Application and Diagnosis of Diseases in Veterinary Medicine

 Introduction The proteome is the full complement of proteins expressed by a cell or tissue at any given time or environmental condition. Proteomics is the study and identification of this set or subset of proteins (Abersold & Man, 2003 Cristea et al., 2004). Whereas the genome is composed of all the potential genes that can be expressed as proteins, the proteome is composed of all proteins actually expressed by the genome (Wasinger et al., 1995). Proteomics is often comparative, where differences in protein expression in cell lysates or tissues in various conditions (diseased versus normal) are measured. Its main purpose is to identify proteins and establish their function. To this end, proteomics also involves the analysis and definition of the many protein-protein interactions responsible for biological processes that are regulated by multiple proteins. A better molecular understanding of the physiological role of these processes will enhance our knowledge of the pathological changes cells and tissues are susceptible to. Ultimately, this knowledge will help in the development of new drugs against human and animal diseases.