ARS | Publication request: NRSP8:NATIONAL ANIMAL GENOME RESEARCH PRORAM. 2004 BARC EX. STATION REPORT.

Submitted to: Agricultural Experiment Station Publication
Publication Type: Experiment Station
Publication Acceptance Date: March 25, 2005
Publication Date: January 15, 2005
Citation: Lunney, J.K. 2005. Nrsp8:national animal genome research program. 2004 barc ex. station report. Agricultural Experiment Station Publication. http://www.animalgenome.org/community/NRSP8/2004/index.html

Technical Abstract: BARC scientists and members of the international SLA nomenclature committee developed new molecular nomenclature and phylogenies for swine Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) or Swine Leukocyte Antigen (SLA) class I and class II genes and haplotypes. Data is now displayed on the international IPD-MHC Sequence Database website: www.ebi.ac.uk/ipd/mhc/sla/nomenclature.html. The BARC team of scientists have expanded real-time expression assays for panels of immune markers known to control vaccine and disease immunity (>350 genes have been targeted with real-time assays now available for >200 genes). Swine responses to infections with the intracellular protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii or to vaccination for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) were probed. Our data indicated that the slow and weak development of innate immunity to PRRSV may help set the tone for a weak interferon-gamma cytokine response, thus enabling this virus to persist in infected pigs. Genetic studies, to determine whether pigs which are genetically resistant to PRRSV infection can be identified, are currently underway with scientists at Univ. Nebraska-Lincoln. Tests to determine differences in immune gene expression with lung and bronchial lymph node samples from these pigs have begun. These gene expression studies will provide a means to study function of immune genes in normal breeding populations to identify early responders which might be more disease resistant/susceptible. New work in PRRSV resistance may help identify pigs which are more disease resistant and determine the protective mechanisms they employ to induce resistance.