Project Number: 1245-32000-098-14
Project Type: Reimbursable

Start Date: Oct 01, 2011
End Date: Sep 30, 2014

Objective:
This proposed Alberta Livestock Genomics Program project will build a Canadian component to the PRRS Host Genetics Consortium (PHGC) project. This involves Canadian researchers, laboratories and companies thereby adding significant value to the Canadian industry and providing a significant leverage of ALGP and Canadian company funding. The project addresses two of the ALGP research areas: 1. Genomics supported Expected Progeny Differences (EPD’s) for bovine or porcine (including potential marker validation studies), and 2. Genomics of livestock health. The three objectives of this project are: 1) Enhance the development of Genomic Estimated Breeding Values; 2) Enhance the planned transcriptome analysis by incorporating Next-gen sequencing technology; and 3) Enhance the proteomic analysis to increase the number of samples using high throughput immune assays developed by Dr. Lunney at USDA-ARS. The Cooperator has the expertise and infrastructure to effectively perform single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and Transcriptome Sequencing (RNA-seq) analyses and will collaborate on proteomic fluorescent microsphere immunoassays (FMIAs).

Approach:
ARS has led the PRRS Host Genetics Consortium (PHGC) Project, the goal of which is to identify genetic determinants of resistance/susceptibility of commercial swine to porcine respiratory and the reproductive syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection. Many of these studies have been performed with pigs from Canadian sources. This information will be used by both parties and members of the PHGC determine genetic alleles and gene and protein expression differences that are associated with PRRS resistance/susceptibility. The COOPERATOR will genotype PHGC DNAs and perform RNA-seq and FMIA analyses to identify genes and proteins that differentiate PRRS resistant from susceptible pigs.