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In order to evaluate the effect of feeding Supergel on the biological traits of turkey chicks, 200 Bronze turkey chicks (mixed sex) were used. This study was done by completely randomized design with five treatments, five replicates, and eight chicks per replicate for five weeks. The experimental treatments were as follows: early access to feed and water, deprived of feed and water for 48 hours, feeding Supergel formula-1 for 48 hours, feeding Supergel formula-2 for 48 hours, and feeding Supergel formula-3 for 48. The results showed that the chicks fasted for 48 hours had lower body weight gain than other groups (P < 0.05). Chicks fed formula 1 of the functional Supergel had a better feed conversion ratio than control and fasted groups (P < 0.05). Mortality of the fasted group was higher than other groups (P < 0.05). The feed cost per 1 kg gain was lower in turkey chicks fed with Supergel formula-1 than in control and fasted groups (P < 0.001). The production efficiency index was lower in chicks deprived of feed and water (P < 0.001). The gene expression of IGF-1 in the jejunum was the lowest in the fasted group on d 35 (P < 0.05). Early feeding with Supergel decreased the HSP70 gene expression. In general, the results of the present study showed that feeding functional Supergel immediately after the hatch of turkey chicks positively affected the performance, feed cost, jejunum morphology, and decreased HSP70 gene expression in turkey chicks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This Scientific Opinion considers the welfare of domestic fowl (Gallus gallus) related to the production of meat (broilers) and includes the keeping of day‐old chicks, broiler breeders, and broiler chickens. Currently used husbandry systems in the EU are described. Overall, 19 highly relevant welfare consequences (WCs) were identified based on severity, duration and frequency of occurrence: 'bone lesions', 'cold stress', 'gastro‐enteric disorders', 'group stress', 'handling stress', 'heat stress', 'isolation stress', 'inability to perform comfort behaviour', 'inability to perform exploratory or foraging behaviour', 'inability to avoid unwanted sexual behaviour', 'locomotory disorders', 'prolonged hunger', 'prolonged thirst', 'predation stress', 'restriction of movement', 'resting problems', 'sensory under‐ and overstimulation', 'soft tissue and integument damage' and 'umbilical disorders'. These WCs and their animal‐based measures (ABMs) that can identify them are described in detail. A variety of hazards related to the different husbandry systems were identified as well as ABMs for assessing the different WCs. Measures to prevent or correct the hazards and/or mitigate each of the WCs are listed. Recommendations are provided on quantitative or qualitative criteria to answer specific questions on the welfare of broilers and related to genetic selection, temperature, feed and water restriction, use of cages, light, air quality and mutilations in breeders such as beak trimming, de‐toeing and comb dubbing. In addition, minimal requirements (e.g. stocking density, group size, nests, provision of litter, perches and platforms, drinkers and feeders, of covered veranda and outdoor range) for an enclosure for keeping broiler chickens (fast‐growing, slower‐growing and broiler breeders) are recommended. Finally, 'total mortality', 'wounds', 'carcass condemnation' and 'footpad dermatitis' are proposed as indicators for monitoring at slaughter the welfare of broilers on‐farm. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although different strategies have been developed to generate transgenic poultry, low efficiency of germline transgene transmission has remained a challenge in poultry transgenesis. Herein, we developed an efficient germline transgenesis method using a lentiviral vector system in chickens through multiple injections of transgenes into embryos at different stages of development. The embryo chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) vasculature was successfully used as a novel route of gene transfer into germline tissues. Compared to the other routes of viral vector administration, the embryo's bloodstream at Hamburger-Hamilton (HH) stages 14–15 achieved the highest rate of germline transmission (GT), 7.7%. Single injection of viral vectors into the CAM vasculature resulted in a GT efficiency of 2.7%, which was significantly higher than the 0.4% obtained by injection into embryos at the blastoderm stage. Double injection of viral vectors into the bloodstream at HH stages 14–15 and through CAM was the most efficient method for producing germline chimeras, giving a GT rate of 13.6%. The authors suggest that the new method described in this study could be efficiently used to produce transgenic poultry in virus-mediated gene transfer systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oxidative study has always been particularly topical in poultry science. However, little information about the occurrence of cellular apoptosis and autophagy through the reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in nuclear factor- κ B (NF- κ B) signal pathway was reported in the liver of broilers exposed to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). So we investigated the change of growth performance of broilers exposed to H2O2 and further explored the occurrence of apoptosis and autophagy, as well as the expression of NF- κ B in these signaling pathways in the liver. A total of 320 1-day-old Arbor Acres male broiler chickens were raised on a basal diet and randomly divided into five treatments which were arranged as non-injected treatment (Control), physiological saline (0.75%) injected treatment (Saline) and H2O2 treatments (H2O2(0.74), H2O2(1.48) and H2O2(2.96)) received an intraperitoneal injection of H2O2 with 0.74, 1.48 and 2.96 mM/kg BW. The results showed that compared to those in the control and saline treatments, 2.96 mM/kg BW H2O2-treated broilers exhibited significantly higher feed/gain ratio at 22 to 42 days and 1 to 42 days, ROS formation, the contents of oxidation products, the mRNA expressions of caspases (3, 6, 8), microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 (LC3)-II/LC3-I, autophagy-related gene 6, Bcl-2 associated X and protein expressions of total caspase-3 and total LC3-II, and significantly lower BW gain at 22 to 42 days and 1 to 42 days, the activities of total superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase, the expression of NF- κ B in the liver. Meanwhile, significantly higher feed/gain ratio at 1 to 42 days, ROS formation, the contents of protein carbonyl and malondialdehyde, the mRNA expression of caspase-3 and the protein expressions of total caspase-3 and total LC3-II, as well as significantly lower BW gain at 22 to 42 days and 1 to 42 days were observed in broilers received 1.48 mM/kg BW H2O2 treatment than those in control and saline treatments. These results indicated that oxidative stress induced by H2O2 had a negative effect on histomorphology and redox status in the liver of broilers, which was associated with a decline in growth performance of broilers. This may attribute to apoptosis and autophagy processes triggered by excessive ROS that suppress the NF- κ B signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The class of business intelligence (BI) systems is widely used to guide decisions in all kinds of organizations and across hierarchical levels and functions. Organizations have launched many initiatives to accomplish adequate and timely decision support as an important factor to achieve and sustain competitive advantage. Given today’s turbulent environments it is increasingly challenging to bridge the gap between establishing a long-term strategy and quickly adopting to the dynamics in market competition. BI must address this field of tension as it was originally used to retrospectively reflect an organization’s performance and build upon stability and efficiency. This study aims to understand and achieve an agile BI from a dynamic capability perspective. Therefore, we investigate how dynamic BI capabilities, i.e., adoption of assets, market understanding, and intimacy as well as business operations, impact the agility of BI. Starting from a literature review of dynamic capabilities in information systems and BI, we propose hypotheses to connect dynamic BI capabilities with the agility to provide information. The derived hypotheses were tested using partial least squares structural equation modeling on data collected in a questionnaire-based survey. The results show that the lens of dynamic capabilities provides useful means to foster BI agility. The study identifies that technological advancements like in-memory technology seem to be a technology enabler for BI agility. However, an adequate adoption and integration of BI assets as well as the focus on market orientation and business operations are crucial to reach BI agility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various direct and indirect cellular interactions between multi‐functional mesenchymal stroma/stem‐like cells (MSCs) and cancer cells contribute to increasing plasticity within the tumor tissue and its microenvironment. Direct and tight communication between MSC and cancer cells is based on membrane protein interactions and the exchange of large plasma membrane fragments also known as trogocytosis. An ultimate but rare direct interaction resumes in fusion of these two cellular partners resulting in the formation of new cancer hybrid cell populations. Alternatively, indirect interactions are displayed by the release of membranous vesicle‐encapsulated microRNAs and proteins or soluble components such as molecular growth factors, hormones, chemo‐/cytokines, and metabolites. Released single molecules as well as multivesicular bodies including exosomes and microvesicles can form local concentration gradients within the tumor microenvironment and are incorporated not only by adjacent neighboring cells but also affect distant target cells. The present Review will focus on vesicle‐mediated indirect communication and on cancer cell fusion with direct contact between MSC and cancer cells. These different types of interaction are accompanied by functional interference and mutual acquisition of new cellular properties. Consequently, alterations in cancer cell functionalities paralleled by the capability to reorganize the tumor stroma can trigger changes in metastatic behavior and promote retrodifferentiation to develop new cancer stem‐like cells. However, exosomes and microvesicles acting over long distances may also provide a tool with therapeutic potential when loaded with anti‐tumor cargo. Stem Cells2018;36:951–968 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overexpression or pharmacological activation of SIRT1 has been shown to extend the lifespan of mice and protect against aging-related diseases. Here we show that pharmacological activation of SIRT1 protects in two models of osteoporosis. Ovariectomized female mice and aged male mice, models for post-menopausal and aging-related osteoporosis, respectively, show significant improvements in bone mass upon treatment with SIRT1 agonist, SRT1720. Further, we find that calorie restriction (CR) results in a two-fold upregulation of sirt1 mRNA expression in bone tissue that is associated with increased bone mass in CR mice. Reciprocally, SIRT1 whole-body knockout (KO) mice, as well as osteoblast and osteoclast specific KOs, show a low bone mass phenotype; though double knockout mice (containing SIRT1 deleted in both osteoblasts and osteoclasts) do not show a more severe phenotype. Altogether, these findings provide strong evidence that SIRT1 is a positive regulator of bone mass and a promising target for the development of novel therapeutics for osteoporosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacteroides fragilis is a member of the normal intestinal flora and is involved in host immunostimulation via TLR2. On the bacterial cell surface, glycoconjugates, such as LPS and capsular polysaccharide A (PSA), have been reported to participate in host immunostimulation via TLR2. Previously, we identified a TLR2-stimulating lipoprotein in B. fragilis cells. In this study, we demonstrated that TLR2-stimulating principal molecules in glycoconjugate fractions prepared from B. fragilis are contaminating proteinous molecules, which may also be lipoproteins. The glycoconjugate fractions were prepared by phenol–hot water extraction of B. fragilis wild type and PSA-deficient strains, followed by hydrophobic interaction chromatography. TLR2-stimilating activities of the fractions were not affected by PSA deficiency. By in-gel TLR2-stimulation assay, molecules in high-molecular-mass area, where capsular polysaccharides were migrated, were found not to stimulate TLR2, but those in the range of 15–40 kDa were active. Further, proteinase K could digest the latter molecules and the TLR2-stimulating activities were migrated to the area of below 15 kDa. These results support that proteinous molecules, which are estimated to be lipoproteins, are responsible for almost all TLR2-stimulating activity in the glycoconjugate fractions prepared from B. fragilis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Climate change poses a multi-dimensional threat to food and agricultural systems as a result of increased risk to animal growth, development, health, and food product quality. This study was designed to characterize transcriptional changes induced in turkey muscle satellite cells cultured under cold or hot thermal challenge to better define molecular mechanisms by which thermal stress alters breast muscle ultrastructure. Results: Satellite cells isolated from the pectoralis major muscle of 7-weeks-old male turkeys from two breeding lines (16 weeks body weight-selected and it's randombred control) were proliferated in culture at 33 °C, 38 °C or 43 °C for 72 h. Total RNA was isolated and 12 libraries subjected to RNAseq analysis. Statistically significant differences in gene expression were observed among treatments and between turkey lines with a greater number of genes altered by cold treatment than by hot and fewer differences observed between lines than between temperatures. Pathway analysis found that cold treatment resulted in an overrepresentation of genes involved in cell signaling/signal transduction and cell communication/cell signaling as compared to control (38 °C). Heat-treated muscle satellite cells showed greater tendency towards expression of genes related to muscle system development and differentiation. Conclusions: This study demonstrates significant transcriptome effects on turkey skeletal muscle satellite cells exposed to thermal challenge. Additional effects on gene expression could be attributed to genetic selection for 16 weeks body weight (muscle mass). New targets are identified for further research on the differential control of satellite cell proliferation in poultry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Endothelial and smooth muscle cells are considered promising resources for regenerative medicine and cell replacement therapy. It has been shown that both types of cells are heterogeneous depending on the type of vessels and organs in which they are located. Therefore, isolation of endothelial and smooth muscle cells from tissues relevant to the area of research is necessary for the adequate study of specific pathologies. However, sources of specialized human endothelial and smooth muscle cells are limited, and the search for new sources is still relevant. The main goal of our study is to demonstrate that functional endothelial and smooth muscle cells can be obtained from an available source-post-surgically discarded cardiac tissue from the right atrial appendage and right ventricular myocardium.Methods: Heterogeneous primary cell cultures were enzymatically isolated from cardiac explants and then grown in specific endothelial and smooth muscle growth media on collagen IV-coated surfaces. The population of endothelial cells was further enriched by immunomagnetic sorting for CD31, and the culture thus obtained was characterized by immunocytochemistry, ultrastructural analysis and in vitro functional tests. The angiogenic potency of the cells was examined by injecting them, along with Matrigel, into immunodeficient mice. Cells were also seeded on characterized polycaprolactone/chitosan membranes with subsequent analysis of cell proliferation and function.Results: Endothelial cells isolated from cardiac explants expressed CD31, VE-cadherin and VEGFR2 and showed typical properties, namely, cytoplasmic Weibel-Palade bodies, metabolism of acetylated low-density lipoproteins, formation of capillary-like structures in Matrigel, and production of extracellular matrix and angiogenic cytokines. Isolated smooth muscle cells expressed extracellular matrix components as well as α-actin and myosin heavy chain. Vascular cells derived from cardiac explants demonstrated the ability to stimulate angiogenesis in vivo. Endothelial cells proliferated most effectively on membranes made of polycaprolactone and chitosan blended in a 25:75 ratio, neutralized by a mixture of alkaline and ethanol. Endothelial and smooth muscle cells retained their functional properties when seeded on the blended membranes.Conclusions: We established endothelial and smooth muscle cell cultures from human right atrial appendage and right ventricle post-operative explants. The isolated cells revealed angiogenic potential and may be a promising source of patient-specific cells for regenerative medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of feeding diets of variable methionine concentration on breast muscle development was assessed in Ross 308 broiler chicks. Four isonitrogenous and isoenergetic starter diets were formulated to contain 7.8, 5.9, 4.6, and 3.4 g methionine/kg diet, and were provided for the first 7 days post-hatch. At 7 days of age all birds were placed on an industry standard starter diet with 5.9 g methionine/kg diet until 14 days, and then provided standard broiler grower (until 28 days) and finisher (until 42 days) diets. Birds were weighed periodically throughout the study and feed intake and feed conversion ratio were determined. Ten birds per treatment were sacrificed and weighed on 0, 1, 4, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days. The pectoralis major (breast muscle) was then removed from the carcass and weighed. Samples of breast muscle were collected for genetic and histological analysis. Expression of the myogenic marker genes, myogenic differentiation factor 1 and myogenin, which regulate satellite cell activity, and the adipogenic marker gene, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARg), was measured. Histological assessment of breast muscle morphology and fat deposition morphology was also performed.No effect of dietary treatment was observed on body or breast muscle weight, feed intake or feed conversion ratio. Marker gene expression was also similar in all treatment groups, except for PPARγ. Significantly higher expression of PPARγ was observed at 0 days in the 5.9 g methionine/kg diet treatment, before dietary treatments were provided. Expression of PPARg did not differ among treatment groups on any subsequent day. Methionine dietary treatment had no effect on the morphological structure of the breast muscle, or intramuscular fat deposition. These results suggest that under the conditions of this study, satellite cell activity in the early post-hatch chick, and subsequent muscle development, were not responsive to the variable methionine manipulations tested in the pre-starter period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conditions impairing bladder function in children and adults, such as myelomeningocele, posterior urethral valves, bladder exstrophy or spinal cord injury, often need urinary diversion or augmentation cystoplasty as when untreated they may cause severe bladder dysfunction and kidney failure. Currently, the gold standard therapy of end-stage bladder disease refractory to conservative management is enterocystoplasty, a surgical enlargement of the bladder with intestinal tissue. Despite providing functional improvement, enterocystoplasty is associated with significant long-term complications, such as recurrent urinary tract infections, metabolic abnormalities, stone formation, and malignancies. Therefore, there is a strong clinical need for alternative therapies for these reconstructive procedures, of which stem cell-based tissue engineering (TE) is considered to be the most promising future strategy. This review is focused on the recent progress in bladder stem cell research and therapy and the challenges that remain for the development of a functional bladder wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A key requirements for therapy utilizing the tissue engineering methodologies is use of techniques which have the capability to yield a high number of cells, from small tissue biopsy in a relatively short time. Up to date there was no optimal methods of isolation and expansion of urinary bladder smooth muscle cells (UB-SMCs). The aim of this study was to compare isolation and expansion techniques of UB-SMCs to select the most repeatable and efficient one. Method: Five protocols of porcine UB- SMCs isolation including enzymatic and explant techniques and three expansion techniques were compared. Isolation effectiveness was evaluated using trypan blue assay. Cell phenotype was confirmed by immunofluorescence staining. Proliferation rate was analyzed using MTT and XCelligence system. Cellular senescence was assessed measuring β-galactosidase activity. Results: Enzymatic methods using collagenase with dispase (method I) or collagenase only (method III) allowed to isolate much larger number of cells than the methods using trypsin with collagenase (method II) and collagenase after digestion with trypsin (method IV). The success rate of establishment of primary culture was the highest when the isolated cells were cultured in the Smooth muscle Growth Medium-2 (SmGM-2). Expression of the smooth muscle markers- alpha smooth muscle actin and smoothelin was the highest for cells isolated by enzymatic method I and cultured in SmGM-2. There was no significant signs of cell senescence until the 8th passage. Conclusion: The most efficient method of establishment of porcine UB-SMCs culture is enzymatic digestion of urinary bladder tissue with collagenase and dispase and culture of isolated cells in SmGM-2. This method was up to 10 times more efficient than other methods used for isolation and culture of UB-SMCs. This is an easy and consistent method for obtaining high numbers of urinary bladder smooth muscle cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review provides an historic perspective of the key steps from those reported at the 1st Transgenic Animal Research Conference in 1997 through to the very latest developments in avian transgenesis. Eighteen years later, on the occasion of the 10th conference in this series, we have seen breakthrough advances in the use of viral vectors and transposons to transform the germline via the direct manipulation of the chicken embryo, through to the establishment of PGC cultures allowing in vitro modification, expansion into populations to analyse the genetic modifications and then injection of these cells into embryos to create germline chimeras. We have now reached an unprecedented time in the history of chicken transgenic research where we have the technology to introduce precise, targeted modifications into the chicken genome, ranging from; new transgenes that provide improved phenotypes such as increased resilience to economically important diseases; the targeted disruption of immunoglobulin genes and replacement with human sequences to generate transgenic chickens that express 'humanised' antibodies for biopharming; and the deletion of specific nucleotides to generate targeted gene knockout chickens for functional genomics. The impact of these advances is set to be realised through applications in chickens, and other bird species as models in scientific research, for novel biotechnology and to protect and improve agricultural productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to to evaluate the stability of commonly used endogenous control genes for messenger RNA (mRNA) ( N = 16) and miRNAs ( N = 3) expression studies in prostate cell lines following irradiation. The stability of endogenous control genes expression in irradiated (6 Gy) versus unirradiated controls was quantified using NormFinder and coefficient of variation analyses. HPRT1 and 18S were identified as most and least stable endogenous controls, respectively, for mRNA expression studies in irradiated prostate cells. SNORD48 and miR16 miRNA endogenous controls tested were associated with low coefficient of variations following irradiation (6 Gy). This study highlights that commonly used endogenous controls can be responsive to radiation and validation is required prior to gene/miRNAs expression studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Overexpression of transketolase-like 1 protein TKTL1 in cancer cells has been reported to correlate with enhanced glycolysis and lactic acid production. Furthermore, enhanced TKTL1 expression was put into context with resistance to chemotherapy and ionizing radiation. Here, a panel of human malign and benign cells, which cover a broad range of chemotherapy and radiation resistance as well as reliance on glucose metabolism, was analyzed in vitro for TKTL1 expression. Methods: 17 malign and three benign cell lines were characterized according to their expression of TKTL1 on the protein level with three commercially available anti-TKTL1 antibodies utilizing immunohistochemistry and Western blot, as well as on mRNA level with three published primer pairs for RT-qPCR. Furthermore, sensitivities to paclitaxel, cisplatin and ionizing radiation were assessed in cell survival assays. Glucose consumption and lactate production were quantified as surrogates for the "Warburg effect". Results: Considerable amounts of tktl1 mRNA and TKTL1 protein were detected only upon stable transfection of the human embryonic kidney cell line HEK293 with an expression plasmid for human TKTL1. Beyond that, weak expression of endogenous tktl1 mRNA was measured in the cell lines JAR and U251. Western blot analysis of JAR and U251 cells did not detect TKTL1 at the expected size of 65 kDa with all three antibodies specific for TKTL1 protein and immunohistochemical staining was observed with antibody JFC12T10 only. All other cell lines tested here revealed expression of tktl1 mRNA below detection limits and were negative for TKTL1 protein. However, in all cell lines including TKTL1-negative HEK293-control cells, antibody JFC12T10 detected multiple proteins with different molecular weights. Importantly, JAR and U251 did neither demonstrate an outstanding production of lactic acid nor increased resistance against chemotherapeutics or to ionizing radiation, respectively. Conclusion: Using RT-qPCR and three different antibodies we observed only exceptional occurrence of TKTL1 in a panel of malignant human cell lines in vitro. The presence of TKTL1 was unrelated to either the rate of glucose consumption/lactic acid production or resistance against chemo- and radiotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 120 Japanese quails were randomly distributed into six dietary groups to evaluate the effect of low-crude protein (CP) diet supplemented with crystalline amino acids on productive and reproductive performance, blood parameters and nitrogen (N) balance. Treatments consisted of six different diets: a control diet (20% CP), a low-CP (16%) diet supplemented with threonine (Thr), valine (Val) and tryptophan (Trp), three low-CP diets supplemented with individual Thr, Val or Trp, and a low-CP diet supplemented with all aforementioned amino acids. None of the growth traits examined were influenced either by dietary treatments or by egg production (P > 0.05). The highest fertility percentages (88.2%) were observed in quails fed the low-CP diet without crystalline amino acids supplementation followed by low-CP diet supplemented with Val (86.2%), whereas the highest hatchability (from fertile eggs) percentage was observed in quails fed low-CP diet plus Trp. Egg shell percentages from quails fed the control diet were higher (P < 0.05) compared to other dietary treatments during the whole feeding period. Yolk percentage was decreased (P < 0.01) with the low-CP diet supplemented with amino acids. Blood protein and ammonia levels were decreased (P < 0.05) by reducing the dietary CP level or by supplementing amino acids to the low-CP diet. Reducing the CP level in the diet with amino acids supplementation in laying quails decreased the daily N excretion (P < 0.05). It is concluded that reducing the CP level in a diet supplemented with crystalline amino acids supports reproductive performance in quails, and is a valuable strategy for decreasing feeding cost and mitigating ammonia emission. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chicken embryo is widely used as an experimental model in the areas of regenerative medicine, tumor biology, and angiogenesis. Eggshell opacity and rigidity present restricted three‐dimensional (3D) viewing and accessibility to the embryo and its circulatory network despite egg windowing. The ability to engineer an eggshell, which eliminates the opacity yet provides 3D access for manipulation is beneficial and would potentially make it enticing for the use of chicken embryo as a cheaper alternative vertebrate model. Here, we present the feasibility of fabricating a morphologically analogous transparent chicken eggshell made of polydimethylsiloxane using a biaxial rotation computer‐controlled bioreactor to achieve uniform thickness. By culturing chicken embryo in the bioengineered eggshell, we demonstrated success in meeting developmental milestones and its practicality as an experimental platform by visualizing both embryo and vasculature development using common laboratory imaging tools. Although the viability of the embryo in the bioengineered eggshell was lower than in the normal egg, this was attributed to the absence of calcium source. The bioengineered eggshell, in its initial stage of development, provides a platform to be used to investigate beyond gross observations of the embryo and vascular network in 3D optical clarity and its imaging capabilities has the potential to be extended to other imaging modalities. We have developed a transparent ex ovo eggshell, biomimicking the elliptical geometry to address the lack of 3D optical clarity contributed by the eggshell opacity. This retains the natural shape that may support the development of the chicken embryo and allows easy access to the embryo, its circulatory system and respective organ development in far reaching applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]