Large animals play important roles as model animals for biomedical sciences and translational research. The water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is an economically important, multipurpose livestock species. Important assisted reproduction techniques, such as in vitro fertilization, cryo-conservation of sperm and embryos, embryo transfer, somatic cell nuclear transfer, genetic engineering, and genome editing have been successfully applied to buffaloes. Recently, detailed whole genome data and transcriptome maps have been generated. In addition, rapid progress has been made in stem cell biology of the buffalo. Apart from embryonic stem cells, bubaline extra-embryonic stem cells have gained particular interest. The multipotency of non-embryonic stem cells has been revealed, and their utility in basic and applied research is currently investigated. In particular, success achieved in bubaline extra-embryonic stem cells may have important roles in experimental biology and therapeutic regenerative medicine. Progress in other farm animals in assisted reproduction techniques, stem cell biology and genetic engineering, which could be of importance for buffalo, will also be briefly summarized.

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驯养的水牛——胚胎外组织实验和治疗用途的新兴模型

大型动物作为生物医学科学和转化研究的模型动物发挥着重要作用。水牛 (Bubalus bubalis) 是一种具有重要经济意义的多用途牲畜物种。重要的辅助生殖技术，如体外受精、精子和胚胎的冷冻保存、胚胎移植、体细胞核移植、基因工程和基因组编辑已成功应用于水牛。最近，已经生成了详细的全基因组数据和转录组图谱。此外，水牛的干细胞生物学也取得了快速进展。除了胚胎干细胞，布巴林胚胎外干细胞也引起了人们的特别关注。非胚胎干细胞的多能性已被揭示，目前正在研究它们在基础和应用研究中的效用。特别是，在 bubaline 胚胎外干细胞中取得的成功可能在实验生物学和治疗性再生医学中发挥重要作用。还将简要总结其他农场动物在辅助生殖技术、干细胞生物学和基因工程方面的进展，这些对水牛来说可能很重要。