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de Andrade Pantoja MH, Poleti MD, de Novais FJ, Duarte KKS, Mateescu RG, Mourão GB, Coutinho LL, Fukumasu H, Titto CG. Skin transcriptomic analysis reveals candidate genes and pathways associated with thermotolerance in hair sheep. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2024; 68:435-444. [PMID: 38147121 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-023-02602-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
The skin plays an important role in thermoregulation. Identification of genes on the skin that contribute to increased heat tolerance can be used to select animals with the best performance in warm environments. Our objective was to identify candidate genes associated with the heat stress response in the skin of Santa Ines sheep. A group of 80 sheep assessed for thermotolerance was kept in a climatic chamber for 8 days at a stress level temperature of 36 °C (10 am to 04 pm) and a maintenance temperature of 28 °C (04 pm to 10 am). Two divergent groups, with seven animals each, were formed after ranking them by thermotolerance using rectal temperature. From skin biopsy samples, total RNA was extracted, quantified, and used for RNA-seq analysis. 15,989 genes were expressed in sheep skin samples, of which 4 genes were differentially expressed (DE; FDR < 0.05) and 11 DE (FDR 0.05-0.177) between the two divergent groups. These genes are involved in cellular protection against stress (HSPA1A and HSPA6), ribosome assembly (28S, 18S, and 5S ribosomal RNA), and immune response (IGHG4, GNLY, CXCL1, CAPN14, and SAA-4). The candidate genes and main pathways related to heat tolerance in Santa Ines sheep require further investigation to understand their response to heat stress in different climatic conditions and under solar radiation. It is essential to verify whether these genes and pathways are present in different breeds and to understand the relationship between heat stress and other genes identified in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Messy Hannear de Andrade Pantoja
- Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Pirassununga, 13635-900, Brazil
| | - Mirele Daiana Poleti
- Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Pirassununga, 13635-900, Brazil
| | - Francisco José de Novais
- Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Pirassununga, 13635-900, Brazil
| | - Kelly Kéffny Souza Duarte
- Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Pirassununga, 13635-900, Brazil
| | - Raluca G Mateescu
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Gerson Barreto Mourão
- Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luiz Lehmann Coutinho
- Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Heidge Fukumasu
- Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Pirassununga, 13635-900, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Gonçalves Titto
- Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Pirassununga, 13635-900, Brazil.
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Pantoja MHDA, Novais FJD, Mourão GB, Mateescu RG, Poleti MD, Beline M, Monteiro CP, Fukumasu H, Titto CG. Exploring candidate genes for heat tolerance in ovine through liver gene expression. Heliyon 2024; 10:e25692. [PMID: 38370230 PMCID: PMC10869868 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Thermotolerance has become an essential factor in the prevention of the adverse effects of heat stress, but it varies among animals. Identifying genes related to heat adaptability traits is important for improving thermotolerance and for selecting more productive animals in hot environments. The primary objective of this research was to find candidate genes in the liver that play a crucial role in the heat stress response of Santa Ines sheep, which exhibit varying levels of heat tolerance. To achieve this goal, 80 sheep were selected based on their thermotolerance and placed in a climate chamber for 10 days, during which the average temperature was maintained at 36 °C from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 28 °C from 4 p.m. to 10 a.m. A subset of 14 extreme animals, with seven thermotolerant and seven non-thermotolerant animals based on heat loss (rectal temperature), were selected for liver sampling. RNA sequencing and differential gene expression analysis were performed. Thermotolerant sheep showed higher expression of genes GPx3, RGS6, GPAT3, VLDLR, LOC101108817, and EVC. These genes were mainly related to the Hedgehog signaling pathway, glutathione metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, and thyroid hormone synthesis. These enhanced pathways in thermotolerant animals could potentially mitigate the negative effects of heat stress, conferring greater heat resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Messy Hannear de Andrade Pantoja
- Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Pirassununga, SP, 13635-900, Brazil
| | - Francisco José de Novais
- Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Pirassununga, SP, 13635-900, Brazil
| | - Gerson Barreto Mourão
- Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz, Universidade São Paulo, Av. Pádua Dias, 11, Piracicaba, SP, 13418-900, Brazil
| | - Raluca G. Mateescu
- Department of Animal Science, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Mirele Daiana Poleti
- Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Pirassununga, SP, 13635-900, Brazil
| | - Mariane Beline
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, 24061-0002, United States
| | - Camylla Pedrosa Monteiro
- Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Pirassununga, SP, 13635-900, Brazil
| | - Heidge Fukumasu
- Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Pirassununga, SP, 13635-900, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Gonçalves Titto
- Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Pirassununga, SP, 13635-900, Brazil
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Giannone C, Bovo M, Ceccarelli M, Torreggiani D, Tassinari P. Review of the Heat Stress-Induced Responses in Dairy Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3451. [PMID: 38003069 PMCID: PMC10668733 DOI: 10.3390/ani13223451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
In the dairy cattle sector, the evaluation of the effects induced by heat stress is still one of the most impactful and investigated aspects as it is strongly connected to both sustainability of the production and animal welfare. On the other hand, more recently, the possibility of collecting a large dataset made available by the increasing technology diffusion is paving the way for the application of advanced numerical techniques based on machine learning or big data approaches. In this scenario, driven by rapid change, there could be the risk of dispersing the relevant information represented by the physiological animal component, which should maintain the central role in the development of numerical models and tools. In light of this, the present literature review aims to consolidate and synthesize existing research on the physiological consequences of heat stress in dairy cattle. The present review provides, in a single document, an overview, as complete as possible, of the heat stress-induced responses in dairy cattle with the intent of filling the existing research gap for extracting the veterinary knowledge present in the literature and make it available for future applications also in different research fields.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco Bovo
- Department of Agricultural and Food Sciences (DISTAL), Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 48, 40127 Bologna, Italy; (C.G.); (M.C.); (D.T.); (P.T.)
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Worku D, Hussen J, De Matteis G, Schusser B, Alhussien MN. Candidate genes associated with heat stress and breeding strategies to relieve its effects in dairy cattle: a deeper insight into the genetic architecture and immune response to heat stress. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1151241. [PMID: 37771947 PMCID: PMC10527375 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1151241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The need for food products of animal origin is increasing worldwide. Satisfying these needs in a way that has minimal impact on the environment requires cutting-edge technologies and techniques to enhance the genetic quality of cattle. Heat stress (HS), in particular, is affecting dairy cattle with increasing frequency and severity. As future climatic challenges become more evident, identifying dairy cows that are more tolerant to HS will be important for breeding dairy herds that are better adapted to future environmental conditions and for supporting the sustainability of dairy farming. While research into the genetics of HS in the context of the effect of global warming on dairy cattle is gaining momentum, the specific genomic regions involved in heat tolerance are still not well documented. Advances in omics information, QTL mapping, transcriptome profiling and genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified genomic regions and variants associated with tolerance to HS. Such studies could provide deeper insights into the genetic basis for response to HS and make an important contribution to future breeding for heat tolerance, which will help to offset the adverse effects of HS in dairy cattle. Overall, there is a great interest in identifying candidate genes and the proportion of genetic variation associated with heat tolerance in dairy cattle, and this area of research is currently very active worldwide. This review provides comprehensive information pertaining to some of the notable recent studies on the genetic architecture of HS in dairy cattle, with particular emphasis on the identified candidate genes associated with heat tolerance in dairy cattle. Since effective breeding programs require optimal knowledge of the impaired immunity and associated health complications caused by HS, the underlying mechanisms by which HS modulates the immune response and renders animals susceptible to various health disorders are explained. In addition, future breeding strategies to relieve HS in dairy cattle and improve their welfare while maintaining milk production are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Destaw Worku
- Department of Animal Science, College of Agriculture, Food and Climate Sciences, Injibara University, Injibara, Ethiopia
| | - Jamal Hussen
- Department of Microbiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
| | - Giovanna De Matteis
- Council for Agricultural Research and Economics, CREA Research Centre for Animal Production and Aquaculture, Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Benjamin Schusser
- Reproductive Biotechnology, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Mohanned Naif Alhussien
- Reproductive Biotechnology, TUM School of Life Sciences, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
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Lemal P, May K, König S, Schroyen M, Gengler N. Invited review: From heat stress to disease-Immune response and candidate genes involved in cattle thermotolerance. J Dairy Sci 2023:S0022-0302(23)00214-X. [PMID: 37164864 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Heat stress implies unfavorable effects on primary and functional traits in dairy cattle and, in consequence, on the profitability of the whole production system. The increasing number of days with extreme hot temperatures suggests that it is imperative to detect the heat stress status of animals based on adequate measures. However, confirming the heat stress status of an individual is still challenging, and, in consequence, the identification of novel heat stress biomarkers, including molecular biomarkers, remains a very relevant issue. Currently, it is known that heat stress seems to have unfavorable effects on immune system mechanisms, but this information is of limited use in the context of heat stress phenotyping. In addition, there is a lack of knowledge addressing the molecular mechanisms linking the relevant genes to the observed phenotype. In this review, we explored the potential molecular mechanisms explaining how heat stress affects the immune system and, therefore, increases the occurrence of immune-related diseases in cattle. In this regard, 2 relatively opposite hypotheses are under focus: the immunosuppressive action of cortisol, and the proinflammatory effect of heat stress. In both hypotheses, the modulation of the immune response during heat stress is highlighted. Moreover, it is possible to link candidate genes to these potential mechanisms. In this context, immune markers are very valuable indicators for the detection of heat stress in dairy cattle, broadening the portfolio of potential biomarkers for heat stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Lemal
- TERRA Teaching and Research Center, University of Liège, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (ULiège-GxABT), 5030 Gembloux, Belgium
| | - K May
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, Ludwigstraße 21B, 35390 Gießen, Germany
| | - S König
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University of Gießen, Ludwigstraße 21B, 35390 Gießen, Germany
| | - M Schroyen
- TERRA Teaching and Research Center, University of Liège, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (ULiège-GxABT), 5030 Gembloux, Belgium
| | - N Gengler
- TERRA Teaching and Research Center, University of Liège, Gembloux Agro-Bio Tech (ULiège-GxABT), 5030 Gembloux, Belgium.
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Sajjanar B, Aalam MT, Khan O, Tanuj GN, Sahoo AP, Manjunathareddy GB, Gandham RK, Dhara SK, Gupta PK, Mishra BP, Dutt T, Singh G. Genome-wide expression analysis reveals different heat shock responses in indigenous (Bos indicus) and crossbred (Bos indicus X Bos taurus) cattle. Genes Environ 2023; 45:17. [PMID: 37127630 PMCID: PMC10152620 DOI: 10.1186/s41021-023-00271-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Environmental heat stress in dairy cattle leads to poor health, reduced milk production and decreased reproductive efficiency. Multiple genes interact and coordinate the response to overcome the impact of heat stress. The present study identified heat shock regulated genes in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Genome-wide expression patterns for cellular stress response were compared between two genetically distinct groups of cattle viz., Hariana (B. indicus) and Vrindavani (B. indicus X B. taurus). In addition to major heat shock response genes, oxidative stress and immune response genes were also found to be affected by heat stress. Heat shock proteins such as HSPH1, HSPB8, FKB4, DNAJ4 and SERPINH1 were up-regulated at higher fold change in Vrindavani compared to Hariana cattle. The oxidative stress response genes (HMOX1, BNIP3, RHOB and VEGFA) and immune response genes (FSOB, GADD45B and JUN) were up-regulated in Vrindavani whereas the same were down-regulated in Hariana cattle. The enrichment analysis of dysregulated genes revealed the biological functions and signaling pathways that were affected by heat stress. Overall, these results show distinct cellular responses to heat stress in two different genetic groups of cattle. This also highlight the long-term adaptation of B. indicus (Hariana) to tropical climate as compared to the crossbred (Vrindavani) with mixed genetic makeup (B. indicus X B. taurus).
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Affiliation(s)
- Basavaraj Sajjanar
- Veterinary Biotechnology Division, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Mohd Tanzeel Aalam
- Veterinary Biotechnology Division, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Owais Khan
- Veterinary Biotechnology Division, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Gunturu Narasimha Tanuj
- Veterinary Biotechnology Division, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Aditya Prasad Sahoo
- ICAR- Directorate of Foot and Mouth Disease, Bhubaneswar, 752050, Odisha, India
| | | | - Ravi Kumar Gandham
- Veterinary Biotechnology Division, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sujoy K Dhara
- Veterinary Biotechnology Division, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Praveen K Gupta
- Veterinary Biotechnology Division, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Bishnu Prasad Mishra
- ICAR-National Bureau of Animal Genetic Resources, Karnal, 132001, Haryana, India
| | - Triveni Dutt
- Veterinary Biotechnology Division, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Gyanendra Singh
- Physiology and Climatology Division, ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, 243122, Uttar Pradesh, India.
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Eom JS, Park DS, Lee SJ, Gu BH, Lee SJ, Lee SS, Kim SH, Kim BW, Lee SS, Kim M. Metabolomic and transcriptomic study to understand changes in metabolic and immune responses in steers under heat stress. ANIMAL NUTRITION 2022; 11:87-101. [PMID: 36189376 PMCID: PMC9483736 DOI: 10.1016/j.aninu.2022.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Heat stress (HS) damages livestock by adversely affecting physiological and immunological functions. However, fundamental understanding of the metabolic and immunological mechanisms in animals under HS remains elusive, particularly in steers. To understand the changes on metabolic and immune responses in steers under HS condition, we performed RNA-sequencing and proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy-based metabolomics on HS-free (THI value: 64.92 ± 0.56) and HS-exposed (THI value: 79.13 ± 0.56) Jersey steer (n = 8, body weight: 559.67 ± 32.72 kg). This study clarifies the metabolic changes in 3 biofluids (rumen fluid, serum, and urine) and the immune responses observed in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells of HS-exposed steers. This integrated approach allowed the discovery of HS-sensitive metabolic and immunological pathways. The metabolomic analysis indicated that HS-exposed steers showed potential HS biomarkers such as isocitrate, formate, creatine, and riboflavin (P < 0.05). Among them, there were several integrative metabolic pathways between rumen fluid and serum. Furthermore, HS altered mRNA expression and immune-related signaling pathways. A meta-analysis revealed that HS decreased riboflavin metabolism and the expression of glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism-related genes. Moreover, metabolic pathways, such as the hypoxia-inducible factor-1 signaling pathway, were downregulated in immune cells by HS (P < 0.05). These findings, along with the datasets of pathways and phenotypic differences as potential biomarkers in steers, can support more in-depth research to elucidate the inter-related metabolic and immunological pathways. This would help suggest new strategies to ameliorate the effects of HS, including disease susceptibility and metabolic disorders, in Jersey steers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Sik Eom
- Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea
| | - Da Som Park
- Department of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources & Life Science, Pusan National University, Miryang, 50463, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang Jin Lee
- Department of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources & Life Science, Pusan National University, Miryang, 50463, Republic of Korea
| | - Bon-Hee Gu
- Life and Industry Convergence Research Institute, Pusan National University, Miryang, 50463, Republic of Korea
| | - Shin Ja Lee
- Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea
- University-Centered Labs, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Suk Lee
- Ruminant Nutrition and Anaerobe Laboratory, Department of Animal Science and Technology, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Seon-Ho Kim
- Ruminant Nutrition and Anaerobe Laboratory, Department of Animal Science and Technology, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, 57922, Republic of Korea
| | - Byeong-Woo Kim
- Department of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources & Life Science, Pusan National University, Miryang, 50463, Republic of Korea
| | - Sung Sill Lee
- Institute of Agriculture and Life Science, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea
- University-Centered Labs, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea
- Division of Applied Life Science (BK21), Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, 52828, Republic of Korea
- Corresponding authors.
| | - Myunghoo Kim
- Department of Animal Science, College of Natural Resources & Life Science, Pusan National University, Miryang, 50463, Republic of Korea
- Life and Industry Convergence Research Institute, Pusan National University, Miryang, 50463, Republic of Korea
- Corresponding authors.
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Czech B, Wang Y, Wang K, Luo H, Hu L, Szyda J. Host transcriptome and microbiome interactions in Holstein cattle under heat stress condition. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:998093. [PMID: 36504790 PMCID: PMC9726897 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.998093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Climate change affects animal physiology. In particular, rising ambient temperatures reduce animal vitality due to heat stress and this can be observed at various levels which included genome, transcriptome, and microbiome. In a previous study, microbiota highly associated with changes in cattle physiology, which included rectal temperature, drooling score and respiratory score, were identified under heat stress conditions. In the present study, genes differentially expressed between individuals were selected representing different additive genetic effects toward the heat stress response in cattle in their production condition. Moreover, a correlation network analysis was performed to identify interactions between the transcriptome and microbiome for 71 Chinese Holstein cows sequenced for mRNA from blood samples and for 16S rRNA genes from fecal samples. Bioinformatics analysis was performed comprising: i) clustering and classification of 16S rRNA sequence reads, ii) mapping cows' transcripts to the reference genome and their expression quantification, and iii) statistical analysis of both data types-including differential gene expression analysis and gene set enrichment analysis. A weighted co-expression network analysis was carried out to assess changes in the association between gene expression and microbiota abundance as well as to find hub genes/microbiota responsible for the regulation of gene expression under heat stress. Results showed 1,851 differentially expressed genes were found that were shared by three heat stress phenotypes. These genes were predominantly associated with the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway. The interaction analysis revealed three modules of genes and microbiota associated with rectal temperature with which two hubs of those modules were bacterial species, demonstrating the importance of the microbiome in the regulation of gene expression during heat stress. Genes and microbiota from the significant modules can be used as biomarkers of heat stress in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartosz Czech
- Biostatistics Group, Department of Genetics, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Yachun Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, MARA, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Wang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, MARA, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Hanpeng Luo
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, MARA, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Lirong Hu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, MARA, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Joanna Szyda
- Biostatistics Group, Department of Genetics, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland,*Correspondence: Joanna Szyda
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Effect of Cooling Blanket on the Heat Stress of Horses in Hot and Humid Environments. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12192505. [PMID: 36230247 PMCID: PMC9559210 DOI: 10.3390/ani12192505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Heat stress is serious problem for livestock. While riding horses and racehorses spend the majority of their days in stalls, there are few reports on effective methods for reducing stall heat stress. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an ice horse blanket in hot and humid environments. Twenty healthy horses were measured first without the blanket (C) and then measured with the blanket (IB), or vice versa, in a cross-over trial. The blanket was designed to keep cooling the front back, the rear back, and the loin. The skin surface temperature of the front back was decreased with cooling time in IB, whereas it was not changed in C. Similarly, respiratory rate and plasma cortisol level also decreased only in IB. The blanket used in the present study had the advantage of allowing for gentle cooling of the horse’s body without the use of water or fans. Applying this methodology should enable effective reduction of heat stress not only in horses but also in other mammals kept in barns. Abstract Heat stress is serious problem for livestock. While riding horses and racehorses spend the majority of their days in stalls, there are few reports on effective methods for reducing stall heat stress. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an ice horse blanket in hot and humid environments. Twenty healthy horses were measured first without the blanket (C) and then measured with the blanket (IB), or vice versa, in a cross-over trial. The blanket was designed to keep cooling the front back, the rear back, and the loin. Skin surface temperature, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, and plasma cortisol level in both C and IB were measured at 10:00, 12:30, and 15:00. The skin surface temperature of the front back was decreased with cooling time in IB, whereas it was not changed in C. Similarly, heart rate, respiratory rate, and plasma cortisol level also decreased only in IB. The blanket used in the present study had the advantage of allowing for gentle cooling of the horse’s body without the use of water or fans. Applying this methodology should enable effective reduction of heat stress not only in horses but also in other mammals kept in barns.
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Inflammatory Mediation of Heat Stress-Induced Growth Deficits in Livestock and Its Potential Role as a Target for Nutritional Interventions: A Review. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11123539. [PMID: 34944316 PMCID: PMC8698153 DOI: 10.3390/ani11123539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2021] [Revised: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Heat stress is a persistent challenge for livestock producers. Molecular changes throughout the body that result from sustained heat stress slow muscle growth and thus are detrimental to carcass yield and value. Feedlot animals are at particularly high risk for heat stress because their confinement limits their ability to pursue shade and other natural cooling behaviors. Changes in infrastructure to reduce the impact of heat stress are often cost-prohibitive, but recent studies have revealed that anti-inflammatory therapies may help to improve growth deficits in heat-stressed animals. This review describes the conditions that cause heat stress and explains the role of inflammation in muscle growth impairment. Additionally, it discusses the potential for several natural anti-inflammatory dietary additives to improve muscle growth outcomes in heat-stressed livestock. Abstract Heat stress is detrimental to well-being and growth performance in livestock, and systemic inflammation arising during chronic heat stress contributes to these poor outcomes. Sustained exposure of muscle and other tissues to inflammation can impair the cellular processes that facilitate muscle growth and intramuscular fat deposition, thus reducing carcass quality and yield. Climate change is expected to produce more frequent extreme heat events, increasing the potential impact of heat stress on sustainable livestock production. Feedlot animals are at particularly high risk for heat stress, as confinement limits their ability to seek cooling from the shade, water, or breeze. Economically practical options to circumvent heat stress in feedlot animals are limited, but understanding the mechanistic role of inflammation in heat stress outcomes may provide the basis for treatment strategies to improve well-being and performance. Feedlot animals receive formulated diets daily, which provides an opportunity to administer oral nutraceuticals and other bioactive products to mitigate heat stress-induced inflammation. In this review, we examine the complex associations between heat stress, systemic inflammation, and dysregulated muscle growth in meat animals. We also present evidence for potential nutraceutical and dietary moderators of inflammation and how they might improve the unique pathophysiology of heat stress.
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