Prof. Sean Fair

Faculty Of Science & Engineering

Dept. Of Biological Sciences

Position: Associate Professor in Animal Reproduction

Email: sean.fair@ul.ie

Tel: 00353 61 202548

Address(es)

School of Natural Sciences,

Faculty of Science and Engineering,

University of Limerick

Biography

Professor Fair graduated with a PhD from University College Dublin in 2006. He took up a position as Lecturer in Physiology in National University of Ireland, Galway in 2007 and in 2009 joined the academic staff in the University of Limerick where he is now Associate Professor in Animal Reproduction. His research is focused on sperm interaction with the female reproductive tract, and its secretions, across a range of species including cattle, sheep, horses and humans.

Research Interests

Professor Fair is interested in all aspects of assisted reproduction in domestic animals; however, his research group is principally focused on sperm interaction with the female reproductive tract and its secretions (bovine, equine, ovine and human) using a range of in vitro and in vivo research techniques. He has ongoing projects investigating (i) the variation between males in sperm functional parameters as well as in the uterine immunological response (ii) the nutritional control of puberty (iii) sperm selection using micro-fluidics as well as (iv) ewe breed differences in cervical function and its relationship to sperm transport. His research is primarily funded by the Science Foundation Ireland (Investigators Programme), EU (ERA-Net), Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Research Stimulus Fund), Irish Research Council (PhD stipends), Enterprise Ireland (Commercialisation Fund), Teagasc (Walsh Fellowships) as well as industry support.

Professional Activities

Committee

2022 International Congress on Animal Reproduction ,
2017 British Society for Animal Science; International Bull Fertility Conference 2018 ,
2016 Director of Association of Applied Animal Andrology,
2015 Chairman of University of Limerick Animal Welfare Body,
2013 Chairman of University of Limerick Animal Research Ethics Committee,
2013 Director of Sheep Ireland,

Association

2022 Vice President, International Congress on Animal Reproduction
Member, European Society for Domestic Animal Reproduction
Member, Agricultural Science Association
Member, British Society of Animal Science

Education

2016 University of Limerick - Postgraduate Diploma
2006 UCD - PhD
2002 UCD - B.Agr.Sc.

Employment

2007 National University of Ireland Galway - Lecturer

Other

Journal ad hoc Reviewer:
Reproduction Fertility and Development
Theriogenology
Journal of Dairy Science
Animal Reproduction Science
Reproduction in Domestic Animals
Reproductive Biology
Biology of Reproduciton
Reproduction
Animal
Annals of Animal Science
System Biology in Reproductive Medicine
Nutrition Journal
Systems Biology in Reproductive Medicine
Open Veterinary Journal
Veterinary Record
BMC Genomics
BMC Veterinary Research
Professor Fair is a section editor for the nature journal Scientific Reports. 2019 - Present.

Peer Reviewed Journals

2023

Membrane remodulation and hyperactivation are impaired in frozen- thawed sperm of low-fertility bulls

Stiavnicka, M, Hosek P, Abril-Parreno L, Kenny DA, Lonergan P, Fair S (2023) Membrane remodulation and hyperactivation are impaired in frozen- thawed sperm of low-fertility bulls. NEW YORK Theriogenology :115-121

Biography

Research Interests

Professional Activities

Committee

Association

Education

Employment

Other

Publications

Peer Reviewed Journals

Membrane remodulation and hyperactivation are impaired in frozen- thawed sperm of low-fertility bulls

Genome-wide association study reveals candidate markers related to field fertility and semen quality traits in Holstein-Friesian bulls

Early life nutrition affects the molecular ontogeny of testicular development in the young bull calf

Ewe breed differences in the cervical transcriptome at the follicular phase of a synchronised oestrous cycle

Identification and characterization of O-linked glycans in cervical mucus as biomarkers of sperm transport: A novel sheep model

An ex-vivo assessment of differential sperm transport in the female reproductive tract between high and low fertility bulls

Sperm DNA methylation patterns at discrete CpGs and genes involved in embryonic development are related to bull fertility

Cervical immune activation during the luteal phase may compromise subsequent trans-cervical ram sperm transport

Increasing the frequency of ejaculate collection in young dairy bulls increases semen production and field fertility

Identification of differentially expressed mRNAs and miRNAs in spermatozoa of bulls of varying fertility

Identification of sperm proteins as biomarkers of field fertility in Holstein-Friesian bulls used for artificial insemination

Biochemical and molecular characterization of sialylated cervical mucins in sheep¿

Proteomic analysis of spermatozoa reveals caseins play a pivotal role in preventing short-term periods of subfertility in stallions

Influence of sire fertility status on conceptus-induced transcriptomic response of the bovine endometrium

Ewe breed differences in cervical anatomy and cervicovaginal mucus properties: An international study.

Conserved and breed-specific differences in the cervical transcriptome of sheep with divergent fertility at the follicular phase of a natural oestrus cycle

Comparison of the uterine inflammatory response to frozen-thawed sperm from high and low fertility bulls

118&amp;#x2003;Influence of sire fertility status on conceptus-induced transcriptomic response of the bovine endometrium

Sperm selection by rheotaxis improves sperm quality and early embryo development

Dietary supplementation with fish oil and safflower oil, during the finishing period, alters brisket muscle fatty acid profile and n-6/n-3 ratio but not carcass traits of dairy beef bulls

Effect of plane of nutrition during the first 12 weeks of life on growth, metabolic and reproductive hormone concentrations, and testicular relative mRNA abundance in preweaned Holstein Friesian bull calves

Primary cilium-mediated MSC mechanotransduction is dependent on Gpr161 regulation of hedgehog signalling

Comprehensive functional analysis reveals that acrosome integrity and viability are key variables distinguishing artificial insemination bulls of varying fertility

Sire contribution to fertilization failure and early embryo survival in cattle

A comparison of farm labour, profitability, and carbon footprint of different management strategies in Northern European grassland sheep systems

Accelerating Onset of Puberty Through Modification of Early Life Nutrition Induces Modest but Persistent Changes in Bull Sperm DNA Methylation Profiles Post-puberty

Population structure and breed composition prediction in a multi-breed sheep population using genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism genotypes

Progesterone induces the release of bull spermatozoa from oviductal epithelial cells

High imputation accuracy from informative low-to-medium density single nucleotide polymorphism genotypes is achievable in sheep

In vitro addition of DHA and IGF-I increases the progressive motility of cryopreserved stallion semen

Prepubertal nutrition alters Leydig cell functional capacity and timing of puberty

Cervical mucus sialic acid content determines the ability of frozen-thawed ram sperm to migrate through the cervix

Optimizing storage temperature of liquid bovine semen diluted in INRA96

Effect of Early Calf-Hood Nutrition on the Transcriptional Regulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Testicular axis in Holstein-Friesian Bull Calves

Role of early life nutrition on regulating the hypothalamic-anterior pituitary-testicular axis of the bull

Effect of increasing equilibration time of diluted bull semen up to 72 h prior to freezing on sperm quality parameters and calving rate following artificial insemination

Hyperactivated stallion spermatozoa fail to exhibit a rheotaxis-like behaviour, unlike other species

Effect of storage temperature, nitrogen gassing and sperm concentration on the in vitro semen quality and in vivo fertility of liquid bull semen stored in INRA96

Recombinant beta-defensin 126 promotes bull sperm binding t o bovine oviductal epithelia

Mesenchymal stem cell mechanotransduction is cAMP dependent and regulated by adenylyl cyclase 6 and the primary cilium

Influence of bull age, ejaculate number, and season of collection on semen production and sperm motility parameters in Holstein Friesian bulls in a commercial artificial insemination centre

Comparison of plant- and egg yolk-based semen diluents on in vitro sperm kinematics and in vivo fertility of frozen-thawed bull semen

Effect of early calf-hood nutrition on the transcriptomic profile of subcutaneous adipose tissue in Holstein-Friesian bulls

Plane of nutrition before and after 6 months of age in Holstein-Friesian bulls: II. Effects on metabolic and reproductive endocrinology and identification of physiological markers of puberty and sexual maturation

Plane of nutrition before and after 6 months of age in Holstein-Friesian bulls: I. Effects on performance, body composition, age at puberty, and postpubertal semen production

Removal of sialic acid from bull sperm decreases motility and mucus penetration ability but increases zona pellucida binding and polyspermic penetration in vitro

A comparison of semen diluents on the in vitro and in vivo fertility of liquid bull semen

Effect of milk replacer and concentrate intake on growth rate, feeding behaviour and systemic metabolite concentrations of pre-weaned bull calves of two dairy breeds

Genetic parameters for lameness, mastitis and dagginess in a multi-breed sheep population

A dual targeted beta-defensin and exome sequencing approach to identify, validate and functionally characterise genes associated with bull fertility

Effect of breed, plane of nutrition and age on growth, scrotal development, metabolite concentrations and on systemic gonadotropin and testosterone concentrations following a GnRH challenge in young dairy bulls

Effect of seminal plasma from high- and low-fertility bulls on cauda epididymal sperm function

The effect of dietary supplementation of algae rich in docosahexaenoic acid on boar fertility

Genomic identification, expression profiling, and functional characterization of CatSper channels in the bovine

In vitro addition of docosahexaenoic acid improves the quality of cooled but not frozen-thawed stallion semen

Dietary polyunsaturated fatty acid supplementation of young post-pubertal dairy bulls alters the fatty acid composition of seminal plasma and spermatozoa but has no effect on semen volume or sperm quality

In vitro characterisation of fresh and frozen sex-sorted bull spermatozoa

Relationship between in vitro sperm functional assessments, seminal plasma composition, and field fertility after AI with either non-sorted or sex-sorted bull semen

The in vitro addition of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) improves the quality of cooled but not frozen-thawed stallion semen

Comparative genomic identification and validation of beta-defensin genes in the Ovis aries genome

Sperm-Coating Beta-Defensin 126 Is a Dissociation-Resistant Dimer Produced by Epididymal Epithelium in the Bovine Reproductive Tract

Cauda Epididymis-Specific Beta-Defensin 126 Promotes Sperm Motility but Not Fertilizing Ability in Cattle

Comparative genomic identification and expression profiling of a novel -defensin gene cluster in the equine reproductive tract

The impact of storage temperature and sperm number on the fertility of liquid-stored bull semen

Altering ewe nutrition in late gestation: II. The impact on fetal development and offspring performance

Altering ewe nutrition in late gestation: II. The impact on fetal development and offspring performance

Cholesterol-loaded-cyclodextrins improve the post-thaw quality of stallion sperm

The effect of dietary n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids supplementation of rams on semen quality and subsequent quality of liquid stored semen

Reducing sperm concentration is critical to limiting the oxidative stress challenge in liquid bull semen

Reducing sperm concentration is critical to limiting the oxidative stress challenge in liquid bull semen

118 Influence of sire fertility status on conceptus-induced transcriptomic response of the bovine endometrium