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Chepkwony M, Wragg D, Latré de Laté P, Paxton E, Cook E, Ndambuki G, Kitala P, Gathura P, Toye P, Prendergast J. Longitudinal transcriptome analysis of cattle infected with Theileria parva. Int J Parasitol 2022; 52:799-813. [PMID: 36244429 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2022.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The apicomplexan cattle parasite Theileria parva is a major barrier to improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Africa, killing over one million cattle on the continent each year. Although exotic breeds not native to Africa are highly susceptible to the disease, previous studies have illustrated that such breeds often show innate tolerance to infection by the parasite. The mechanisms underlying this tolerance remain largely unclear. To better understand the host response to T. parva infection we characterised the transcriptional response over 15 days in tolerant and susceptible cattle (n = 29) naturally exposed to the parasite. We identify key genes and pathways activated in response to infection as well as, importantly, several genes differentially expressed between the animals that ultimately survived or succumbed to infection. These include genes linked to key cell proliferation and infection pathways. Furthermore, we identify response expression quantitative trait loci containing genetic variants whose impact on the expression level of nearby genes changes in response to the infection. These therefore provide an indication of the genetic basis of differential host responses. Together these results provide a comprehensive analysis of the host transcriptional response to this under-studied pathogen, providing clues as to the mechanisms underlying natural tolerance to the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Chepkwony
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), ILRI Kenya, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | - D Wragg
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), Easter Bush Campus, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - P Latré de Laté
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), ILRI Kenya, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | - E Paxton
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), Easter Bush Campus, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - E Cook
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), ILRI Kenya, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | - G Ndambuki
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), ILRI Kenya, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya
| | - P Kitala
- College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences (CAVS), University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00624, Kangemi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - P Gathura
- College of Agriculture and Veterinary Sciences (CAVS), University of Nairobi, P.O. Box 29053-00624, Kangemi, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - P Toye
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), ILRI Kenya, P.O. Box 30709, Nairobi 00100, Kenya.
| | - J Prendergast
- Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health (CTLGH), Easter Bush Campus, EH25 9RG, UK.
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Latre de Late P, Cook EAJ, Wragg D, Poole EJ, Ndambuki G, Miyunga AA, Chepkwony MC, Mwaura S, Ndiwa N, Prettejohn G, Sitt T, Van Aardt R, Morrison WI, Prendergast JGD, Toye P. Inherited Tolerance in Cattle to the Apicomplexan Protozoan Theileria parva is Associated with Decreased Proliferation of Parasite-Infected Lymphocytes. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:751671. [PMID: 34804994 PMCID: PMC8602341 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.751671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Theileria parva is the causative agent of East Coast fever and Corridor disease, which are fatal, economically important diseases of cattle in eastern, central and southern Africa. Improved methods of control of the diseases are urgently required. The parasite transforms host lymphocytes, resulting in a rapid, clonal expansion of infected cells. Resistance to the disease has long been reported in cattle from T. parva-endemic areas. We reveal here that first- and second-generation descendants of a single Bos indicus bull survived severe challenge with T. parva, (overall survival rate 57.3% compared to 8.7% for unrelated animals) in a series of five field studies. Tolerant cattle displayed a delayed and less severe parasitosis and febrile response than unrelated animals. The in vitro proliferation of cells from surviving cattle was much reduced compared to those from animals that succumbed to infection. Additionally, some pro-inflammatory cytokines such as IL1β, IL6, TNFα or TGFβ which are usually strongly expressed in susceptible animals and are known to regulate cell growth or motility, remain low in tolerant animals. This correlates with the reduced proliferation and less severe clinical reactions observed in tolerant cattle. The results show for the first time that the inherited tolerance to T. parva is associated with decreased proliferation of infected lymphocytes. The results are discussed in terms of whether the reduced proliferation is the result of a perturbation of the transformation mechanism induced in infected cells or is due to an innate immune response present in the tolerant cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perle Latre de Late
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya.,Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Elizabeth A J Cook
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya.,Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - David Wragg
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - E Jane Poole
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Gideon Ndambuki
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya.,Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Antoinette Aluoch Miyunga
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya.,Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Maurine C Chepkwony
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya.,Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Stephen Mwaura
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Nicholas Ndiwa
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Tatjana Sitt
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - W Ivan Morrison
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - James G D Prendergast
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.,Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Philip Toye
- International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya.,Centre for Tropical Livestock Genetics and Health, Nairobi, Kenya
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