Kenny Webb, Jr.

Research Interests:  Protein digestion, absorption, and transport. 

Recent efforts:

1) portal drained visceral flux of amino acids and peptides

2) peptide absorption by ruminal and omasal epithelia

3) amino acid and peptide transport by brush border membrane vesicles

4) peptide utilization by cultured myogenic and mammary epithelial cells

5) cloning and characterization of gastrointestinal tract peptide transporters

6) characterization of mammary tissue explant utilization of peptides

7) dietary protein quality and its influence on abundance of nutrient transporter mRNA in the small intestine

8) proteomic analysis of intestinal brush border membrane response to dietary protein

9) proteomic analysis of blood plasma response to intestinal coccidia challenges

Tagari, H., K. Webb, Jr., B. Theurer, T. Huber, D. DeYoung, P. Cuneo, J. E. P. Santos, J. Simas, M. Sadik, A. Alio, O. Lozano, A. Delgado-Elorduy, L. Nussio, C. Nussio, and F. Santos. 2004. Portal drained visceral flux, hepatic metabolism, and mammary uptake of free and peptide-bound amino acids and milk amino acid output in dairy cows fed diets containing corn grain steam flaked at 360 or steam rolled at 490 g/L. J. Dairy Sci. 87:413-430.

Klang, J. E., L. A. Burnworth, Y. X. Pan, K. E. Webb, Jr., and E. A. Wong. 2005. Functional characterization of a cloned pig intestinal peptide transporter (pPepT1). J. Anim. Sci. 83:172-181.

Van, L., Y. X. Pan, E. A. Wong, J. R. Bloomquist, and K. E. Webb, Jr. 2005. Developmental regulation of a turkey intestinal peptide transporter (PepT1). Poultry Sci. 84:75-82.

Chen, H. Y. X. Pan, E. A. Wong, and K. E. Webb, Jr. 2005. Dietary protein level and stage of development affect expression of an intestinal peptide transporter (cPepT1) in chickens. J. Nutr. 135:193-198.

Sun, X., A. McElroy, K. E. Webb, Jr., A. E. Sefton, and C. Novak. 2005. Broiler performance and intestinal alterations when fed drug-free diets. Poultry Science 84:1294-1302.

Daniels, K. M., K. E. Webb, Jr., M. L. McGilliard, M. J. Meyer, M. E. Van Ambaugh, and R. M. Akers. 2006. Effects of body weight and nutrition on mammary protein expression profiles in Holstein heifers. J. Dairy. Sci 89:4276-4288.

Gilbert, E. R., E. A. Wong, Mike Vaughan, and K. E. Webb, Jr.2007. Distribution and abundance of nutrient transporter mRNA in the intestinal tract of the black bear, Ursus americanus. Comp. Biochem.and Physiol. 146:35-41.

Zhao, J., A. F. Harper, M. J. Estienne, K. E. Webb, Jr., A. P. McElroy, and D. M. Denbow. 2007. Growth performance and intestinal morphology responses in early weaned pigs to supplementation of antibiotic-free diets with an organic copper complex and spray-dried plasma protein in sanitary and nonsanitary environments. J. Anim. Sci. 85:1302-1310.

Gilbert, E. R., H. Li, D. A. Emmerson, K. E. Webb, Jr., and E. A. Wong. 2007. Developmental regulation of nutrient transporter and enzyme mRNA abundance in the small intestine of broilers. Poult. Sci. 86:1739-1753.

Tagari, H., K. Webb, Jr., B. Theurer, T. Huber, D. DeYoung, P. Cuneo, J. E. P. Santos, J. Simas, M. Sadik, A. Alio, O. Lozano, A. Delgado-Elorduy, L. Nussio, C. Nussio, and F. Santos. 2008. Mammary uptake, portal-drained visceral flux, and hepatic metabolism of free and peptide-bound amino acids in cows fed steam-flaked or dry-rolled sorghum grain diets. J. Dairy Sci. 91:679-697.

Gilbert, E. R., H. Li, D. A. Emmerson, K. E. Webb, Jr., and E. A. Wong. 2008. Dietary protein quality and feed restriction influence abundance of nutrient transporter mRNA in the small intestine of broiler chicks. J. Nutr. 138:262-271.

Li, H.; E. Gilbert, Y. Zhang, O. Crasta, D. Emmerson, K.E. Webb, Jr., and E. A. Wong. 2008. Expression profiling of the solute carrier gene family in the chicken intestine from the late embryonic to early post hatch stages. Animal Genetics. 39:407-424.

Gilbert, E. R., E. A. Wong, and K. E. Webb, Jr. 2008. Peptide absorption and utilization: implications for animal nutrition and health. J. Anim. Sci. 86:2135-2155.

Zhao, J., E. A. Wong, K. E. Webb, Jr., E. Gilbert, X. Xiao, and A. F. Harper 2008. Dietary protein and developmental regulation of cytokine mRNA expression in the brushborder membrane of the small intestine in weanling pigs. Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 21:1800-1806.

Mott, C. R., P. B. Siegel, K. E. Webb, Jr., and E. A. Wong. 2008. Gene expression of nutrient transportes in the small intestine of chickens from lines divergently selected for high or low juvenile body weight. Poult. Sci. 87:2215-2224.

Zhao, J., A. F. Harper, B. K. Perkins, L. L. Southern, J. L. Shelton, T. D. Bidner, K. E. Webb, Jr., M. J. Estienne, and L. A. Kuehn. 2008. Assessment of a commercial hydrolyzed protein source and spray-dried plasma protein as supplements in the diet of early weaned pigs. Prof. Anim. Sci. 24:604-613.

Zhao, J., A. F. Harper, K. E. Webb, Jr., L. A. Kuehn, E. Gilbert, X. Xiao, and E. A. Wong. 2008. Cytokine mRNA expression in the small intestine of weanling pigs fed diets supplemented with specialized protein or peptide sources. Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 21:1800-1806.

C. L. Wright, J. W. Spears, and K. E. Webb, Jr. 2008. Uptake of zinc from zinc sulfate and zinc proteinate by ovine ruminal and omasal epithelia. J Anim Sci 86: 1357-1363.