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Submitted to: Agricultural Experiment Station Publication
Publication Type: Experiment Station Publication Acceptance Date: 7/12/2007 Publication Date: 7/30/2007 Citation: Lunney, J.K. Barc 2006 station report for nc-1004 national project on genetic and functional genomic approaches to improve production and quality of pork. Agricultural Experiment Station Publication.2007 BARC Exp. Station report. Interpretive Summary: The BARC lab participates in NC-1004 national project that assesses “Genetic and Functional Genomic Approaches to Improve Production and Quality of Pork.” This program has as its second objective: Discover genetic mechanisms controlling animal health in pork production. The lab worked on the most economically important swine disease, Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) and worked to identify key regulators of protective immune responses against PRRS virus infection that might be associated with decreased disease associated weight problems and virus persistence. Genetic mapping studies of PRRS resistance pursued with Univ. Nebraska scientists revealed that levels of some immune genes may predict whether pigs will effectively limit virus replication after infection with PRRS virus. Our research highlighted two proteins, interleukin-8 and interferon-gamma, in serum as potential targets for future studies of genetic association for PRRS resistance. Such information will enable producers to decrease breeding of PRRS susceptible pigs, and select for PRRS resistant stock. 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: The NC-1004 national project assesses “Genetic and Functional Genomic Approaches to Improve Production and Quality of Pork.” This final NC-1004 station report summarizes the BARC lab’s recent research progress on the second objective: Discover genetic mechanisms controlling animal health in pork production. Gene expression analyses helped to identify key regulators of protective immune mechanisms against Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection. Tests on gene expression in tracheobronchial lymph node (TBLN) tissues from pigs harvested with persistent PRRSV infection have revealed no differences in immune gene expression levels in TBLN from pigs who had cleared their infection. Protein expression tests earlier in the infection are underway to ask whether early immune response differences might contribute to enabling clearance of the virus or maintaining normal weight after infection. Results of genetic studies with Univ. Nebraska scientists have revealed that levels of some immune proteins in serum, the innate cytokine interleukin-8 (IL8) and interferon-gamma (IFNG) may determine whether pigs will effectively limit virus replication after infection with PRRSV. These studies have highlighted targets for future studies of genetic association for PRRS resistance. Such information will enable producers to decrease breeding of PRRSV susceptible pigs, and select for PRRSV resistant stock. As part of a national effort compared RNA from 18 tissues for levels of marker expression with real-time and microarray data. This data should provide confirmation of the utility of the newly designed swine arrays as important tools for pig gene expression studies. |
