant professor and director of MSU's Didactic Program in Dietetics, studied an initiative in the state of New York. The work there could potentially serve as a model for places like Mississippi, by helping address food access issues by giving food banks money to purchase from local producers. After the initial success with the program called the Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program, which supplies food and financial support for the emergency food network throughout the state of New York, Allsopp is researching how the program can be replicated in other states, particularly in a state like Mississippi, which has a long growing season and plenty of agriculture. "It could be a win-win situation where farmers have regular support from food banks purchasing their produce, and people have greater access to fresh produce," Allsopp said. In Mississippi, the need to get people eating healthy is pressing. The state is one of the top five most obese states in the country and has the highest rate of diabetes and hypertension. An unhealthy diet is one factor that can contribute to or exacerbate these issues. Local foods can play a role in this transition by providing healthy options to begin with—and a program like the locally grown produce initiative Dr. Allsop studied in New York could help along the path to a healthier Mississippi.

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Infections are the leading cause of abortion, stillbirth and preterm delivery in mares. MAFES scientists have developed a new approach to understanding the infection process in pregnant mares by using biophotonic imaging and modified bacteria with luminescent characteristics. In other words, the technique allows researchers to capture real-time pictures of glowing bacteria as they spread through a mare's body. The method allows scientists to track pathogens in a minimally invasive procedure.

Soybean taproot decline (TRD) has been compromising crop yields in the Southeast for more than a decade, but researchers have now identified the fungus that causes this disease. MAFES scientists have been part of a cooperative regional effort to make the discovery. The average amount of loss caused by the fungus is about 18 percent of harvestable yield; however, soybean research pathologists conducted field trials during 2016 at the Delta R&E Center to assess best management practices. Possible strategies may include rotation, identification of the host range for this particular fungus, and screening commercially available fungicides to determine if anything currently on the market is efficacious against the fungus.

MAFES scientists are looking to microbes in panda excrement that breakdown woody materials as a possible means to biofuel production. These microbes might help overcome one of the major challenges to producing biofuels: breaking down the raw plant materials used to make the fuels. The findings have garnered national attention as the reproduction of these microbes could contribute to developing alternative fuels that don't interfere with food crops and could also save a great deal of money.

MAFES researchers have found a way to use organic methods and fewer fungicides to successfully fight one of the most serious soil-borne diseases in poinsettia production. One of the strategies MAFES scientists are researching is integrating biofungicides. Biological agents are not conventional fungicides or chemicals, but organic methods of fighting fungi or other harmful microorganisms. The study found that a reduced rate of the conventional fungicide, when used with a biological agent, resulted in plants that didn't rot and had similar growth to the label rate of conventional fungicides. This is beneficial to growers because it reduces their impact on the environment. It also reduces the risk of the pathogens adapting to the fungicides and becoming resistant and may save producers money by reducing the amount of fungicide they use.

The Mississippi Department of Health (MDH) conducted pre- and post-grant surveys designed to gauge practices, knowledge and attitudes of local personnel in mosquito- control programs before and after disbursement of funds. Postdoctoral associate and veterinarian Kristine Edwards and associate Extension professor Jerome Goddard conducted research and workshops based on survey responses, where Edwards said simple tactics like surveying and trapping can save local governments time and effort.

Entomologists at MSU have been finding and naming new species for the last 100 years, and this includes several hundred species of beetles, moths, leafhoppers, wasps and other insects. JoVonn Hill and four others currently on the staff of the Mississippi Entomological Museum have described and named about 20 new species in recent years, including the never-before-identified grasshopper—now named Melanoplus ingrami—that Hill stumbled upon his path.

A Mississippi State University biologist's fascination with crocodiles has brought together researchers from the United States and Australia to study the genetic building blocks of a reptile order. In the process, they hope to discover ways to conserve endangered animals, harness the antibiotic properties of alligator blood and isolate the genes that determine gender. Such significant genetic information could have a positive impact on wildlife conservation.

The soybean cyst nematode, or SCN, is a small, plant-parasitic roundworm that attacks the roots of soybeans and leaves crop-rotation as the only defense for farmers. Researchers are in the process of developing new, nematode-resistant soybean varieties and are modifying current crop-rotation techniques in the meantime. They have developed a new test that uses a gene marker technique that can identify nematode races in a molecular laboratory in a matter of hour and allow farmers to choose varieties that are not susceptible to the particular nematodes in their fields.

Dr. JoVonn Hill, a MAFES scientist and assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology, has discovered a little over 30 new grasshopper species. Hill is part of a consortium of academic, federal, and state biologists brought together by Southeastern Grassland Initiative, or SGI, who are all invested in finding ways to save grassland ecosystems across the Southeast. The group recently published a white paper for the United States Geological Survey, that provides recommendations on improving species assessments under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. The team recommended that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) adopt an ecosystem approach to species conservation in southeastern grasslands, noting that such an approach would prove beneficial for both cost-savings and conservation alike. MSU's partnership with SGI is growing as the consortium continues to collaborate on several projects aimed at saving southeastern grasslands.

The quality of catfish decreases dramatically after a mere 72 hours of sitting on grocery store shelves. With catfish bringing in $226 million in production value for the state, MAFES researchers are diligently searching for ways to better preserve our catfish. In particular, this study is interested in the effects of chitosan, a substance derived from shellfish and crustaceans. The scientists applied chitosan to the catfish to see if it increased its shelf life. Though the study has yet to complete all of its trials, there was a significant increase in catfish shelf life once chitosan was applied.

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Food scientists Tae Jo Kim and Juan Silva developed a simple test kit that can be used to detect Salmonella in food, water, and environmental samples. This unique detection mechanism consists of a single test tube that can expose the presence of Salmonella in a sample without the need for any additional equipment. The kit, which can be stored for long periods at room temperature without losing its effectiveness, is inexpensive compared with similar products. After demonstrating the effectiveness of the technology in several lab studies, the MAFES scientists optimized the Salmonella test kit to perform in industrial and laboratory settings. They received a provisional patent on the technology and are ready to implement it in a commercial setting. Salmonella is the most frequent cause of short- and long-term food-borne illness, causing about 1.4 million food poisonings in the U.S. each year.

With three growing seasons, Mississippi has an ideal climate for showcasing small-scale raised beds for food production. Landscape architect Pete Melby and dietician Sylvia Byrd directed a teaching and research project to determine if household raised vegetable beds would provide the recommended amount of vegetables for a family of four. Equally important is the project's goal of demonstrating one of the key components to sustainable living: food production. Students in Melby's sustainable communities class built four 3-by-40-foot raised beds on the MSU campus and planted a spring garden. Nutrition students planted a summer garden and quantified the nutritional value of the harvests. Melby and Byrd hope their findings will inspire homeowners to plant similar gardens.

A recent study by the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service found nearly a 10 percent increase in Salmonella incidence rate in pork trimmings. Because of this, MSU researchers sought to provide the pork industry with a natural, low-cost approach to reducing Salmonella and making meat products safer. Specifically, this involved introducing increased safeguards in the post-harvest environment. After rigorous testing, researchers saw that applying vinegar to the meat at a high temperature for a specific period of time kills Salmonella bacteria. This method offers a low-cost, natural way to keep eliminate the pathogen.

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Of the many suspects that cause food safety issues in kitchens and food processing plants, biofilms, caused by bacteria such as Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella, are a common culprit. MAFES scientists Dr. Ramakrishna Nannapaneni, who specializes in food science, nutrition and health promotion and Dr. Aaron Kiess, who specializes in poultry science, are taking a stand in biofilms, the growth of bacterial cells on surfaces that touch food. Through Nannapaneni and Kiess's research, they discovered that a mixture of disinfectants was far more effective than single compound disinfectants for removal of biofilms. Dr. Kiess's lab is also looking into how Salmonella survives on poultry processing equipment before and after cleaning cycles. They hope to continue research to determine how biofilm cells become denser, stronger, and spread as well as what mechanisms govern cross-resistance. By discovering this, they hope to figure out how these tough biofilms can be eradicated to enhance food safety.

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MAFES researchers are studying the role of the barbershop in modern medicine. While the connection between haircare and healthcare may seem nebulous, this study suggests that the disarming atmosphere and relationship of care between a barber and customer could create a space for medical professionals to discuss otherwise uncomfortable aspects of human health. In particular, these researchers are interested in how barbershops can lead to a destigmatized discussion about HIV/AIDS, particularly in African American communities.

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While MAFES researchers have explored various methods for either removing the fungi-induced toxin, aflatoxin, from corn, or preventing it from forming in the first place, the answer may lie in bolstering the corn's ability to resist aflatoxin. Breakthroughs in gene sequencing technology have allowed scientists to identify exactly which genes carry resistance. They hope to then use CRISPR technology, which allows scientists to edit the genome of an organism to produce specific traits.

Taproot decline is the seventh-leading cause of yield loss for soybean producers across Mississippi, and Xylaria, the novel fungal pathogen behind the disease, has become a top research priority for a group of MAFES researchers. As the focus of an ongoing six-year study into the pathogen, these scientists are now striving to understand the soybean's immune response to Xylaria infection. While taproot decline is devastating to soybean producers, this study offers hope, as the immune response suggests that certain microbes in the soil could prevent infection. Fifteen of the more than 300 bacterial varieties tested for Xylaria resistance have shown promising results, and though the testing on which is best suited for large scale application continues, the researchers hope to one day have a microbial soil treatment to stop this disease.

Dr. Zhaohua Peng and his research group are studying the molecular "conversations" that occur between a rice cell wall and its nucleus. Dr. Peng and his research group have shown that removal of a rice cell wall results in substantial changes in the organization of the chromatin within the nucleus. The communication that occurs between the nucleus and cell wall is likely the result of interactions between various macromolecules, and Dr. Peng's team is currently working to identify these macromolecules and describe how they interact with one another.

Stress can take a toll on farm-raised catfish and may also affect the end product. That's why MAFES scientists, Drs. Peter Allen and Wes Schilling, have spent five years studying the impact stress has on catfish from farm to table and fingerling to fillet. Environmental stressors included aspects of water quality, such as temperature and dissolved oxygen and sequential stressors, such as stressors in the sock (a netted enclosure) and during hauling. The stressed fish didn't eat as much or grow as fast, which resulted in smaller fillets. However, the researchers were able to determine that stress did not seem to impact the end product besides the size of the fillets. The researchers then established best practices for producers based on the research. These recommendations included minimizing harvest at elevated temperatures, reducing fish densities in hot summer conditions, and minimizing time in the sock and time from transport to processing.

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With the broad use of disinfectants necessitated by a pandemic, MAFES scientists hope to determine the conditions in which bacteria can develop a tolerance or resistance to the disinfectants used to kill them. After identifying and isolating the desired bacteria, various stressors were introduced, and the bacteria were observed for any changes in count and behavior. These tests showed a slight but statistically-significant increase in tolerance, which helps to present a more definite picture of how antibacterial resistance forms.

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What began as a study on the genetic predisposition to umami-flavor-sensitivity among various races has become an in-depth study on how the health and lifestyle of African Americans reflects a broader trend of health disparities disproportionately affecting this population. This study utilizes a variety of survey-based data that tracks everything from the subject's typical diet to their level of food insecurity to their daily routine. With this array of information, MAFES researchers hope to identify factors that contribute to health disparities, ultimately, in order to reduce and eventually eliminate them.

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One of the most consistent challenges producers face is yield loss from insects. Over the years, strides have been made to develop cultivars, specifically of cotton and corn, that are naturally resistant to insects, thanks to a naturally occurring soil bacterium, Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, that is detrimental to common pests. Bt crops are created by inserting genes into the plant's genome, causing the plant to produce proteins toxic to certain insects. In modern agronomic insect pest management, Bt crops/technologies are some of the most effective tools. MAFES scientists at the Delta Research and Extension Center have been hard at work evaluating the field performance of these Bt crops including treatment thresholds for these crops when or if foliar insecticide applications are needed, and performance-issue events such as unexpected damage or insect survival. The study has shown some pests are becoming resistant to one of the detrimental proteins Bt crops produce, opening a new avenue of research to help producers mitigate insect pressure in the future.

From herbicide tolerance to gene modification, tomatoes are being studied to help farmers grow the popular fruit with fewer losses or injuries to the plants. Dr. Sorina Popescu, assistant professor in biochemistry, molecular biology, entomology and plant pathology, is working to understand how tomato plants respond to pathogens at the molecular level, and editing the plants for genetic susceptibility using CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) technology. The pathogen Popescu is studying is called Pseudomonas syringae and causes stunting and yield loss, particularly if young plants are infected. Most pathogens have effectors that act in very similar ways, and Popescu believes the findings on tomato plants can be extended to other vegetable crops to make them less susceptible to pathogens.

Neonicotinoids (also known as neonics) are systemic insecticides that are chemically similar to nicotine. A decline in managed pollinators over the last decade led researchers to investigate if neonicotinoids were a contributing factor. Researchers at Mississippi State University, the University of Arkansas and the University of Tennessee established collaborative research projects on the potential risks of neonicotinoids to managed pollinators. The scientists concluded that the risk to pollinators from neonicotinoids is so small; there essentially is no risk in the Midsouth.

Drs. Florencia Meyer, associate professor, Dr. Carrie Vance, associate research professor, both in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology, and Plant Pathology and scientists in the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, have teamed up with Dr. Amelia Woolums, professor in the Department of Pathobiology and Population Medicine in the College of Veterinary Medicine, to research ways to better diagnose bovine respiratory disease (BRD). BRD is the most significant disease impacting the American feedlot industry and expands as a global problem. The team used Near Infrared Spectroscopy (NIRS) to find a better way to diagnose BRD. The current protocol is to prophylactically treat animals exhibiting any BRD symptoms, whether they have the disease or not. By having a NIRS device that tests animals quickly and accurately, this would significantly reduce the amount of antibiotics that are used on animals that do not need them. So, researchers are developing a diagnostic strategy for the early detection and treatment of animals developing BRD. This will be a means to analyze a global set of health parameters in a rapid assay that can determine the specific health status of animals at risk of developing BRD. Modeling what the disease profile looks like makes identifying BRD more like a fingerprint than a single assay. A significant percent of cattle goes unidentified and untreated with BRD, which is why better diagnostic tools need to be developed. The current model the team has created has an overall accuracy of 83.3%, with a sensitivity of 79.2%, and a specificity of 87.5%, which is much higher than the current BRD diagnosis.

To make toxic castor beans—the origin of castor oil—a commercially viable U.S. crop, MAFES scientists are trying to discover a way to genetically modify the plant so that either the gene that produces the toxin is no longer expressed or the toxin is no longer produced.

Insect pressure in the field has long been a problem for row crop producers. Additionally, insects can damage stored grain, which can be a huge nuisance for farmers and grain elevator operators. Dr. Fred Musser, a professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology and MAFES scientist, and his team study corn earworms, soybean loopers, and tarnished plant bugs in row crops. He monitors insecticide efficacy and provides early warning when resistance occurs. Dr. Don Cook, MAFES researcher and associate research professor in the Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Entomology and Plant Pathology at the Delta Research and Extension Center, is monitoring insecticide efficacy in grain storage.

Dr. Maria Tomaso-Peterson, a research professor in biochemistry, molecular biology, plant pathology and entomology, recently classified Culvaria malina, a strain of fungus common in turfgrass, which had previously gone unclassified. In order to better understand the mystery fungus, Tomaso-Peterson set up greenhouse trials to examine which grasses were most susceptible. By identifying the pathogen and then classifying fungi according to genus-species, scientists are able to create a body of work, recording data such as the conditions it is found under, the symptoms it causes, and the biology behind it. It also allows them to get an idea of how prevalent it is in plants within a region, and what steps might be taken to prevent plant diseases.

Biomedical, physiological, and agricultural experts across Mississippi are joining together to protect one very important creature: the bee. Worker bees everywhere are being plagued by insistent varroa mites, and MAFES researchers are bringing medical technology intended for humans into the hive to administer a more effective, longer-lasting method for fighting the varroa. Researchers hope the technology will provide a more effective way to eradicate the honeybee's biggest threat.