Genomewide transcriptome profiling of milk derived primary bovine mammary epithelial cells after pathogen challenge

A method was developed to collect and cultivate primary bovine mammary epithelial cells (pbMECs) from milk samples of healthy lactating cows. Cell cultures from ten Nordic Red cows were used in a pathogen challenge study with two common pathogens, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Transcriptomewide changes in gene expression were monitored at four time points after challenge. We present here preliminary results from two cows, showing that pathogen specific differences in gene expression can be detected in the pbMECs, reflecting differences in the immune responses triggered by each pathogen.