Mapping QTL Associated with Resistance to Avian Oncogenic Marek's Disease Virus (MDV) Reveals Major Candidate Genes and Variants

Genomic analysis of Nigerian indigenous chickens reveals their genetic diversity and adaptation to heat-stress

Indigenous poultry breeds from Africa can survive in harsh tropical environments (such as long arid seasons, excessive rain and humidity, and extreme heat) and are resilient to disease challenges, but they are not productive compared to their commercial counterparts. Their adaptive characteristics are in response to natural selection or to artificial selection for production traits that have left selection signatures in the genome. Identifying these signatures of positive selection can provide insight into the genetic bases of tropical adaptations observed in indigenous poultry and thereby help to develop robust and high-performing breeds for extreme tropical climates. Here, we present the first large-scale whole-genome sequencing analysis of Nigerian indigenous chickens from different agro-climatic conditions, investigating their genetic diversity and adaptation to tropical hot climates (extreme arid and extreme humid conditions). The study shows a large extant genetic diversity but low level of population differentiation. Using different selection signature analyses, several candidate genes for adaptation were detected, especially in relation to thermotolerance and immune response (e.g., cytochrome P450 2B4-like, TSHR, HSF1, CDC37, SFTPB, HIF3A, SLC44A2, and ILF3 genes). These results have important implications for conserving valuable genetic resources and breeding improvement of chickens for thermotolerance.

The immune cell landscape and response of Marek's disease resistant and susceptible chickens infected with Marek's disease virus

Genetically resistant or susceptible chickens to Marek's disease (MD) have been widely used models to identify the molecular determinants of these phenotypes. However, these prior studies lacked the basic identification and understanding of immune cell types that could be translated toward improved MD control. To gain insights into specific immune cell types and their responses to Marek's disease virus (MDV) infection, we used single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq) on splenic cells from MD resistant and susceptible birds. In total, 14,378 cells formed clusters that identified various immune cell types. Lymphocytes, specifically T cell subtypes, were the most abundant with significant proportional changes in some subtypes upon infection. The largest number of differentially expressed genes (DEG) response was seen in granulocytes, while macrophage DEGs differed in directionality by subtype and line. Among the most DEG in almost all immune cell types were granzyme and granulysin, both associated with cell-perforating processes. Protein interactive network analyses revealed multiple overlapping canonical pathways within both lymphoid and myeloid cell lineages. This initial estimation of the chicken immune cell type landscape and its accompanying response will greatly aid efforts in identifying specific cell types and improving our knowledge of host response to viral infection.

A Wider and Deeper Peptide-Binding Groove for the Class I Molecules from B15 Compared with B19 Chickens Correlates with Relative Resistance to Marek's Disease

The chicken MHC is known to confer decisive resistance or susceptibility to various economically important pathogens, including the iconic oncogenic herpesvirus that causes Marek's disease (MD). Only one classical class I gene, BF2, is expressed at a high level in chickens, so it was relatively easy to discern a hierarchy from well-expressed thermostable fastidious specialist alleles to promiscuous generalist alleles that are less stable and expressed less on the cell surface. The class I molecule BF2*1901 is better expressed and more thermostable than the closely related BF2*1501, but the peptide motif was not simpler as expected. In this study, we confirm for newly developed chicken lines that the chicken MHC haplotype B15 confers resistance to MD compared with B19. Using gas phase sequencing and immunopeptidomics, we find that BF2*1901 binds a greater variety of amino acids in some anchor positions than does BF2*1501. However, by x-ray crystallography, we find that the peptide-binding groove of BF2*1901 is narrower and shallower. Although the self-peptides that bound to BF2*1901 may appear more various than those of BF2*1501, the structures show that the wider and deeper peptide-binding groove of BF2*1501 allows stronger binding and thus more peptides overall, correlating with the expected hierarchies for expression level, thermostability, and MD resistance. Our study provides a reasonable explanation for greater promiscuity for BF2*1501 compared with BF2*1901, corresponding to the difference in resistance to MD.

Genetic resilience in chickens against bacterial, viral and protozoal pathogens

The genome contributes to the uniqueness of an individual breed, and enables distinctive characteristics to be passed from one generation to the next. The allelic heterogeneity of a certain breed results in a different response to a pathogen with different genomic expression. Disease resistance in chicken is a polygenic trait that involves different genes that confer resistance against pathogens. Such resistance also involves major histocompatibility (MHC) molecules, immunoglobulins, cytokines, interleukins, T and B cells, and CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, which are involved in host protection. The MHC is associated with antigen presentation, antibody production, and cytokine stimulation, which highlight its role in disease resistance. The natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (Nramp-1), interferon (IFN), myxovirus-resistance gene, myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88), receptor-interacting serine/threonine kinase 2 (RIP2), and heterophile cells are involved in disease resistance and susceptibility of chicken. Studies related to disease resistance genetics, epigenetics, and quantitative trait loci would enable the identification of resistance markers and the development of disease resistance breeds. Microbial infections are responsible for significant outbreaks and have blighted the poultry industry. Breeding disease-resistant chicken strains may be helpful in tackling pathogens and increasing the current understanding on host genetics in the fight against communicable diseases. Advanced technologies, such as the CRISPR/Cas9 system, whole genome sequencing, RNA sequencing, and high-density single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping, aid the development of resistant breeds, which would significantly decrease the use of antibiotics and vaccination in poultry. In this review, we aimed to reveal the recent genetic basis of infection and genomic modification that increase resistance against different pathogens in chickens.

The Chicken A and E Blood Systems Arise from Genetic Variation in and around the Regulators of Complement Activation Region

The tightly linked A and E blood alloantigen systems are 2 of 13 blood systems identified in chickens. Reported herein are studies showing that the genes encoding A and E alloantigens map within or near to the chicken regulator of complement activation (RCA) gene cluster, a region syntenic with the human RCA. Genome-wide association studies, sequence analysis, and sequence-derived single-nucleotide polymorphism information for known A and/or E system alleles show that the most likely candidate gene for the A blood system is C4BPM gene (complement component 4 binding protein, membrane). Cosegregation of single-nucleotide polymorphism–defined C4BPM haplotypes and blood system A alleles defined by alloantisera provide a link between chicken blood system A and C4BPM. The best match for the E blood system is the avian equivalent of FCAMR (Fc fragment of IgA and IgM receptor). C4BPM is located within the chicken RCA on chicken microchromosome 26 and is separated from FCAMR by 89 kbp. The genetic variation observed at C4BPM and FCAMR could affect the chicken complement system and differentially guide immune responses to infectious diseases.

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma and a novel gammaherpesvirus in northern elephant seals Mirounga angustirostris

Two emaciated male northern elephant seal (NES) Mirounga angustirostris pups were admitted to The Marine Mammal Center (Sausalito, California, USA) and treated for malnutrition. Complete blood counts showed a progressive moderate to marked leukocytosis characterized by a predominance of large monomorphic mononuclear cells of probable lymphoid origin, frequently with flower-shaped nuclei. Both seals were euthanized due to suspected lymphoid neoplasia. At necropsy, most lymph nodes in both pups were markedly enlarged, some with distinct white nodules, the spleens were diffusely enlarged, and the intestinal mucosae were thickened. Histopathologic features consistent with disseminated large cell lymphoma were identified to varying degrees of severity in lymph nodes, bone marrow, liver, tonsils, spleen, liver, intestines, kidneys, lower urinary tract, and several other organs. Immunohistochemical staining of neoplastic cells was most consistent with B lymphocyte origin, with most cells staining positively for Pax 5 and CD20 with admixed small CD3-positive T lymphocytes and CD204-positive macrophages. PCR and sequencing identified a novel gammaherpesvirus, herein called miroungine gammaherpesvirus 3, from affected tissues. This virus is in a clade outside of named genera that utilize hosts in the suborder Caniformia. The present study is the first description of diffuse large B cell lymphoma with leukemic manifestation and concomitant detection of a novel gammaherpesvirus in free-living NESs. Further research regarding the prevalence of this new gammaherpesvirus and its associated pathogenesis in this species is indicated.

Comparison of Marek's disease virus challenge strains and bird types for vaccine licensing

Marek's disease virus (MDV) is an important poultry pathogen which is controlled through widespread vaccination with avirulent and attenuated strains, but continued evolution of field viruses to higher virulence has required ongoing improvement of available vaccine strains, and these vaccine strains also offer an attractive platform for designing recombinant vector vaccines with cross-protection against MDV and additional pathogens.  Recent reports of failures in vaccine licensing trials of positive controls to reach appropriately high levels of MD incidence prompted us to evaluate possible combinations of outbred specific pathogen-free (SPF) layer lines and alternative virulent challenge strains which could provide more consistent models for serotype-3 vectored vaccine development.  Choice of layer line and virulent MDV challenge strain each contributed to the ability of a challenge model to reach 80 percent virulence in unvaccinated positive control groups in the majority of trials without overwhelming serotype-3 vectored vaccine protection in vaccinated groups.  Conversely, reducing challenge virus dose by a factor of four, or vaccine dose by half, had no consistent effect across these models.  Although MDV strain 617A had the most potential as an alternative to strains that are currently approved for licensing trials, no combination of layer line and challenge virus consistently met the goals for a successful challenge model in all study replicates, indicating that high variability is an inherent difficulty in MDV challenge studies, at least when outbred birds are used.