Comparative transcriptome analysis reveals genes related to the yolk ratio of duck eggs
ANIMAL GENETICS
Authors: Du, X.; Ren, J. D.; Xu, X. Q.; Chen, G. H.; Huang, Y.; Du, J. P.; Tao, Z. R.; Cai, Z. X.; Lu, L. Z.; Yang, H.
Abstract
Yolk ratio is an important production index in the salted duck egg industry. Yolk constituents are deposited during development of follicles. However, the molecular mechanism responsible for different yolk ratios in laying ducks remains elusive. In this study, Shaoxing ducks laying eggs with different yolk ratios were chosen for an analysis of liver and ovary transcriptome information. Twelve libraries were constructed and generated an average of 58.5 million clean reads per library, of which 69% of clean reads from liver and 65% of clean reads from ovary were mapped to a reference genome. Between cross-phenotype groups, a total of 250 and 230 differently expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in liver and ovary respectively, of which 101 and 50 DEGs respectively were characterized. Several DEGs were detected, among which HMGCS1, HMGCR, FDFT1, (DHCR7), (STARD4), CYP46A1 and LPIN3 are involved in cholesterol metabolism-related pathways; KIAA0319, STARD4, AP1S3, SH3GL2 and CAV2 are involved in vesicular transport in the liver; and ELOVL2 and PSD2 are involved in fatty acid elongation and endocytosis in the ovary. High yolk-ratio ducks had higher activity for cholesterol synthesis and molecular trafficking. The identification of candidate genes greatly advances the understanding of the genetic basis of the formation of different yolk ratios.
A canine adenovirus type 2 vaccine vector confers protection against foot-and-mouth disease in guinea pigs
VACCINE
Authors: De Vleeschauwer, Annebel R.; Zhou, Xiaocui; Lefebvre, David J.; Gamier, Annabelle; Watier, Fleur; Pignon, Charly; Lacour, Sandrine A.; Zientara, Stephan; Bakkali-Kassimi, Labib; De Clercq, Kris; Klonjkowski, Bernard
Abstract
Vaccination is a key element in the control of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). The majority of the antigenic sites that induce protective immune responses are localized on the FMD virus (FMDV) capsid that is formed by four virus-encoded structural proteins, VP1 to VP4. In the present study, recombinant canine adenovirus type 2 (CAV2)-based FMD vaccines, Cav-Pl/3C R degrees and Cav-VP1 R degrees, respectively expressing the structural P1 precursor protein along with the non-structural 3C protein or expressing the structural VP1 protein of the FMDV strain O/FRA/1/2001, were evaluated as novel vaccines against FMD. A strong humoral immune response was elicited in guinea pigs (GP) following immunization with Cav-P1/3C R, while administration of Cav-VP1 R degrees did not induce a satisfying antibody response in GP or mice. GP were then used as an experimental model for the determination of the protection afforded by the Cav/P1 R degrees vaccine against challenge with the FMDV strain O-1 Manisa/Turkey/1969. The Cav-P1/3C R vaccine protected GP from generalized FMD to a similar extent as a high potency double-oil emulsion O-1 Manisa vaccine. The results of the present study show that CAV2-based vector vaccines can express immunogenic FMDV antigens and offer protection against generalized FMD in GP. This suggest that Cav-P1 R FMDV vaccine may protect natural host species from FMD. In combination with an appropriate diagnostic test, the Cav-P1 R degrees FMDV vaccine may also serve as a marker vaccine to differentiate vaccinated from infected animals. (C) 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.