Jessica D. Starkey

EDUCATION

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES

Research in Dr. Jessica Starkey’s laboratory is centered around exploring the impact of nutrition and management strategies on the cellular and molecular regulation of skeletal muscle development and growth. Understanding how muscle-specific stem cells called satellite cells function and respond to different dietary factors, stressors, and management strategies is the primary focus of this lab.

Specifically, we are interested in understanding how maternal nutrition impacts skeletal muscle development, satellite cell function, and muscle growth characteristics of the progeny. In addition, we are currently investigating how variation in egg incubation temperature impacts skeletal muscle development and post-hatch satellite cell activity in broilers. We are also working on experiments aimed at elucidating the developmental mechanisms and possible causes of wooden breast, a myopathy currently challenging the global broiler industry.

Our research is not limited only to poultry, but includes other livestock species as well. Students in the lab become skilled in multiple molecular and cell biology research techniques, but also receive hands-on training in poultry husbandry and poultry growth performance and metabolism research. The core research techniques used in the lab include, but are not limited to, primary satellite cell isolation and culture, real-time quantitative PCR and pyrosequencing, protein quantification using fluorescence-based Western blotting, tissue cryohistology, traditional paraffin histology, immunofluorescence staining, fluorescence microscopy, and digital image analysis. Dr. Starkey’s research group works in state-of-the-art, recently renovated research facilities which include the Muscle Cell Biology and Fluorescence Microscopy Laboratories, Individual Bird Growth Performance Facility, and AU Poultry and Animal Nutrition Center housed in the Poultry Science Department.

Our overall aim is to conduct experiments that will not only enhance basic scientific knowledge regarding muscle satellite cell function, but that will ultimately be useful in devising production strategies to maximize the efficiency of muscle growth without sacrificing animal health, well-being, or product quality.

COURSES TAUGHT

Undergraduate Courses

• POUL 3030 — Commercial Poultry Production
• POUL 3150 — Poultry Physiology
• POUL 4980 — Undergraduate Research in Muscle Biology
• POUL 5030 — Advanced Commercial Poultry Production
• POUL 1000 — Introductory Poultry Science (Fall 2021)

Graduate Courses

• POUL 6030 — Advanced Commercial Poultry Production
• POUL 7970 — Special Topics – Experimental Techniques in Growth Biology
• POUL 7990 — Research and Thesis
• POUL 8990 — Research and Dissertation

SELECT PUBLICATIONS

*indicates a student advisee
#indicates undergraduate student advisee
†indicates work published under maiden name (J. D. Dunn)

• Gregg, C. R., Hutson, B. L., Flees, J. J., Z. S. Lowman, K. A. Estes, J. D. Starkey, and C. W. Starkey. 2023. Evaluation of increasing concentrations of supplemental choline chloride on modern broiler chicken growth performance and carcass characteristics. Animals. 13:1445. doi: 10.3390/ani13091445
• Abascal-Ponciano, G.A., S.F. Leiva, J. J. Flees, L. P. Avila, J. D. Starkey, and C.W. Starkey. 2022. Dietary 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 supplementation modulates intestinal cytokines in young broiler chickens. Front Vet Sci. 9:947276. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.947276
• Sandoval, J. L., D. E. Ventura, O. B. Fiallos, B. L. Anderson, J. C. Sparks, J. D. Starkey, C. W. Starkey. 2022. Efficacy and safety of a novel source of dietary 25-hydroxycholecalciferol in growing pigs. J. Anim. Sci. 100(9):skac260. doi: 10.1093/jas/skac260. J. D. Starkey CV Feb. 2023 Page 10 of 24
• Keel, A.J., A. J. Calderon, O. J. Tejeda, J. D. Starkey, and C. W. Starkey. 2022. Dietary protein source and litter condition alter broiler chicken intestinal macrophage and mitotically active cell populations. Front. Vet. Sci. 9:894587. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.894587.
• Avila, L. P., S. F. Leiva, G. A. Abascal-Ponciano, J. J. Flees, K. M. Sweeney, J. L. Wilson, K. J. Meloche, B. J. Turner, G. Litta, A. M. Waguespack-Levy, A. Pokoo-Aikins, C. W. Starkey, J. D. Starkey. 2022. Effect of combined maternal and post-hatch dietary 25-hydroxycholecalciferol supplementation on broiler chicken Pectoralis major muscle growth characteristics and satellite cell mitotic activity. J. Anim. Sci. 100(8):skac192. doi: 10.1093/jas/skac192.
• Gregg, C. R., O. J. Tejeda, L. F. Spencer, A. J. Calderon, D. V. Bourassa, J. D. Starkey, C. W. Starkey. 2022. Impacts of increasing additions of choline chloride on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens reared to 66 days of age. Animals (Basel). 12(14):1808. doi: 10.3390/ani12141808.
• Sweeney, K. M., C. D. Aranibar, W. K. Kim, S. M. Williams, L. P. Avila, J. D. Starkey, C. W. Starkey, and J. L. Wilson. 2022. Impact of every-day versus skip-a-day feeding of broiler breeder pullets during rearing on body weight uniformity and reproductive performance. Poult. Sci. 101(8):101959. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2022.101959.
• Flees, J.J., C. W. Starkey, and J. D. Starkey. 2022. Effect of different basal culture media and sera type combinations on primary broiler chicken muscle satellite cell heterogeneity during proliferation and differentiation. Animals (Basel). 12(11):1425. doi: 10.3390/ani12111425.
• Leiva, S. F., L. P. Avila, G. A. Abascal-Ponciano, J. J. Flees, K. M. Sweeney, J. L. Wilson, J. D. Starkey, and C. W. Starkey. 2022. Combined maternal and post-hatch dietary supplementation of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol alters early post-hatch broiler chicken duodenal macrophage and crypt cell populations and their mitotic activity. Front. Vet. Sci. 9:882566. doi: 10.3389/fvets.2022.882566.
• Avila, L. P., S. F. Leiva, G. A. Abascal-Ponciano, J. J. Flees, K. M. Sweeney, J. L. Wilson, B. J. Turner, G. Litta, A. M. Waguespack-Levy, A. Pokoo-Aikins, C. W. Starkey, J. D. Starkey. 2022. Combining maternal and post-hatch dietary 25-hydroxycholecalciferol supplementation on broiler chicken growth performance and carcass characteristics. Poultry. 1(2):111-124. doi: 10.3390/poultry1020010.
• Gregg, C. R., O. J. Tejeda, L. F. Spencer, A. J. Calderon, D. V. Bourassa, J. D. Starkey, C. W. Starkey. 2022. Effect of dietary choline chloride supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens reared to 32 days of age. Poultry. 1(2), 66-73. doi: 10.3390/poultry1020007.
• Tejeda, O. J., K. J. Meloche, and J. D. Starkey. 2021. Effect of incubator tray location on broiler chicken growth performance, carcass part yields, and the meat quality defects wooden breast and white striping. Poult. Sci. 100:654-662. doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2020.10.035.
• Ferreira, T. Z., L. Kindlein, J. J. Flees, L. K. Shortnacy, S. L. Vieira, V. P. Nascimento, K. J. Meloche, and J. D. Starkey. 2020. Characterization of pectoralis major muscle satellite cell population heterogeneity, macrophage density, and collagen infiltration in broiler chickens affected by Wooden Breast. Frontiers in Physiology – Avian Physiology (Invited). eCollection 2020. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2020.00529.
• Shortnacy, L. W. ‡, J. J. Flees, C. W. Starkey, and J. D. Starkey. 2020. Effect of the Wooden Breast myopathy on broiler chicken collagen and myogenic regulatory factor protein expression. AU J. Undergrad. Scholar.
• Tejeda, O. J.*, A. J. Calderon*#, J. A. Arana*#, K. J. Meloche, and J. D. Starkey. 2019. Broiler chicken myofiber morphometrics and myogenic stem cell population heterogeneity. Poult. Sci. 98:4123-4130.
• Vaughn, M. A.*, P. A. Lancaster, K. C. Roden*, E. D. Sharman, C. R. Krehbiel, G. W. Horn, and J. D. Starkey. 2019. Effect of stocker management program on beef cattle skeletal muscle growth characteristics, satellite cell activity, and paracrine signaling impact on preadipocyte differentiation. J. Anim. Sci. Tech. 65:260-271.
• Novak, T.E.*, S. L. Rodriguez-Zas, B.R Southey, J. D. Starkey, R. M. Stockler, G. F. Alfaro, and S. J. Moisa. 2019. Jersey steer ruminal papillae histology and nutrigenomics with diet changes. J. Anim. Physiol. Anim. Nutr. Accepted 7/30/2019. DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13189.
• Meloche, K. J.*, W.A. Dozier, III, and J. D. Starkey. 2018. Skeletal muscle growth characteristics and myogenic stem cell activity in broiler chickens affected by wooden breast. Poult. Sci. 97:4401-4414.
• Lancaster, P. A., E. D. Sharman, M. A. Vaughn*, S. L. Roberts, J. D. Starkey, C. R. Krehbiel and G. W. Horn. 2016. Effect of rate of weight gain of steers during the stocker phase on partitioning of fat among depots, gene expression in adipose tissues, and satellite cell – preadipocyte interactions in growing-finishing beef cattle. Proceedings of the 10th Annual International Beef Cattle Production Symposium (SIMCORTE).
• Knobel-Graves, S. M.*, J. C. Brooks, B. J. Johnson, J. D. Starkey, J. L. Beckett, J. M. Hodgen, J. P. Hutcheson, M. N. Streeter, C. L. Thomas, R. J. Rathmann, A. J. Garmyn, M. F. Miller. 2016. Effect of vitamin D3, zilpaterol hydrochloride supplementation, and postmortem aging on shear force measurements of three muscles in finishing beef steers. J. Anim. Sci. 94:2637-2647.
• Lancaster, P.A., E. D. Sharman, G. W. Horn, C. R Krehbiel, J. W. Dilwith, and J. D. Starkey. 2015. Effect of rate of weight gain of steers during the stocker phase. IV. Rumen fermentation characteristics and expression of genes involved in substrate utilization for fatty acid synthesis in adipose tissues of growing-finishing beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 93:3055-65.
• Hutton, K. C.*, M. A. Vaughn*, B. J. Turner, and J. D. Starkey. 2014. Effect of vitamin D status improvement with 25-hydroxycholecalciferol on skeletal muscle growth characteristics and satellite cell activity in broiler chickens. J. Anim. Sci. 92:3291-3299.
• Starkey, J. D. 2014. Invited Review. ASAS Triennial Growth Symposium — A role for vitamin D in skeletal muscle development and growth J. Anim. Sci. 92:887-892.
• Tedford, J. L., A. Rodas-González, A. J. Garmyn, J. C. Brooks, B. J. Johnson, J. D. Starkey, G. O. Clark, A. J. Derington, J. A. Collins, and M. F. Miller. 2014. Pre- and Postharvest Product Safety: U.S. consumer perceptions of U.S. and Canadian beef quality grades. J. Anim. Sci. 92:3682-3692.
• Lancaster, P.A., E. D. Sharman, G. W. Horn, C. R Krehbiel, and J. D. Starkey. 2014. Effect of rate of weight gain of steers during the stocker phase. III. Gene expression of adipose tissues and skeletal muscle in growing-finishing beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 92:1462-1472.
• Hines, E. A.*, J. D. Coffey*, C. W. Starkey, T. K. Chung, and J. D. Starkey. 2013. Improvement of maternal vitamin D status with 25-hydroxycholecalciferol positively impacts porcine fetal skeletal muscle development and myoblast activity. J. Anim. Sci. 91:4116-4122.
• Sharman, E., P. Lancaster, C. McMurphy, G. Mafi, J. Starkey, C. Krehbiel, and G. Horn. 2013. Effect of rate of weight gain of steers during the stocker phase. II. Visceral organ mass and body composition of growing-finishing beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 91:2355-2366.
• Sharman, E., P. Lancaster, C. McMurphy, A. Garmyn, B. Pye, G. Mafi, C. Goad, W. Phillips, J. Starkey, C. Krehbiel, and G. Horn. 2013. Effect of rate of weight gain of steers during the stocker phase. I. Growth, partitioning of fat among depots and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 91:4322-4335.
• Martin, J. N.*, J. C. Brooks, T. A. Brooks, J. F. Legako, J. D. Starkey, S. P. Jackson, and M. F. Miller. 2013. Storage length, storage temperature, and lean formulation influence the shelf-life and stability of traditionally packaged ground beef. Meat Sci. 95:495-502.
• P. A. Lancaster, M. A. Vaughn*, J. D. Starkey, E. D. Sharman, C. R. Krehbiel and G. W. Horn. 2013. Growth rate in beef cattle affects adipose gene expression and skeletal muscle fiber type. Proceedings of the 4th International Symposium on Energy and Protein.
• Coffey, J. D.*, E. A. Hines*, J. D. Starkey, C. W. Starkey, and T. K. Chung. 2012. Feeding 25-hydroxycholecalciferol improves gilt reproductive performance and fetal vitamin D status. J. Anim. Sci. 90:3783-8.
• O’Quinn, T. G., J. C. Brooks, R. J. Polkinghorne, A. J. Garmyn, B. J. Johnson, J. D. Starkey, R. J. Rathmann, and M. F. Miller. 2012. Consumer assessment of beef strip loin steaks of varying fat levels. J Anim. Sci. 90:626-34.
• Rodas-Gonzalez, A., S. B Pflanzer, A. J. Garmyn, J. N. Martin, J. C. Brooks, S. M. Knobel, B. J. Johnson, J. D. Starkey, R. J. Rathmann, P. E. de Felicio, M. N. Streeter, D. A. Yates, J. M. Hodgen, J. P. Hutcheson, M. F. Miller. 2012. Effects of postmortem calcium chloride injection on meat palatability traits of strip loin steaks from cattle supplemented with or without zilpaterol hydrochloride. J. Anim. Sci. 90:3584-95.
• Garmyn, A. J., S. M. Knobel*, K. S. Spivey*, L. F. Hightower*, J. C. Brooks, B. J. Johnson, S. L. Parr, R. J. Rathmann, J. D. Starkey, D. A. Yates, J. M. Hodgen, J. P. Hutcheson, M. F. Miller. 2011. Warner-Bratzler and slice shear force measurements of three beef muscles in response to various aging periods following trenbolone acetate and estradiol implants and zilpaterol hydrochloride supplementation of finishing beef steers. J. Anim. Sci. 89:3783-3791.
• Igo, J. L., J. C. Brooks, B. J. Johnson, J. D. Starkey, R. J. Rathmann, A. J. Garmyn, W. T. Nichols, J. P. Hutcheson, and M. F. Miller. 2011. Characterization of estrogen-trenbolone acetate implants on tenderness and consumer acceptability of beef under the effect of two aging times. J. Anim. Sci. 89:792-97.
• Starkey, J. D., M. Yamamoto, S. Yamamoto, D. J. Goldhamer. 2011. Skeletal muscle satellite cells do not spontaneously adopt adipogenic fates. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 59:33-46.
• Collier, C. T., J. A. Carroll, M. A. Ballou, J. D. Starkey, and J. C. Sparks. 2011. Oral administration of Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii reduces mortality associated with immune and cortisol responses to Escherichia coli endotoxin in weaned pigs. J. Anim. Sci. 89:52-8.
• Waylan, A. T., J. P. Kayser, D. P. Gnad, J. J. Higgins, J. D. Starkey, E. K. Sissom, J. C. Woodworth, and B. J. Johnson. 2005. Effects of L-carnitine on fetal growth and the IGF system in pigs. J. Anim. Sci. 83:1824-31.
• Wang, X., S. R. Thomson, J. D. Starkey, J. L. Page, A. D. Ealy, and S. E. Johnson. 2004. Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-β1) is up-regulated by activated Raf in skeletal myoblasts but does not contribute to the differentiation-defective phenotype. J. Biol. Chem. 279:(4) 2528-2534.
• Waylan, A. T., J. D. Dunn†, B. J. Johnson, J. P. Kayser, and E. K. Sissom. 2004. Effect of flax supplementation and growth promotants on lipoprotein lipase and glycogenin messenger RNA concentrations in satellite cells and finishing cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 82:1868-1875.
• Dunn, J. D. †, B. J. Johnson, J. P. Kayser, A. T. Waylan, E. K. Sissom, and J. S. Drouillard. 2003. Effects of flax supplementation and a combined trenbolone acetate and estradiol implant on circulating insulin-like growth factor-I and muscle insulin-like growth factor-I messenger RNA levels in beef cattle. J. Anim. Sci. 81:3028-3034.
• Pampusch, M. S., B. J. Johnson, M. E. White, M. R. Hathaway, J. D. Dunn†, A. T. Waylan, and W. R. Dayton. 2003. Time course of changes in growth factor mRNA levels in muscle of steroid-implanted and non-implanted steers. J. Anim. Sci. 81:2733-2740.