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Submitted to: Agricultural Experiment Station Publication
Publication Type: Experiment Station Publication Acceptance Date: 1/27/2006 Publication Date: 2/3/2006 Citation: Lunney, J.K. 2006. BARC-2005 swine station report for national animal genome research program (nrsp8). Agricultural Experiment Station Publication. Available: http://www.animalgenome.org/community/NRSP8/2005/index.html Interpretive Summary: The BARC lab participates in the National Animal Genome Research Program (NRSP8). This program has as its first objective: Develop high resolution comparative genome maps aligned across species that link agricultural animal maps. With an international group of scientists we helped established new nomenclature to classify the swine major histocompatibility complex genes, termed swine leukocyte antigens or SLA. An internationally recognized nomenclature for SLA class I and SLA class II gene polymorphisms was established and published in 2005. For the second NRSP8 objective: Increase marker density of existing linkage maps used in QTL mapping and integrate them with physical maps of animal chromosomes, our lab assessed immune gene expression during infectious disease. The lab worked on the most economically important swine disease, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS). We first identified key regulators of protective immune mechanisms against PRRS virus infection. Next, genetic mapping studies of PRRS resistance were pursued with Univ. Nebraska scientists. Those studies revealed that levels of some immune genes may determine whether pigs will effectively limit virus replication after infection with PRRSV. Our research highlighted two proteins, interleukin-8 (IL8) and interferon-gamma (IFNG), in serum as potential targets for future studies of genetic association for PRRS resistance. Finally, comparison of two methods of gene expression studies, real-time expression and microarrays; provided basic confirmation of utility of swine arrays as important tools for expanding pig gene expression studies. Technical Abstract: This station report summarizes the BARC lab’s recent swine research progress on the National Animal Genome Research Program (NRSP8). For the first objective, Develop high resolution comparative genome maps aligned across species that link agricultural animal maps, established internationally recognized nomenclature to identify and classify SLA class I and SLA class II gene polymorphisms. For the second objective, Increase marker density of existing linkage maps used in QTL mapping and integrate them with physical maps of animal chromosomes, assessed immune gene expression. First identified key regulators of protective immune mechanisms against Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection. Next, results of genetic studies with Univ. Nebraska scientists have revealed that levels of some immune genes may determine whether pigs will effectively limit virus replication after infection with PRRSV, highlighting interleukin-8 (IL8) and interferon-gamma (IFNG) in serum as potential targets for future studies of genetic association for PRRS resistance. Finally, compared real-time expression data with microarray data; provided basic confirmation of utility of swine arrays as important tools for pig gene expression studies |
