API Technology

API's mission is to identify and commercialize the most promising risk-assessment technologies for improving animal health management. While the company's initial focus is on oxidative stress biomarkers for cattle, the company is developing other technologies for early disease detection, enhanced management and improved ROI. If your technology matches our mission, please contact us.

Oxidative Stress Profile Stems BRD Losses

See API's product to combat BRD

Oxidative stress (OS) has been found to contribute to inflammation, cardiac disease, and weakness of the immune system. It has also been found that stressful events elevate OS, such as when cattle are shipped to feedyards. This stress involves weaning, shipping, and dietary and environmental changes.

OS unfolds in the following manner. During energy producing processes of cells, the body is continually metabolizing oxygen. As a result of this activity, highly reactive molecules are derived called reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as free radicals. These molecules have unpaired electrons in their structure making them very unstable. The free radicals, while "searching" for an electron, react with other molecules, causing oxidative damage to them and in turn causing massive cell damage to proteins, membranes, and DNA.

These free radicals are neutralized by antioxidants produced by the body and supplied in the diet. Under normal circumstances the body maintains equilibrium between pro-oxidants, the free radicals, and antioxidants. A disturbance in the equilibrium, where pro-oxidants outweigh antioxidants in the system and the body loses the ability to neutralize the free radicals, results in OS.

The free radicals can also be produced by inflammatory response, stress, and environmental insults -- not just from natural body processes. When the free radicals are not neutralized and the damage caused to the cells is left un-repaired, cell death occurs leading to a higher propensity for disease.

Through the use of API's oxidative stress biomarkers, OS levels can be gauged prior to or during stressful periods. During periods of stress in animals, hormones are released that produce free radicals and, in turn, the liver must detoxify the hormones resulting in more free radicals. The animal's body is unable to neutralize the new, large quantity of free radicals causing damage to cells, making it possible for pathogens to invade and thereby cause disease.

While API's initial focus is on technologies for the cattle industry we are evaluating new approaches for animal health management for horses, swine and domestic pets as well. Please contact us if your research complements our goals.