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Pokharel K, Weldenegodguad M, Reilas T, Kantanen J. EquCab_Finn: A new reference genome assembly for the domestic horse, Finnhorse. Anim Genet 2024. [PMID: 38986537 DOI: 10.1111/age.13463] [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: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/30/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Finnhorse is Finland's native and national horse breed and it has genetic affinities to northern European and Asian horses. It has historical importance for agriculture, forest work and transport and as a war horse. Finnhorse has four breeding sections in the studbook and is under conservation and characterisation efforts. We sequenced and annotated the genome of a Finnhorse mare from the working horse section using PacBio and Omni-C data. This genome can complement the existing Thoroughbred reference genome (EquCab 3.0) and facilitate genetic studies of horses from northern Eurasia. We assembled 2.4 Gb of the genome with an N50 scaffold length of 83.8 Mb and the genome annotation resulted in a total of 19 748 protein coding genes of which 1200 were Finnhorse specific. The assembly has high quality and synteny with the current horse reference genome. We manually curated five genes of interest and deposited the final assembly in the European Nucleotide Archive under the accession no. PRJEB71364.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kisun Pokharel
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Jokioinen, Finland
| | | | - Tiina Reilas
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Jokioinen, Finland
| | - Juha Kantanen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Jokioinen, Finland
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2
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Liu X, Chen W, Huang B, Wang X, Peng Y, Zhang X, Chai W, Khan MZ, Wang C. Advancements in copy number variation screening in herbivorous livestock genomes and their association with phenotypic traits. Front Vet Sci 2024; 10:1334434. [PMID: 38274664 PMCID: PMC10808162 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1334434] [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: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Copy number variations (CNVs) have garnered increasing attention within the realm of genetics due to their prevalence in human, animal, and plant genomes. These structural genetic variations have demonstrated associations with a broad spectrum of phenotypic diversity, economic traits, environmental adaptations, epidemics, and other essential aspects of both plants and animals. Furthermore, CNVs exhibit extensive sequence variability and encompass a wide array of genomes. The advancement and maturity of microarray and sequencing technologies have catalyzed a surge in research endeavors pertaining to CNVs. This is particularly prominent in the context of livestock breeding, where molecular markers have gained prominence as a valuable tool in comparison to traditional breeding methods. In light of these developments, a contemporary and comprehensive review of existing studies on CNVs becomes imperative. This review serves the purpose of providing a brief elucidation of the fundamental concepts underlying CNVs, their mutational mechanisms, and the diverse array of detection methods employed to identify these structural variations within genomes. Furthermore, it seeks to systematically analyze the recent advancements and findings within the field of CNV research, specifically within the genomes of herbivorous livestock species, including cattle, sheep, horses, and donkeys. The review also highlighted the role of CNVs in shaping various phenotypic traits including growth traits, reproductive traits, pigmentation and disease resistance etc., in herbivorous livestock. The main goal of this review is to furnish readers with an up-to-date compilation of knowledge regarding CNVs in herbivorous livestock genomes. By integrating the latest research findings and insights, it is anticipated that this review will not only offer pertinent information but also stimulate future investigations into the realm of CNVs in livestock. In doing so, it endeavors to contribute to the enhancement of breeding strategies, genomic selection, and the overall improvement of herbivorous livestock production and resistance to diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Muhammad Zahoor Khan
- Liaocheng Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
| | - Changfa Wang
- Liaocheng Research Institute of Donkey High-Efficiency Breeding, Liaocheng University, Liaocheng, China
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Pokharel K, Weldenegodguad M, Dudeck S, Honkatukia M, Lindeberg H, Mazzullo N, Paasivaara A, Peippo J, Soppela P, Stammler F, Kantanen J. Whole-genome sequencing provides novel insights into the evolutionary history and genetic adaptation of reindeer populations in northern Eurasia. Sci Rep 2023; 13:23019. [PMID: 38155192 PMCID: PMC10754820 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-50253-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Domestic reindeer (Rangifer tarandus) play a vital role in the culture and livelihoods of indigenous people across northern Eurasia. These animals are well adapted to harsh environmental conditions, such as extreme cold, limited feed availability and long migration distances. Therefore, understanding the genomics of reindeer is crucial for improving their management, conservation and utilisation. In this study, we have generated a new genome assembly for the Fennoscandian domestic reindeer with high contiguity, making it the most complete reference genome for reindeer to date. The new genome assembly was utilised to explore genetic diversity, population structure and selective sweeps in Eurasian Rangifer tarandus populations which was based on the largest population genomic dataset for reindeer, encompassing 58 individuals from diverse populations. Phylogenetic analyses revealed distinct genetic clusters, with the Finnish wild forest reindeer (Rangifer tarandus fennicus) standing out as a unique subspecies. Divergence time estimates suggested a separation of ~ 52 thousand years ago (Kya) between the northern European Rangifer tarandus fennicus and Rangifer tarandus tarandus. Our study identified four main genetic clusters: Fennoscandian, the eastern/northern Russian and Alaskan group, the Finnish forest reindeer, and the Svalbard reindeer. Furthermore, two independent reindeer domestication processes were inferred, suggesting separate origins for the domestic Fennoscandian and eastern/northern Russian reindeer. Notably, shared genes under selection, including retroviral genes, point towards molecular domestication processes that aided adaptation of this species to diverse environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kisun Pokharel
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Myllytie 1, 31600, Jokioinen, Finland
| | - Melak Weldenegodguad
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Myllytie 1, 31600, Jokioinen, Finland
| | - Stephan Dudeck
- Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, 96100, Rovaniemi, Finland
| | | | - Heli Lindeberg
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), 71750, Maaninka, Finland
| | - Nuccio Mazzullo
- Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, 96100, Rovaniemi, Finland
| | - Antti Paasivaara
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Paavo Havaksentie 3, 90570, Oulu, Finland
| | - Jaana Peippo
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Myllytie 1, 31600, Jokioinen, Finland
- NordGen-Nordic Genetic Resource Center, 1432, Ås, Norway
| | - Päivi Soppela
- Arctic Centre, University of Lapland, 96100, Rovaniemi, Finland
| | | | - Juha Kantanen
- Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Myllytie 1, 31600, Jokioinen, Finland.
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4
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Gu J, Li S, Zhu B, Liang Q, Chen B, Tang X, Chen C, Wu DD, Li Y. Genetic variation and domestication of horses revealed by 10 chromosome-level genomes and whole-genome resequencing. Mol Ecol Resour 2023; 23:1656-1672. [PMID: 37259205 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the genetic variations of the horse (Equus caballus) genome will improve breeding conservation and welfare. However, genetic variations in long segments, such as structural variants (SVs), remain understudied. We de novo assembled 10 chromosome-level three-dimensional horse genomes, each representing a distinct breed, and analysed horse SVs using a multi-assembly approach. Our findings suggest that SVs with the accumulation of mammalian-wide interspersed repeats related to long interspersed nuclear elements might be a horse-specific mechanism to modulate genome-wide gene regulatory networks. We found that olfactory receptors were commonly loss and accumulated deleterious mutations, but no purge of deleterious mutations occurred during horse domestication. We examined the potential effects of SVs on the spatial structure of chromatin via topologically associating domains (TADs). Breed-specific TADs were significantly enriched by breed-specific SVs. We identified 4199 unique breakpoint-resolved novel insertions across all chromosomes that account for 2.84 Mb sequences missing from the reference genome. Several novel insertions might have potential functional consequences, as 519 appeared to reside within 449 gene bodies. These genes are primarily involved in pathogen recognition, innate immune responses and drug metabolism. Moreover, 37 diverse horses were resequenced. Combining this with public data, we analysed 97 horses through a comparative population genomics approach to identify the genetic basis underlying breed characteristics using Thoroughbreds as a case study. We provide new scientific evidence for horse domestication, an understanding of the genetic mechanism underlying the phenotypic evolution of horses, and a comprehensive genetic variation resource for further genetic studies of horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Gu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement of Domestic Animal, Changsha, China
| | - Sheng Li
- Maxun Biotechnology Institute, Changsha, China
| | - Bo Zhu
- Novogene Bioinformatics Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Qiqi Liang
- Key Laboratory of Pig Genetics and Breeding of Ministry of Agriculture & Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction of Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Bin Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement of Domestic Animal, Changsha, China
| | - Xiangwei Tang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement of Domestic Animal, Changsha, China
| | - Chujie Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Improvement of Domestic Animal, Changsha, China
| | - Dong-Dong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China
| | - Yan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-Resource, Yunnan University, Kunming, China
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Latrille T, Rodrigue N, Lartillot N. Genes and sites under adaptation at the phylogenetic scale also exhibit adaptation at the population-genetic scale. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2214977120. [PMID: 36897968 PMCID: PMC10089192 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2214977120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Adaptation in protein-coding sequences can be detected from multiple sequence alignments across species or alternatively by leveraging polymorphism data within a population. Across species, quantification of the adaptive rate relies on phylogenetic codon models, classically formulated in terms of the ratio of nonsynonymous over synonymous substitution rates. Evidence of an accelerated nonsynonymous substitution rate is considered a signature of pervasive adaptation. However, because of the background of purifying selection, these models are potentially limited in their sensitivity. Recent developments have led to more sophisticated mutation-selection codon models aimed at making a more detailed quantitative assessment of the interplay between mutation, purifying, and positive selection. In this study, we conducted a large-scale exome-wide analysis of placental mammals with mutation-selection models, assessing their performance at detecting proteins and sites under adaptation. Importantly, mutation-selection codon models are based on a population-genetic formalism and thus are directly comparable to the McDonald and Kreitman test at the population level to quantify adaptation. Taking advantage of this relationship between phylogenetic and population genetics analyses, we integrated divergence and polymorphism data across the entire exome for 29 populations across 7 genera and showed that proteins and sites detected to be under adaptation at the phylogenetic scale are also under adaptation at the population-genetic scale. Altogether, our exome-wide analysis shows that phylogenetic mutation-selection codon models and the population-genetic test of adaptation can be reconciled and are congruent, paving the way for integrative models and analyses across individuals and populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thibault Latrille
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, VetAgro Sup, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, 69100Villeurbanne, France
- École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université de Lyon, 69342Lyon, France
- Department of Computational Biology, Université de Lausanne, 1015Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Rodrigue
- Department of Biology, Institute of Biochemistry, and School of Mathematics and Statistics, Carleton University, K1S 5B6Ottawa, Canada
| | - Nicolas Lartillot
- Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, CNRS, VetAgro Sup, Laboratoire de Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive, UMR5558, 69100Villeurbanne, France
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Short Insertion and Deletion Discoveries via Whole-Genome Sequencing of 101 Thoroughbred Racehorses. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:genes14030638. [PMID: 36980910 PMCID: PMC10048024 DOI: 10.3390/genes14030638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Thoroughbreds are some of the most famous racehorses worldwide and are currently animals of high economic value. To understand genomic variability in Thoroughbreds, we identified genome-wide insertions and deletions (INDELs) and obtained their allele frequencies in this study. INDELs were obtained from whole-genome sequencing data of 101 Thoroughbred racehorses by mapping sequence reads to the horse reference genome. By integrating individual data, 1,453,349 and 113,047 INDELs were identified in the autosomal (1–31) and X chromosomes, respectively, while 18 INDELs were identified on the mitochondrial genome, totaling 1,566,414 INDELs. Of those, 779,457 loci (49.8%) were novel INDELs, while 786,957 loci (50.2%) were already registered in Ensembl. The sizes of diallelic INDELs ranged from −286 to +476, and the majority, 717,736 (52.14%) and 220,672 (16.03%), were 1-bp and 2-bp variants, respectively. Numerous INDELs were found to have lower frequencies of alternative (Alt) alleles. Many rare variants with low Alt allele frequencies (<0.5%) were also detected. In addition, 5955 loci were genotyped as having a minor allele frequency of 0.5 and being heterogeneous genotypes in all the horses. While short-read sequencing and its mapping to reference genome is a simple way of detecting variants, fake variants may be detected. Therefore, our data help to identify true variants in Thoroughbred horses. The INDEL database we constructed will provide useful information for genetic studies and industrial applications in Thoroughbred horses, including a gene-editing test for gene-doping control and a parentage test using INDELs for horse registration and identification.
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de Faria DA, do Prado Paim T, Dos Santos CA, Paiva SR, Nogueira MB, McManus C. Selection signatures for heat tolerance in Brazilian horse breeds. Mol Genet Genomics 2022; 297:449-462. [PMID: 35150300 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-022-01862-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Since domestication, horse breeds have adapted to their environments and differentiated from one another. This paper uses two methods to detect selection signatures in 23 horse breeds, eight of which are Brazilian (610 animals), both cold-blooded and warm-blooded, from temperate and tropical regions. These animals were genotyped using the GGP Equine BeadChip and we analysed the data by Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The samples were separated into groups based on their geographical area of origin and PCA results studied. The genomic regions under selection were detected by hapFLK and PCAdapt methodologies, identifying six regions under selection with at least one Brazilian horse breed. These regions contain genes associated with heat tolerance, skin colour, body size, energy production/metabolism, genes involved in protein degradation/turnover/DNA repair, genes reducing the impact of oxidative stress/cellular repair, and transcriptional regulation. This work confirmed LCORL and NCAPG gene regions in previous studies associated with body size on Equine Chromosome Autosome 3 (ECA3). On the same ECA3, a region implicating genes linked to coat colour was identified, also previously related to heat stress. Regions with genes coding heat shock proteins were found on ECA1 and 2, and many candidate genes for oxidation-reduction which are a natural response to heat stress. However, a larger sample size and whole-genome SNPs are needed to understand better and identify new candidate regions as well as their functional relation with heat tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Assis de Faria
- Faculdade de Agronomia e Veterinária, Instituto Central de Ciências, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Universidade de Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Tiago do Prado Paim
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Goiano, Rodovia Sul Goiana, Km 01, Zona Rural, Rio Verde, GO, 75901-970, Brazil
| | - Camila Alves Dos Santos
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia Goiano, Rodovia Sul Goiana, Km 01, Zona Rural, Rio Verde, GO, 75901-970, Brazil
| | - Samuel Rezende Paiva
- Embrapa Recursos Genéticos e Biotecnologia, Final W5 Norte, Brasília, DF, 70770-917, Brasil
| | - Marcelo Bchara Nogueira
- Faculdade de Agronomia e Veterinária, Instituto Central de Ciências, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Universidade de Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil
| | - Concepta McManus
- Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Instituto de Biologia, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Universidade de Brasília, Asa Norte, Brasília, DF, 70910-900, Brazil.
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8
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Hammons V, Ribeiro L, Munyard K, Sadeghi R, Miller D, Antczak D, Brooks SA. GWAS Identifies a Region Containing the SALL1 Gene in Variation of Pigmentation Intensity Within the Chestnut Coat Color of Horses. J Hered 2021; 112:443-446. [PMID: 34343312 PMCID: PMC8386761 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esab037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Chestnut coat color in horses is determined by a missense mutation within the MC1R gene. However, the intensity of the chestnut color can vary widely within individuals possessing this genotype. Here, we investigated this variation using standardized photographs of 96 horses. Each horse was ranked lightest to darkest within the cohort for phenotype by 3 blinded observers. A genome-wide association study utilizing the relative shade ranking as the phenotype and using 268 487 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) genotyped using the Affymetrix Equine 670k array identified a single significantly associated region on chromosome 3 (P = 2.934 × 10-8). Analysis of whole-genome sequences for horses spanning the diverse range of chestnut color identified candidate SNPs within the coding sequence of the only gene in the region: SALL1. The function of SALL1 is largely unknown, though it is predicted to interact with the Hermansky-Pudlak Syndrome type 1 (HPS1) protein, which causes partial albinism in humans. However, with only one study suggesting a circumstantial influence of the SALL1 protein on pigmentation, additional work is needed to confirm this new coat color locus in larger populations and investigate the function of this protein for impacts on equine health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vada Hammons
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
- Department of Animal Sciences, UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, 2250 Shealy Dr, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Leticia Ribeiro
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, UK
- Department of Animal Sciences, UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, 2250 Shealy Dr, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kylie Munyard
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, Australia
| | - Raheleh Sadeghi
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Donald Miller
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Douglas Antczak
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Samantha A Brooks
- Department of Animal Sciences, UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, 2250 Shealy Dr, Gainesville, FL, USA
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9
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Rare and common variant discovery by whole-genome sequencing of 101 Thoroughbred racehorses. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16057. [PMID: 34362995 PMCID: PMC8346562 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-95669-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The Thoroughbred breed was formed by crossing Oriental horse breeds and British native horses and is currently used in horseracing worldwide. In this study, we constructed a single-nucleotide variant (SNV) database using data from 101 Thoroughbred racehorses. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) revealed 11,570,312 and 602,756 SNVs in autosomal (1–31) and X chromosomes, respectively, yielding a total of 12,173,068 SNVs. About 6.9% of identified SNVs were rare variants observed only in one allele in 101 horses. The number of SNVs detected in individual horses ranged from 4.8 to 5.3 million. Individual horses had a maximum of 25,554 rare variants; several of these were functional variants, such as non-synonymous substitutions, start-gained, start-lost, stop-gained, and stop-lost variants. Therefore, these rare variants may affect differences in traits and phenotypes among individuals. When observing the distribution of rare variants among horses, one breeding stallion had a smaller number of rare variants compared to other horses, suggesting that the frequency of rare variants in the Japanese Thoroughbred population increases through breeding. In addition, our variant database may provide useful basic information for industrial applications, such as the detection of genetically modified racehorses in gene-doping control and pedigree-registration of racehorses using SNVs as markers.
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Rosengren MK, Sigurðardóttir H, Eriksson S, Naboulsi R, Jouni A, Novoa-Bravo M, Albertsdóttir E, Kristjánsson Þ, Rhodin M, Viklund Å, Velie BD, Negro JJ, Solé M, Lindgren G. A QTL for conformation of back and croup influences lateral gait quality in Icelandic horses. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:267. [PMID: 33853519 PMCID: PMC8048352 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07454-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The back plays a vital role in horse locomotion, where the spine functions as a spring during the stride cycle. A complex interaction between the spine and the muscles of the back contribute to locomotion soundness, gait ability, and performance of riding and racehorses. Conformation is commonly used to select horses for breeding and performance in multiple horse breeds, where the back and croup conformation plays a significant role. The conformation of back and croup plays an important role on riding ability in Icelandic horses. However, the genes behind this trait are still unknown. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify genomic regions associated with conformation of back and croup in Icelandic horses and to investigate their effects on riding ability. One hundred seventy-seven assessed Icelandic horses were included in the study. A genome-wide association analysis was performed using the 670 K+ Axiom Equine Genotyping Array, and the effects of different haplotypes in the top associated region were estimated for riding ability and additional conformation traits assessed during breeding field tests. RESULTS A suggestive quantitative trait loci (QTL) for the score of back and croup was detected on Equus caballus (ECA) 22 (p-value = 2.67 × 10- 7). Haplotype analysis revealed two opposite haplotypes, which resulted in higher and lower scores of the back and croup, respectively (p-value < 0.001). Horses with the favorable haplotype were more inclined to have a well-balanced backline with an uphill conformation and had, on average, higher scores for the lateral gaits tölt (p-value = 0.02) and pace (p-value = 0.004). This genomic region harbors three genes: C20orf85, ANKRD60 and LOC100056167. ANKRD60 is associated with body height in humans. C20orf85 and ANKRD60 are potentially linked to adolescent idiopathic scoliosis in humans. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that the detected QTL for conformation of back and croup is of importance for quality of lateral gaits in Icelandic horses. These findings could result in a genetic test to aid in the selection of breeding horses, thus they are of major interest for horse breeders. The results may also offer a gateway to comparative functional genomics by potentially linking both motor laterality and back inclination in horses with scoliosis in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria K Rosengren
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Heiðrún Sigurðardóttir
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- The Agricultural University of Iceland, Borgarnes, Iceland
| | - Susanne Eriksson
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rakan Naboulsi
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ahmad Jouni
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Miguel Novoa-Bravo
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- Genética Animal de Colombia Ltda, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | | | - Marie Rhodin
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Åsa Viklund
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Brandon D Velie
- School of Life & Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Juan J Negro
- Department of Evolutionary Ecology, Doñana Biological Station, CSIC, Seville, Spain
| | - Marina Solé
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gabriella Lindgren
- Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- Livestock Genetics, Department of Biosystems, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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11
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Rowland AL, Miller D, Berglund A, Schnabel LV, Levine GJ, Antczak DF, Watts AE. Cross-matching of allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells eliminates recipient immune targeting. Stem Cells Transl Med 2020; 10:694-710. [PMID: 33369287 PMCID: PMC8046071 DOI: 10.1002/sctm.20-0435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been used clinically for decades, without cross-matching, on the assumption that they are immune-privileged. In the equine model, we demonstrate innate and adaptive immune responses after repeated intra-articular injection with major histocompatibility complex (MHC) mismatched allogeneic MSCs, but not MHC matched allogeneic or autologous MSCs. We document increased peri-articular edema and synovial effusion, increased synovial cytokine and chemokine concentrations, and development of donor-specific antibodies in mismatched recipients compared with recipients receiving matched allogeneic or autologous MSCs. Importantly, in matched allogeneic and autologous recipients, but not mismatched allogeneic recipients, there was increased stromal derived factor-1 along with increased MSC concentrations in synovial fluid. Until immune recognition of MSCs can be avoided, repeated clinical use of MSCs should be limited to autologous or cross-matched allogeneic MSCs. When non-cross-matched allogeneic MSCs are used in single MSC dose applications, presensitization against donor MHC should be assessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aileen L Rowland
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Donald Miller
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Alix Berglund
- Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lauren V Schnabel
- Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Gwendolyn J Levine
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Douglas F Antczak
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Ashlee E Watts
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
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Variability of ACOX1 Gene Polymorphisms across Different Horse Breeds with Regard to Selection Pressure. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:ani10122225. [PMID: 33260884 PMCID: PMC7761022 DOI: 10.3390/ani10122225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The genetic mechanisms occurring in organisms are shaped by selection pressure. Features that ought to be useful under given conditions leave their marks on the genome in the form of mutations, thereby creating different alleles. In this study, five different horse breeds were examined to find the connection between an individual’s lifestyle and the presence of the peroxisomal acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1 (ACOX1) gene, which is necessary for some metabolic pathways. Results indicated that different ACOX1 gene alleles play various roles in primitive breeds and domesticated horses. This led to the conclusion that the DNA profile can be rated on the basis of adaptation to living conditions, opening the gate for further investigation. Abstract The ACOX1 gene encodes peroxisomal acyl-coenzyme A oxidase 1, the first enzyme in the fatty acid β-oxidation pathway, which could be significant for organisms exposed to long periods of starvation and harsh living conditions. We hypothesized that variations within ACOX1, revealed by RNA Sequencing (RNA-Seq), might be based on adaptation to living conditions and had resulted from selection pressure. There were five different horse breeds used in this study, representing various utility types: Arabian, Thoroughbred, Polish Konik, draft horses, and Hucul. The single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) located in the ACOX1 (rs782885985) was used as a marker and was identified using the PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism method (PCR-RFLP). Results indicated extremely different genotype and allele distributions of the ACOX1 gene across breeds. A predominance of the G allele was exhibited in horses that had adapted to difficult environmental conditions, namely, Polish Konik and Huculs, which are considered to be primitive breeds. The prevalence of the T allele in Thoroughbreds indicated that ACOX1 is significant in energy metabolism during flat racing.
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Patterson Rosa L, Mallicote MF, Long MT, Brooks SA. Metabogenomics reveals four candidate regions involved in the pathophysiology of Equine Metabolic Syndrome. Mol Cell Probes 2020; 53:101620. [PMID: 32659253 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcp.2020.101620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
An analogous condition to human metabolic syndrome, Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS) is defined by several clinical signs including obesity, hyperinsulinemia, and peripheral insulin dysregulation (ID). Affected horses may also exhibit hypertension, hyperlipemia and systemic inflammation. Measures of ID typically comprise the gold-standard for diagnosis in veterinary care. Yet, the dynamic nature of insulin homeostasis and complex procedures of typical assays make accurate quantification of ID and EMS challenging. This work aimed to investigate new strategies for identification of biochemical markers and correlated genes in EMS. To quantify EMS risk within this population, we utilized a composite score derived from nine common diagnostic variables. We applied a global liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy approach (HPLC/MS) to whole plasma collected from 49 Arabian horses, resulting in 3392 high-confidence features and identification of putative metabolites in public databases. We performed a genome wide association analysis with genotypes from the 670k Affymetrix Equine SNP array utilizing EMS-correlated metabolites as phenotypes. We discovered four metabolite features significantly correlated with EMS score (P < 1.474 × 10-5). GWAs for these features results (P = 6.787 × 10-7, Bonferroni) identified four unique candidate regions (r2 > 0.4) containing 63 genes. Significant genomic markers capture 43.52% of the variation in the original EMS score phenotype. The identified genomic loci provide insight into the pathways controlling variation in EMS and the origin of genetic predisposition to the condition. Rapid, feasible and accurate diagnostic tools derived from metabogenomics can be translated into measurable benefits in the timeline and quality of preventative management practices to preserve health in horses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Patterson Rosa
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America, PO Box 110910, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA
| | - Martha F Mallicote
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, PO Box 100136, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Maureen T Long
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, PO Box 100123, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Samantha A Brooks
- Department of Animal Sciences and UF Genetics Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States of America, PO Box 110910, Gainesville, FL, 32611, USA.
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14
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Abstract
The Arabian horse, one of the world’s oldest breeds of any domesticated animal, is characterized by natural beauty, graceful movement, athletic endurance, and, as a result of its development in the arid Middle East, the ability to thrive in a hot, dry environment. Here we studied 378 Arabian horses from 12 countries using equine single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays and whole-genome re-sequencing to examine hypotheses about genomic diversity, population structure, and the relationship of the Arabian to other horse breeds. We identified a high degree of genetic variation and complex ancestry in Arabian horses from the Middle East region. Also, contrary to popular belief, we could detect no significant genomic contribution of the Arabian breed to the Thoroughbred racehorse, including Y chromosome ancestry. However, we found strong evidence for recent interbreeding of Thoroughbreds with Arabians used for flat-racing competitions. Genetic signatures suggestive of selective sweeps across the Arabian breed contain candidate genes for combating oxidative damage during exercise, and within the “Straight Egyptian” subgroup, for facial morphology. Overall, our data support an origin of the Arabian horse in the Middle East, no evidence for reduced global genetic diversity across the breed, and unique genetic adaptations for both physiology and conformation.
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