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Li D, Zhang L, Wang Y, Chen X, Li F, Yang L, Cui J, Li R, Cao B, An X, Song Y. FecB mutation and litter size are associated with a 90-base pair deletion in BMPR1B in East Friesian and Hu crossbred sheep. Anim Biotechnol 2023; 34:1314-1323. [PMID: 34985398 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2021.2020805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Litter size is a critical economic trait in livestock, but only a few studies have focused on associated indel mutations in BMPR1B, a key regulator of ovulation and litter size in sheep. We evaluated the effects of BMPR1B mutations on the reproductive performance of sheep. We used Hu, East Friesian, and East Friesian/Hu crossbred sheep as experimental subjects and identified a novel 90 bp deletion in BMPR1B, which coincides with the c.746A > G (FecB mutation) genotype. The correlation between the two loci and litter size was then evaluated. We identified three genotypes for the Del-90bp locus, namely, II, ID, and DD, and three genotypes for the c.746A > G locus, namely ++, B+, and BB. Both Del-90bp and c.746A > G significantly affected the litter size of Hu and East Friesian/Hu crossbred sheep. Linkage disequilibrium analysis revealed a strong linkage disequilibrium between these loci in Hu sheep and the F1 population (r2 > 0.33), which suggests that detecting this 90 bp deletion might be a simple method to identify the likely carriers of c.746A > G. However, the function of this 90-bp deletion still needs further exploration. We provide genetic data that can be used as a reference for the breeding of improved prolific traits in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danni Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Yuchen Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Xingzhuo Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Fu Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Lichun Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Jiuzeng Cui
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Ran Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Binyun Cao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Xiaopeng An
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Yuxuan Song
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
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Genetic Differentiation among Livestock Breeds—Values for Fst. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12091115. [PMID: 35565543 PMCID: PMC9103131 DOI: 10.3390/ani12091115] [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: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The degree of relationship among livestock breeds can be quantified by the Fst statistic, which measures the extent of genetic differentiation between them. An Fst value of 0.1 has often been taken as indicating that two breeds are indeed genetically distinct, but this concept has not been evaluated critically. Here, Fst values have been collated for the six major livestock species: cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, and chickens. These values are remarkably variable both within and between species, demonstrating that Fst > 0.1 is not a reliable criterion for breed distinctiveness. However, the large body of Fst data accumulated in the last 20–30 years represents an untapped database that could contribute to the development of interdisciplinary research involving livestock breeds. Abstract (1) Background: The Fst statistic is widely used to characterize between-breed relationships. Fst = 0.1 has frequently been taken as indicating genetic distinctiveness between breeds. This study investigates whether this is justified. (2) Methods: A database was created of 35,080 breed pairs and their corresponding Fst values, deduced from microsatellite and SNP studies covering cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses, and chickens. Overall, 6560 (19%) of breed pairs were between breeds located in the same country, 7395 (21%) between breeds of different countries within the same region, 20,563 (59%) between breeds located far apart, and 562 (1%) between a breed and the supposed wild ancestor of the species. (3) Results: General values for between-breed Fst were as follows, cattle: microsatellite 0.06–0.12, SNP 0.08–0.15; sheep: microsatellite 0.06–0.10, SNP 0.06–0.17; horses: microsatellite 0.04–0.11, SNP 0.08–0.12; goats: microsatellite 0.04–0.14, SNP 0.08–0.16; pigs: microsatellite 0.06–0.27, SNP 0.15–0.22; chickens: microsatellite 0.05–0.28, SNP 0.08–0.26. (4) Conclusions: (1) Large amounts of Fst data are available for a substantial proportion of the world’s livestock breeds, (2) the value for between-breed Fst of 0.1 is not appropriate owing to its considerable variability, and (3) accumulated Fst data may have value for interdisciplinary research.
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Olech M, Ropka-Molik K, Szmatoła T, Piórkowska K, Kuźmak J. Transcriptome Analysis for Genes Associated with Small Ruminant Lentiviruses Infection in Goats of Carpathian Breed. Viruses 2021; 13:v13102054. [PMID: 34696484 DOI: 10.3390/v13102054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Revised: 10/11/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV) are economically important viral pathogens of sheep and goats. SRLV infection may interfere in the innate and adaptive immunity of the host, and genes associated with resistance or susceptibility to infection with SRLV have not been fully recognized. The presence of animals with relatively high and low proviral load suggests that some host factors are involved in the control of virus replication. To better understand the role of the genes involved in the host response to SRLV infection, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) method was used to compare whole gene expression profiles in goats carrying both a high (HPL) and low (LPL) proviral load of SRLV and uninfected animals. Data enabled the identification of 1130 significant differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between control and LPL groups: 411 between control and HPL groups and 1434 DEGs between HPL and LPL groups. DEGs detected between the control group and groups with a proviral load were found to be significantly enriched in several gene ontology (GO) terms, including an integral component of membrane, extracellular region, response to growth factor, inflammatory and innate immune response, transmembrane signaling receptor activity, myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88)-dependent toll-like receptor signaling pathway as well as regulation of cytokine secretion. Our results also demonstrated significant deregulation of selected pathways in response to viral infection. The presence of SRLV proviral load in blood resulted in the modification of gene expression belonging to the toll-like receptor signaling pathway, the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, the phagosome, the Ras signaling pathway, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) (PI3K-Akt) signaling pathway and rheumatoid arthritis. It is worth mentioning that the most predominant in all pathways were genes represented by toll-like receptors, tubulins, growth factors as well as interferon gamma receptors. DEGs detected between LPL and HPL groups were found to have significantly enriched regulation of signaling receptor activity, the response to toxic substances, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase complex assembly, cytokine production, vesicle, and vacuole organization. In turn, the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway tool classified DEGs that enrich molecular processes such as B and T-cell receptor signaling pathways, natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity, Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis, toll-like receptor signaling pathways, TNF, mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling and forkhead box O (Foxo) signaling pathways, etc. Our data indicate that changes in SRLV proviral load induced altered expression of genes related to different biological processes such as immune response, inflammation, cell locomotion, and cytokine production. These findings provide significant insights into defense mechanisms against SRLV infection. Furthermore, these data can be useful to develop strategies against SRLV infection by selection of animals with reduced SRLV proviral concentration that may lead to a reduction in the spread of the virus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Olech
- Department of Biochemistry, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24-100 Pulawy, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Ropka-Molik
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Krakowska 1, 32-083 Kraków, Poland
| | - Tomasz Szmatoła
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Krakowska 1, 32-083 Kraków, Poland
- Center for Experimental and Innovative Medicine, University of Agriculture in Krakow, Rędzina 1c, 30-248 Kraków, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Piórkowska
- Department of Animal Molecular Biology, National Research Institute of Animal Production, Krakowska 1, 32-083 Kraków, Poland
| | - Jacek Kuźmak
- Department of Biochemistry, National Veterinary Research Institute, 24-100 Pulawy, Poland
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Hall SJG, Brenig B, Ashdown RA, Curry MR. Conservation of rare wild‐living cattle
Bos taurus
(L.): coat colour gene illuminates breed history, and associated reproductive anomalies have not reduced herd fertility. J Zool (1987) 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/jzo.12929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - B. Brenig
- Institute of Veterinary Medicine University of Göttingen Göttingen Germany
| | | | - M. R. Curry
- School of Life Sciences University of Lincoln Lincoln UK
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Disentangling the Multidimensional Relationship between Livestock Breeds and Ecosystem Services. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11092548. [PMID: 34573513 PMCID: PMC8467734 DOI: 10.3390/ani11092548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Revised: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Livestock breeds represent the diversity of livestock animals. They participate in the delivery of ecosystem services (ES), i.e., the benefits to humans provided by nature. In recent years, the contribution of livestock breeds to ES has received attention in livestock research. Additionally, there is increasing interest in integrating this knowledge into policies to make agriculture more sustainable. In this work, we elaborate on livestock breed characteristics that are key to the study of livestock breed contributions to ES. Thus, we explore the natural and human factors that have produced livestock breeds as ecologically and culturally mediated entities. In addition, we review the different roles of livestock breeds as biodiversity components. Finally, we examine how livestock breeds participate in livestock system heterogeneity. By integrating these aspects, we might better understand how livestock breeds provide and modulate ES provision and, therefore, how to improve breed conservation and livestock policies toward more sustainable farming. Abstract There is an increasing interest in assessing livestock breed contributions to ecosystem services (ES) and including this knowledge in decision making. However, this task has been limited due to the complexity of the multidimensional relationship between livestock diversity and ecosystem services. In this work, we elaborate on the livestock breed characteristics central to developing a comprehensive approach to livestock breed inclusion in the ecosystem services framework. Thus, we explore the multidimensional nature of livestock breeds, i.e., as eco-cultural entities, biodiversity components, and drivers of livestock system heterogeneity and functioning. First, anthropogenic and natural factors have acted jointly to develop breeds as eco-cultural entities. This fact represents an opportunity to move toward farming system sustainability by Nature-Based Solutions and Nature’s Contribution to People paradigms. Second, livestock breeds are components of biodiversity, and as such, can be framed as goods, as final ecosystem services, and as regulators of ecosystem processes. Third, livestock breeds contribute to livestock system heterogeneity and resilience. By integrating these aspects, we might better understand how livestock breeds provide and modulate ecosystem service provision and, therefore, how to improve breed conservation and livestock policies toward farming system sustainability.
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A DNA Regulatory Element Haplotype at Zinc Finger Genes Is Associated with Host Resilience to Small Ruminant Lentivirus in Two Sheep Populations. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11071907. [PMID: 34206933 PMCID: PMC8300134 DOI: 10.3390/ani11071907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) causes Maedi-Visna or Ovine Progressive Pneumonia in sheep and creates insidious livestock production losses. This retrovirus is closely related to human immunodeficiency virus and currently has no vaccines or cure. Genetic marker assisted selection for sheep disease resiliency presents an attractive management solution. Previously, we identified a region containing a cluster of zinc finger genes that had association with ovine SRLV proviral concentration. Trait-association analysis validated a small insertion/deletion variant near ZNF389 (rs397514112) in multiple sheep breeds. In the current study, 543 sheep from two distinct populations were genotyped at 34 additional variants for fine mapping of the regulatory elements within this locus. Variants were selected based on ChIP-seq annotation data from sheep alveolar macrophages that defined active cis-regulatory elements predicted to influence zinc finger gene expression. We present a haplotype block of variants within regulatory elements that have improved associations and larger effect sizes (up to 4.7-fold genotypic difference in proviral concentration) than the previously validated ZNF389 deletion marker. Hypotheses for the underlying causal mutation or mutations are presented based on changes to in silico transcription factor binding sites. These variants offer alternative markers for selective breeding and are targets for future functional mutation assays.
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7
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Sweet-Jones J, Lenis VP, Yurchenko AA, Yudin NS, Swain M, Larkin DM. Genotyping and Whole-Genome Resequencing of Welsh Sheep Breeds Reveal Candidate Genes and Variants for Adaptation to Local Environment and Socioeconomic Traits. Front Genet 2021; 12:612492. [PMID: 34220925 PMCID: PMC8253514 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.612492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Advances in genetic tools applied to livestock breeding has prompted research into the previously neglected breeds adapted to harsh local environments. One such group is the Welsh mountain sheep breeds, which can be farmed at altitudes of 300 m above sea level but are considered to have a low productive value because of their poor wool quality and small carcass size. This is contrary to the lowland breeds which are more suited to wool and meat production qualities, but do not fare well on upland pasture. Herein, medium-density genotyping data from 317 individuals representing 15 Welsh sheep breeds were used alongside the whole-genome resequencing data of 14 breeds from the same set to scan for the signatures of selection and candidate genetic variants using haplotype- and SNP-based approaches. Results Haplotype-based selection scan performed on the genotyping data pointed to a strong selection in the regions of GBA3, PPARGC1A, APOB, and PPP1R16B genes in the upland breeds, and RNF24, PANK2, and MUC15 in the lowland breeds. SNP-based selection scan performed on the resequencing data pointed to the missense mutations under putative selection relating to a local adaptation in the upland breeds with functions such as angiogenesis (VASH1), anti-oxidation (RWDD1), cell stress (HSPA5), membrane transport (ABCA13 and SLC22A7), and insulin signaling (PTPN1 and GIGFY1). By contrast, genes containing candidate missense mutations in the lowland breeds are related to cell cycle (CDK5RAP2), cell adhesion (CDHR3), and coat color (MC1R). Conclusion We found new variants in genes with potentially functional consequences to the adaptation of local sheep to their environments in Wales. Knowledge of these variations is important for improving the adaptative qualities of UK and world sheep breeds through a marker-assisted selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Sweet-Jones
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Vasileios Panagiotis Lenis
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom.,School of Health and Life Sciences, Teesside University, Middlesbrough, United Kingdom
| | - Andrey A Yurchenko
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, The Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICG SB RAS), Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Nikolay S Yudin
- The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, The Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICG SB RAS), Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Martin Swain
- Institute of Biological, Environmental and Rural Sciences, University of Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth, United Kingdom
| | - Denis M Larkin
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, United Kingdom.,The Federal Research Center Institute of Cytology and Genetics, The Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences (ICG SB RAS), Novosibirsk, Russia
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British Sheep Breeds as a Part of World Sheep Gene Pool Landscape: Looking into Genomic Applications. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11040994. [PMID: 33916207 PMCID: PMC8103502 DOI: 10.3390/ani11040994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2021] [Revised: 03/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Sheep farming has been an important sector of the UK's economy and rural life for many centuries. It is the favored source of wool, meat and milk products. In the era of exponential progress in genomic technologies, we can now address the questions of what is special about UK sheep breed genotypes and how they differ genetically form one another and from other countries. We can reflect how their natural history has been determined at the level of their genetic code and what traces have been left in their genomes because of selection for phenotypic traits. These include adaptability to certain environmental conditions and management, as well as resistance to disease. Application of these advancements in genetics and genomics to study sheep breeds of British domestic selection has begun and will continue in order to facilitate conservation solutions and production improvement.
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Retroviral analysis reveals the ancient origin of Kihnu native sheep in Estonia: implications for breed conservation. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17340. [PMID: 33060653 PMCID: PMC7566594 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74415-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Native animal breeds constitute an invaluable pool of genetic resources in a changing environment. Discovering native breeds and safeguarding their genetic diversity through specific conservation programs is therefore of high importance. Endogenous retroviruses have proved to be a reliable genetic marker for studying the demographic history of sheep (Ovis aries). Previous research has revealed two migratory episodes of domesticated sheep from the Middle East to Europe. The first episode included predominantly ‘primitive populations’, while the second and most recent is hypothesised to have included sheep with markedly improved wool production. To examine whether the recently discovered Kihnu native sheep in Estonia have historically been part of the first migratory episode and to what extent they have preserved primitive genetic characters, we analysed retroviral insertions in 80 modern Kihnu sheep and 83 ancient sheep from the Bronze Age to Modern Period (850 BCE–1950 CE). We identified that the Kihnu sheep have preserved ‘primitive’, ‘Nordic’, and other ‘ancient’ retrotypes that were present both in archaeological and modern samples, confirming their shared ancestry and suggesting that contemporary Kihnu native sheep originate from the first migratory episode. However, over the course of history, there has been a gradual decrease in the frequency of primitive retrotypes. Furthermore, Kihnu sheep possessed several ‘novel’ retrotypes that were absent in archaeological individuals, but were shared with improvement breeds, suggesting recent crossing within the last two centuries. To preserve these ancient lineages, our results are being applied in the conservation program of the Kihnu Native Sheep Society.
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Illius AW, Lievaart-Peterson K, McNeilly TN, Savill NJ. Epidemiology and control of maedi-visna virus: Curing the flock. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0238781. [PMID: 32911525 PMCID: PMC7482963 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Maedi-visna (MV) is a complex lentiviral disease syndrome characterised by long immunological and clinical latencies and chronic progressive inflammatory pathology. Incurable at the individual level, it is widespread in most sheep-keeping countries, and is a cause of lost production and poor animal welfare. Culling seropositive animals is the main means of control, but it might be possible to manage virus transmission effectively if its epidemiology was better quantified. We derive a mathematical epidemiological model of the temporal distributions of seroconversion probabilities and estimate susceptibility, transmission rate and latencies in three serological datasets. We demonstrate the existence of epidemiological latency, which has not explicitly been recognised in the SRLV literaure. This time delay between infection and infectiousness apparently exceeds the delay between infection and seroconversion. Poor body condition was associated with more rapid seroconversion, but not with a higher probability of infection. We estimate transmission rates amongst housed sheep to be at about 1,000 times faster than when sheep were at grass, when transmission was negligible. Maternal transmission has only a small role in transmission, because lambs from infected ewes have a low probability of being infected directly by them, and only a small proportion of lambs need be retained to maintain flock size. Our results show that MV is overwhelmingly a disease of housing, where sheep are kept in close proximity. Prevalence of MV is likely to double each year from an initial low incidence in housed flocks penned in typically-sized groups of sheep (c. 50) for even a few days per year. Ewes kept entirely at grass are unlikely to experience transmission frequently enough for MV to persist, and pre-existing infection should die out as older ewes are replaced, thereby essentially curing the flock.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew W Illius
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
| | | | - Tom N McNeilly
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland
| | - Nicholas J Savill
- Institute of Immunology and Infection Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
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Gebreselassie G, Berihulay H, Jiang L, Ma Y. Review on Genomic Regions and Candidate Genes Associated with Economically Important Production and Reproduction Traits in Sheep ( Ovies aries). Animals (Basel) 2019; 10:E33. [PMID: 31877963 PMCID: PMC7022721 DOI: 10.3390/ani10010033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2019] [Revised: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Sheep (Ovis aries) is one of the most economically, culturally, and socially important domestic animals. They are reared primarily for meat, milk, wool, and fur production. Sheep were reared using natural selection for a long period of time to offer these traits. In fact, this production system has been slowing the productivity and production potential of the sheep. To improve production efficiency and productivity of this animal through genetic improvement technologies, understanding the genetic background of traits such as body growth, weight, carcass quality, fat percent, fertility, milk yield, wool quality, horn type, and coat color is essential. With the development and utilization of animal genotyping technologies and gene identification methods, many functional genes and genetic variants associated with economically important phenotypic traits have been identified and annotated. This is useful and presented an opportunity to increase the pace of animal genetic gain. Quantitative trait loci and genome wide association study have been playing an important role in identifying candidate genes and animal characterization. This review provides comprehensive information on the identified genomic regions and candidate genes associated with production and reproduction traits, and gene function in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gebremedhin Gebreselassie
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China; (G.G.); (H.B.); (L.J.)
- National Germplasm Center of Domestic Animal Resources, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Biotechnology Center, Ethiopian Biotechnology Institute, Ministry of Innovation and Technology, Addis Ababa 1000, Ethiopia
| | - Haile Berihulay
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China; (G.G.); (H.B.); (L.J.)
- National Germplasm Center of Domestic Animal Resources, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Lin Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China; (G.G.); (H.B.); (L.J.)
- National Germplasm Center of Domestic Animal Resources, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
| | - Yuehui Ma
- Key Laboratory of Animal (Poultry) Genetics Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China; (G.G.); (H.B.); (L.J.)
- National Germplasm Center of Domestic Animal Resources, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS), Beijing 100193, China
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12
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Hall SJG. Livestock biodiversity as interface between people, landscapes and nature. PEOPLE AND NATURE 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/pan3.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
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13
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Gottardi FP, Pannunzio Dias e Silva T, Paraguaio PE, Torreão JNDC, Torreão Marques CA, Bezerra LR, Jácome de Araújo M, Machado LP, Abdalla Filho AL. The role of diet on the rhythm of physiological responses of lactating ewes under heat stress. BIOL RHYTHM RES 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/09291016.2018.1528697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Patricia Gottardi
- Department of animal science, Federal University of Piauí, Campus Professora Cinobelina Elvas, Bom Jesus, Piauí, Brazil
| | | | - Patrick Elves Paraguaio
- Department of animal science, Federal University of Piauí, Campus Professora Cinobelina Elvas, Bom Jesus, Piauí, Brazil
| | | | | | - Leilson Rocha Bezerra
- Department of animal science, Federal University of Piauí, Campus Professora Cinobelina Elvas, Bom Jesus, Piauí, Brazil
| | - Marcos Jácome de Araújo
- Department of animal science, Federal University of Piauí, Campus Professora Cinobelina Elvas, Bom Jesus, Piauí, Brazil
| | - Luciana Pereira Machado
- Department of veterinary medicine, Federal University of South frontier, Realeza, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Adibe Luiz Abdalla Filho
- Centre for nuclear energy and agriculture, Laboratory of animal nutrition, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil
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de Pablo-Maiso L, Doménech A, Echeverría I, Gómez-Arrebola C, de Andrés D, Rosati S, Gómez-Lucia E, Reina R. Prospects in Innate Immune Responses as Potential Control Strategies against Non-Primate Lentiviruses. Viruses 2018; 10:v10080435. [PMID: 30126090 PMCID: PMC6116218 DOI: 10.3390/v10080435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Lentiviruses are infectious agents of a number of animal species, including sheep, goats, horses, monkeys, cows, and cats, in addition to humans. As in the human case, the host immune response fails to control the establishment of chronic persistent infection that finally leads to a specific disease development. Despite intensive research on the development of lentivirus vaccines, it is still not clear which immune responses can protect against infection. Viral mutations resulting in escape from T-cell or antibody-mediated responses are the basis of the immune failure to control the infection. The innate immune response provides the first line of defense against viral infections in an antigen-independent manner. Antiviral innate responses are conducted by dendritic cells, macrophages, and natural killer cells, often targeted by lentiviruses, and intrinsic antiviral mechanisms exerted by all cells. Intrinsic responses depend on the recognition of the viral pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) by pathogen recognition receptors (PRRs), and the signaling cascades leading to an antiviral state by inducing the expression of antiviral proteins, including restriction factors. This review describes the latest advances on innate immunity related to the infection by animal lentiviruses, centered on small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV), equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV), and feline (FIV) and bovine immunodeficiency viruses (BIV), specifically focusing on the antiviral role of the major restriction factors described thus far.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Cats
- Cattle
- Dendritic Cells/immunology
- Dendritic Cells/virology
- Gene Expression Regulation/immunology
- Goats
- Horses
- Immunity, Innate
- Immunodeficiency Virus, Bovine/immunology
- Immunodeficiency Virus, Bovine/pathogenicity
- Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline/immunology
- Immunodeficiency Virus, Feline/pathogenicity
- Infectious Anemia Virus, Equine/immunology
- Infectious Anemia Virus, Equine/pathogenicity
- Interferon Regulatory Factors/genetics
- Interferon Regulatory Factors/immunology
- Killer Cells, Natural/immunology
- Killer Cells, Natural/virology
- Lentivirus Infections/genetics
- Lentivirus Infections/immunology
- Lentivirus Infections/virology
- Macrophages/immunology
- Macrophages/virology
- Pathogen-Associated Molecular Pattern Molecules/immunology
- Receptors, Pattern Recognition/genetics
- Receptors, Pattern Recognition/immunology
- Sheep
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/virology
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena de Pablo-Maiso
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología (IdAB), UPNA-CSIC-Gobierno de Navarra, Navarra 31192, Spain.
| | - Ana Doménech
- Dpto. Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid 28040, Spain.
| | - Irache Echeverría
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología (IdAB), UPNA-CSIC-Gobierno de Navarra, Navarra 31192, Spain.
| | - Carmen Gómez-Arrebola
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología (IdAB), UPNA-CSIC-Gobierno de Navarra, Navarra 31192, Spain.
| | - Damián de Andrés
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología (IdAB), UPNA-CSIC-Gobierno de Navarra, Navarra 31192, Spain.
| | - Sergio Rosati
- Malattie Infettive degli Animali Domestici, Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università degli Studi di Torino, Torino 10095, Italy.
| | - Esperanza Gómez-Lucia
- Dpto. Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid 28040, Spain.
| | - Ramsés Reina
- Instituto de Agrobiotecnología (IdAB), UPNA-CSIC-Gobierno de Navarra, Navarra 31192, Spain.
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15
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Rocha AM, Silva TPDE, Sejian V, Torreão JNDC, Marques CAT, Bezerra LR, Araújo MJD, Saraiva LA, Gottardi FP. Maternal and neonatal behavior as affected by maternal nutrition during prepartum and postpartum period in indigenous sheep. J Vet Behav 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2017.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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16
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Schroeder O, Benecke N, Frölich K, Peng Z, Kaniuth K, Sverchkov L, Reinhold S, Belinskiy A, Ludwig A. Endogenous Retroviral Insertions Indicate a Secondary Introduction of Domestic Sheep Lineages to the Caucasus and Central Asia between the Bronze and Iron Age. Genes (Basel) 2017. [PMID: 28632161 PMCID: PMC5485529 DOI: 10.3390/genes8060165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Sheep were one of the first livestock species domesticated by humans. After initial domestication in the Middle East they were spread across Eurasia. The modern distribution of endogenous Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus insertions in domestic sheep breeds suggests that over the course of millennia, successive introductions of improved lineages and selection for wool quality occurred in the Mediterranean region and most of Asia. Here we present a novel ancient DNA approach using data of endogenous retroviral insertions in Bronze and Iron Age domestic sheep from the Caucasus and Pamir mountain areas. Our findings support a secondary introduction of wool sheep from the Middle East between the Late Bronze Age and Iron Age into most areas of Eurasia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oskar Schroeder
- Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany.
- German Archaeological Institute, Im Dol 2-6, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Norbert Benecke
- German Archaeological Institute, Im Dol 2-6, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Kai Frölich
- Tierpark Arche Warder e.V., Langwedeler Weg 11, 24646 Warder, Germany.
| | - Zuogang Peng
- Southwest University School of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Freshwater Fish Reproduction and Development (Ministry of Education), Chongqing 400715, China.
| | - Kai Kaniuth
- Institut für Vorderasiatische Archäologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1, 80539 Munich, Germany.
| | - Leonid Sverchkov
- Institute of Fine Arts, Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Afrosiab Street 5/19, Tashkent 100029, Uzbekistan.
| | - Sabine Reinhold
- German Archaeological Institute, Im Dol 2-6, 14195 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Andrey Belinskiy
- Nasledie Ltd., Prospekt Karla Marksa 56, 355017 Stavropol, Russia.
| | - Arne Ludwig
- Leibniz-Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Department of Evolutionary Genetics, Alfred-Kowalke-Straße 17, 10315 Berlin, Germany.
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17
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18
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Yaro M, Munyard KA, Stear MJ, Groth DM. Molecular identification of livestock breeds: a tool for modern conservation biology. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2016; 92:993-1010. [DOI: 10.1111/brv.12265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2015] [Revised: 02/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Yaro
- School of Biomedical Sciences, CHIRI Biosciences Research Precinct, Faculty of Health Sciences; Curtin University; GPO Box U1987 Perth WA 6845 Australia
| | - Kylie A. Munyard
- School of Biomedical Sciences, CHIRI Biosciences Research Precinct, Faculty of Health Sciences; Curtin University; GPO Box U1987 Perth WA 6845 Australia
| | - Michael J. Stear
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine; University of Glasgow; Bearsden Road Glasgow G61 1QH U.K
| | - David M. Groth
- School of Biomedical Sciences, CHIRI Biosciences Research Precinct, Faculty of Health Sciences; Curtin University; GPO Box U1987 Perth WA 6845 Australia
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19
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Limited hybridization between domestic sheep and the European mouflon in Western Germany. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-016-1003-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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20
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E GX, Zhong T, Ma YH, Gao HJ, He JN, Liu N, Zhao YJ, Zhang JH, Huang YF. Conservation genetics in Chinese sheep: diversity of fourteen indigenous sheep (Ovis aries) using microsatellite markers. Ecol Evol 2016; 6:810-7. [PMID: 26865968 PMCID: PMC4739567 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1891] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Revised: 11/13/2015] [Accepted: 11/23/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The domestic sheep (Ovis aries) has been an economically and culturally important farm animal species since its domestication around the world. A wide array of sheep breeds with abundant phenotypic diversity exists including domestication and selection as well as the indigenous breeds may harbor specific features as a result of adaptation to their environment. The objective of this study was to investigate the population structure of indigenous sheep in a large geographic location of the Chinese mainland. Six microsatellites were genotyped for 611 individuals from 14 populations. The mean number of alleles (±SD) ranged from 7.00 ± 3.69 in Gangba sheep to 10.50 ± 4.23 in Tibetan sheep. The observed heterozygote frequency (±SD) within a population ranged from 0.58 ± 0.03 in Gangba sheep to 0.71 ± 0.03 in Zazakh sheep and Minxian black fur sheep. In addition, there was a low pairwise difference among the Minxian black fur sheep, Mongolian sheep, Gansu alpine merino, and Lanzhou fat-tailed sheep. Bayesian analysis with the program STRUCTURE showed support for 3 clusters, revealing a vague genetic clustering pattern with geographic location. The results of the current study inferred high genetic diversity within these native sheep in the Chinese mainland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guang-Xin E
- College of Animal Science and Technology Chongqing Key Laboratory of Forage & Herbivore Chongqing Engineering Research Centre for Herbivores Resource Protection and Utilization Southwest University Chongqing 400716 China
| | - Tao Zhong
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan province Sichuan Agricultural University Chengdu Sichuan 625014 China
| | - Yue-Hui Ma
- Institute of Animal Science Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) Beijing 100193 China
| | - Hui-Jiang Gao
- Institute of Animal Science Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) Beijing 100193 China
| | - Jian-Ning He
- College of Animal Science and Technology Qingdao Agricultural University Qingdao 266109 China
| | - Nan Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology Qingdao Agricultural University Qingdao 266109 China
| | - Yong-Ju Zhao
- College of Animal Science and Technology Chongqing Key Laboratory of Forage & Herbivore Chongqing Engineering Research Centre for Herbivores Resource Protection and Utilization Southwest University Chongqing 400716 China
| | - Jia-Hua Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology Chongqing Key Laboratory of Forage & Herbivore Chongqing Engineering Research Centre for Herbivores Resource Protection and Utilization Southwest University Chongqing 400716 China
| | - Yong-Fu Huang
- College of Animal Science and Technology Chongqing Key Laboratory of Forage & Herbivore Chongqing Engineering Research Centre for Herbivores Resource Protection and Utilization Southwest University Chongqing 400716 China
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21
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Teasdale MD, van Doorn NL, Fiddyment S, Webb CC, O'Connor T, Hofreiter M, Collins MJ, Bradley DG. Paging through history: parchment as a reservoir of ancient DNA for next generation sequencing. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2015; 370:20130379. [PMID: 25487331 PMCID: PMC4275887 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Parchment represents an invaluable cultural reservoir. Retrieving an additional layer of information from these abundant, dated livestock-skins via the use of ancient DNA (aDNA) sequencing has been mooted by a number of researchers. However, prior PCR-based work has indicated that this may be challenged by cross-individual and cross-species contamination, perhaps from the bulk parchment preparation process. Here we apply next generation sequencing to two parchments of seventeenth and eighteenth century northern English provenance. Following alignment to the published sheep, goat, cow and human genomes, it is clear that the only genome displaying substantial unique homology is sheep and this species identification is confirmed by collagen peptide mass spectrometry. Only 4% of sequence reads align preferentially to a different species indicating low contamination across species. Moreover, mitochondrial DNA sequences suggest an upper bound of contamination at 5%. Over 45% of reads aligned to the sheep genome, and even this limited sequencing exercise yield 9 and 7% of each sampled sheep genome post filtering, allowing the mapping of genetic affinity to modern British sheep breeds. We conclude that parchment represents an excellent substrate for genomic analyses of historical livestock.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D Teasdale
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | | | - S Fiddyment
- BioArCh, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - C C Webb
- Borthwick Institute for Archives, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - T O'Connor
- BioArCh, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - M Hofreiter
- BioArCh, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK Institute for Biochemistry and Biology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Potsdam, Karl-Liebknecht-Str. 24-25, Potsdam 14476, Germany
| | - M J Collins
- BioArCh, University of York, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - D G Bradley
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin 2, Ireland
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22
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Bowles D. Recent advances in understanding the genetic resources of sheep breeds locally-adapted to the UK uplands: opportunities they offer for sustainable productivity. Front Genet 2015; 6:24. [PMID: 25729388 PMCID: PMC4325934 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2015.00024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2014] [Accepted: 01/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Locally adapted breeds of livestock are of considerable interest since they represent potential reservoirs of adaptive fitness traits that may contribute to the future of sustainable productivity in a changing climate. Recent research, involving three hill sheep breeds geographically concentrated in the northern uplands of the UK has revealed the extent of their genetic diversity from one another and from other breeds. Results from the use of SNPs, microsatellites, and retrovirus insertions are reviewed in the context of related studies on sheep breeds world-wide to highlight opportunities offered by the genetic resources of locally adapted hill breeds. One opportunity concerns reduced susceptibility to Maedi Visna, a lentivirus with massive impacts on sheep health and productivity globally. In contrast to many mainstream breeds used in farming, each of the hill breeds analyzed are likely to be far less susceptible to the disease threat. A different opportunity, relating specifically to the Herdwick breed, is the extent to which the genome of the breed has retained primitive features, no longer present in other mainland breeds of sheep in the UK and offering a new route for discovering unique genetic traits of use to agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dianna Bowles
- Department of Biology, University of York York, UK ; The Sheep Trust, University of York York, UK
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23
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Mukiibi R, Rochus CM, Andersson G, Johansson AM. The use of endogenous retroviruses as markers to describe the genetic relationships among local Swedish sheep breeds. Anim Genet 2015; 46:220-3. [PMID: 25644015 DOI: 10.1111/age.12264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to describe the genetic relationships among five Swedish sheep breeds using insertional polymorphisms of six endogenous Jaagsiekte retroviruses of sheep. Although the Swedish breeds were found to have genomes of 'primitive' origin, there also are indications of the presence of more recently derived sheep breeds within the ancestries of three of the breeds.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Mukiibi
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, SE-75007, Sweden
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24
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Stonos N, Wootton SK, Karrow N. Immunogenetics of small ruminant lentiviral infections. Viruses 2014; 6:3311-33. [PMID: 25153344 PMCID: PMC4147697 DOI: 10.3390/v6083311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2014] [Revised: 08/18/2014] [Accepted: 08/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV) include the caprine arthritis encephalitis virus (CAEV) and the Maedi-Visna virus (MVV). Both of these viruses limit production and can be a major source of economic loss to producers. Little is known about how the immune system recognizes and responds to SRLVs, but due to similarities with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), HIV research can shed light on the possible immune mechanisms that control or lead to disease progression. This review will focus on the host immune response to HIV-1 and SRLV, and will discuss the possibility of breeding for enhanced SRLV disease resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Stonos
- Centre for the Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Sarah K Wootton
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
| | - Niel Karrow
- Centre for the Genetic Improvement of Livestock, Department of Animal and Poultry Science, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.
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