MicroRNA Expression Profile in Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes of Sheep Vaccinated with Nigeria 75/1 Peste Des Petits Ruminants Virus

An Outlook on the Etiopathogenesis of Pulmonary Hypertension in HIV

Although overall survival rates of patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have been significantly improved by antiretroviral therapy (ART), chronic comorbidities associated with HIV result in a worsening quality of life. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is the most prevalent comorbidity associated with HIV infection. Despite low viremia and a non-replicative state maintained by ART, few people develop PAH. Previous data from animal models and human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMVECs) suggests a constellation of events occurring during the propagation of HIV-associated PAH (HIV-PAH). However, these studies have not successfully isolated HIV virions, HIV-DNA, protein 24 antigen (p24), or HIV-RNA from the pulmonary endothelial cells (ECs). It provides an insight into an ongoing inflammatory process that could be attributed to viral proteins. Several studies have demonstrated the role of viral proteins on vascular remodeling. A composite of chronic inflammatory changes mediated by cytokines and growth factors along with several inciting risk factors such as Hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection, genetic factors, male predominance, illegal drug usage, and duration of HIV infection have led to molecular changes that result in an initial phase of apoptosis followed by the formation of apoptotic resistant hyperproliferative ECs with altered phenotype. This study aims to identify the risk factors and mechanisms behind HIV-PAH pathobiology at the host-pathogen interface at the intracellular level.

Apoptosis versus survival of African horse sickness virus serotype 4-infected horse peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Expanding on our previous work, this study used transcriptome analysis of RNA sequences to investigate the various factors that contributed to either inducing apoptosis that resulted in cell death or promoting the survival of African horse sickness virus serotype 4 (AHSV4)-infected horse peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after 24 h. Apoptosis is a host defense mechanism that prevents virus replication, accumulation and spread of progeny viruses. AHSV4-infected PBMC were killed via the intrinsic and the perforin/granzyme pathways of apoptosis during the attenuated AHSV4 (attAHSV4) in vivo primary and secondary immune responses. Trained innate immunity played an important role in circumventing viral interference that resulted in the elimination of AHSV4-infected PBMC through the intrinsic and the extrinsic pathways of apoptosis during the virulent AHSV4 (virAHSV4) in vitro secondary immune response. Oxidative stress in conjunction with IRE1α pro-apoptotic signaling played a major role in the induction of the intrinsic pathway of apoptosis and cytotoxic lymphocytes induced the perforin/granzyme or extrinsic pathways of apoptosis. In contrast, AHSV4-infected PBMC survived during the virAHSV4 in vitro primary immune response, which allows unrestrained viral replication. The virAHSV4 interference with the innate immune response resulted in impaired NK cell responses and delayed immune responses, which together with the antioxidant defense system promoted AHSV4-infected PBMC survival.

Photoperiods induced the circRNA differential expression in the thyroid gland of OVX+E2 ewes

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are non-coding RNAs newly identified and play important roles in RNA regulation. However, little is known regarding photoperiods induced circRNAs in the thyroid gland. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of circRNA profiles in the thyroid gland of OVX+E₂ ewes at different photoperiods by whole transcriptome sequencing. A total of 37,470 novel circRNAs were detected in different photoperiods (42 days of short photoperiod treatment, SP42; 42 days of long photoperiod treatment, LP42; SP42 transfer to LP42, SPLP42), with a total of 817 circRNAs for SP42-LP42 (down: 132; up: 114), LP42-SPLP42 (down: 136; up: 112) and SP42-SPLP42 (down: 182; up: 141) having differentially expressed. Functional enrichment annotation analysis of DE-circRNAs for GO and KEGG by R package, features that influence photoperiod response in Sunite ewes through the Inositol phosphate metabolism, cGMP-PKG signaling pathway, Calcium signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, and Oocyte meiosis. In addition, competitive endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network analysis revealed target binding sites for identified miRNAs in DE-cirRNAs such as oar-miR-10b, oar-miR-200c, oar-miR-21, oar-miR-370-3p, oar-miR-377-3p, oar-miR-181a, oar-miR-432, and oar-miR-495-3p. These results of this study will provide some new information for understanding circRNA function as well as the changes in the sheep thyroid gland under different photoperiods.

miRNA Regulatory Functions in Farm Animal Diseases, and Biomarker Potentials for Effective Therapies

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally by targeting either the 3′ untranslated or coding regions of genes. They have been reported to play key roles in a wide range of biological processes. The recent remarkable developments of transcriptomics technologies, especially next-generation sequencing technologies and advanced bioinformatics tools, allow more in-depth exploration of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including miRNAs. These technologies have offered great opportunities for a deeper exploration of miRNA involvement in farm animal diseases, as well as livestock productivity and welfare. In this review, we provide an overview of the current knowledge of miRNA roles in major farm animal diseases with a particular focus on diseases of economic importance. In addition, we discuss the steps and future perspectives of using miRNAs as biomarkers and molecular therapy for livestock disease management as well as the challenges and opportunities for understanding the regulatory mechanisms of miRNAs related to disease pathogenesis.