LIVER ABSCESSES IN CATTLE LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT LOSSES IN THE BEEF INDUSTRY BY AFFECTING ANIMAL HEALTH, PERFORMANCE, AND LIVER CONDEMNATIONS. WHILE MOST RESEARCH HAS FOCUSED ON THE ABSCESS ITSELF, LITTLE IS KNOWN ABOUT HOW THE SURROUNDING LIVER TISSUE IS IMPACTED AND HOW THESE CHANGES CONTRIBUTE TO OVERALL LIVER FUNCTION. THIS PROJECT WILL INVESTIGATE HOW GENE ACTIVITY CHANGES IN THE LIVER TISSUE AROUND ABSCESSES, FOCUSING ON HOW THESE CHANGES DIFFER WITH VARIOUS ABSCESS SIZES AND THE PRESENCE OF MULTIPLE ABSCESSES. ADDITIONALLY, THE PROJECT WILL CREATE A DETAILED MAP AT THE CELLULAR LEVEL, SHOWING HOW GENE ACTIVITY IS DISTRIBUTED ACROSS THE TISSUE SURROUNDING THE ABSCESSES. BY UNDERSTANDING HOW GENE EXPRESSION IS ALTERED IN THESE AREAS, THE RESEARCH AIMS TO UNCOVER THE MOLECULAR MECHANISMS BEHIND THE DISRUPTION OF LIVER FUNCTION AND METABOLISM, PROVIDING NEW INSIGHTS INTO HOW ABSCESSES AFFECT LIVER TISSUE AND THIER BROADER IMPACT.