Daigneault Designs
Aila Gilb
The laboratory specializes in utilizing large animal models to address emerging and existing reasons for infertility in animals and humans. We primarily use bovine gametes and embryos to address idiopathic subfertility that also serve as models for human embryo development. Existing projects in the laboratory equally span male and female reproductive biology with a concentric focus on basic functions that drive early embryo development for applied and translational agriculture and biomedical sciences. Assisted reproductive technologies are a large component of research (IVF, ET, AI, vitrification) spanning multiple species (bovine, equine, ovine, porcine). Complementary techniques include the use of CRISPR/Cas technologies (zygotic injection, electroporation) for gene editing to identify genomic requirements of early embryo development and pregnancy recognition including paternal contributions to blastocyst formation. In complement, the laboratory models gamete and embryo environmental interactions with a focus on contaminants and toxicants that alter sperm function and embryo development both structurally and at the genome/epigenomic levels. We also optimize and design semen extenders for multiple purposes in different species for commercial and research applications.
Infertility and embryonic failure are highly evident in both humans and cattle. The laboratory is building from previously published work to demonstrate conserved function in pluripotent genes as master regulators of embryonic development in cattle and humans. Delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 components into bovine zygotes is achieved to generate gene-edited embryos intended to understand basic biology and the genetic architecture required for successful establishment and maintenance of pregnancy.
Paternal exposure to environmental toxicants is a highly understudied area of research in large animals and humans. Our works aim to identify and determine consequences of environmental exposure of common contaminants to post-ejaculatory sperm function and subsequent embryo development. Using a bovine model and embryo continuum, sperm are exposed to physiological and environmentally relevant levels of toxicants to understand consequences on sperm function including motility, fertilization, and subsequent embryo development.
Our laboratory optimizes and designs semen extenders primarily in bovine and equine for specific needs including transportation at ambient temperature, sex-sorting, increased velocity for timed-AI protocols, and prolonged maintenance of frozen-thawed sperm. Extenders are validated for compatibility in the laboratory using Computer-Assisted Sperm Analyses and submitted for Patent approval towards industry and research applications.
Dr. Daigneault is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Florida whose laboratory conducts research focusing on reproductive biology and assisted reproductive technologies in multiple livestock species. Some ongoing equine initiatives are focused on industry applications that include lengthening the storage time of cooled stallion semen for artificial insemination, optimization of equine IVF protocols and identifying alternative methods of immunocontraception for feral equids.
Current protocols for shipping stallion sperm for artificial insemination require collecting fresh sperm from stallions and then cooling semen in commercial shipping devices that regulate the rate of cooling and maintenance of temperature at 4-5C. Cooling stallion semen slows the metabolic processes of sperm, thereby extending the lifespan of sperm as compared to holding semen at or above room temperature. When semen is collected from a stallion and then shipped to a facility for artificial insemination, the motility of sperm is usually only sufficient for fertilization when collections are used with 24 hours. Our laboratory at the University of Florida is working to prolong the lifespan of sperm that are cooled for shipment for several days beyond the industry standard 24-48 hour timeframe. Extending the lifespan of cooled semen while maintaining motility that is acceptable for artificial insemination alleviates several logistical restrictions within the breeding industry including more flexible timing from stallion collection to mare insemination, especially for cases of delayed ovulation or disruption of shipments.
An additional initiative of the Daigneault Laboratory is to optimize conditions for the production of equine embryos by in vitro fertilization (IVF). Historically, equine IVF has been highly unsuccessful for reasons that are usually attributed to incompatibilities of stallion sperm outside of the female reproductive tract for fertilization. The Daigneault Laboratory is currently optimizing ideal conditions for sperm outside of the female reproductive tract that allow successful penetration and fertilization of the equine egg for continued embryo development. Recent advances have described the success of equine IVF in 2023, but success and repeatability rates remain quite low or undocumented. The Daigneault Laboratory is working to develop a robust and universal protocol that can be applied for multiple stallions towards increased production of equine IVF embryos.
The great thing about small businesses like MetaMorph, is that you can develop a lasting relationship with the people who work for them. You can also count on most small handmade brands to be eco conscious and always thinking about how to improve sustainability. The more we shop with sustainable companies and small brands, the more we can help curb climate change. By spending your money with a small business you are also directly contributing to building a healthy local economy.
Hi! I'm Sarah, owner, designer and lead jeweler here at MetaMorph Jewelry Studio. I have over 20 years of experience in art & design and 12+ years of experience in jewelry design and fabrication. I have a non-traditional educational background, curated to my specific interests. I studied digital media & video production at New England School of Communications, an audio/visual communications college. I studied studio arts at University of Southern Maine as well as digital media and graphic design at Chatham University. I studied jewelry making through various classes over the course of 12+ years and am a lifetime learner, growing my skill set on a constant basis. I have an AS in Culinary Arts and am Le Cordon Bleu certified. I worked in the restaurant industry for 18 years while attending the colleges listed above. I started as a dishwasher at 14 and ended my career as a chef in 2018 when my web based jewelry business took off and I was able to go full time working for myself.
Established in 2014, MetaMorph Jewelry Studio is a small made-to-order jewelry brand located in Waterville, Maine owned and operated by designer & jeweler Sarah Daigneault. In addition to handcrafted jewelry MetaMorph Jewelry Studio also has a reputable, successful permanent jewelry service that was launched in late 2021. You can shop MetaMorph Jewelry Studio's products in over 300 retail locations in the US & Canada.
Sarah believes in the energy and unique quality of handcrafted jewelry and is inspired by symbolism, nature, ancient jewelry and the cosmos. She designs unique heirloom quality jewelry with sustainability in mind, sourcing ethical gemstones and recycled precious metals. You can read more about MetaMorph's sustainable business practices here.
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