ARS | Publication request: SNP identification, genetic mapping and tissue expression of the rainbow trout TLR9 gene

Submitted to: Animal Genetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: April 27, 2009
Publication Date: June 8, 2009
Citation: Kongchum, P., Rexroad Iii, C.E., Hallerman, E., David, L., Palti, Y. 2009. SNP identification, genetic mapping and tissue expression of the rainbow trout TLR9 gene. Animal Genetics. 40:1001.

Interpretive Summary: The U.S. salmonid aquaculture industry suffers severe economic loss to diseases. Every year, viral and bacterial epidemics in farmed Atlantic salmon and rainbow trout have resulted in production losses accounting for millions of dollars of lost revenue. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a family of transmembrane proteins that recognize conserved pathogen structures to induce innate immune effector molecules. In vertebrates, TLRs can distinguish among classes of pathogens and serve an important role in orchestrating the appropriate adaptive immune responses. We obtained detailed mapping and gene annotation information for the TLR genes in rainbow trout through the development of genetic markers for the different TLR genes. These will prove useful as tools for genetic improvement of disease resistance in rainbow trout and other salmonids.

Technical Abstract: Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in Toll-like receptor (TLR) genes have been reported to be associated with disease resistance in human and livestock. A number of TLR genes have been identified in rainbow trout including TLR2, TLR3, TLR5, TLR20, TLR22 and TLR23. The rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) TLR9 sequence was recently published; however, gene polymorphisms and mapping have not been reported to date. TLR9 is characterized by its ability to recognize CpG motifs present in bacterial genomes and DNA viruses.Therefore, TLR9 is an important candidate gene for disease resistance. In this report, we describe SNP identification, mapping, and tissue expression of the rainbow trout TLR9 (OmTLR9) gene.