Bison PRNP genotyping and potential association with Brucella spp. seroprevalence.
The implication that host cellular prion protein (PrP(C)) may function as a cell surface receptor and/or portal protein for Brucella abortus in mice prompted an evaluation of nucleotide and amino acid variation within exon 3 of the prion protein gene (PRNP) for six US bison populations. A non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (T50C), resulting in the predicted amino acid replacement M17T (Met --> Thr), was identified in each population. To date, no variation (T50; Met) has been detected at the corresponding exon 3 nucleotide and/or amino acid position for domestic cattle. Notably, 80% (20 of 25) of the Yellowstone National Park bison possessing the C/C genotype were Brucella spp. seropositive, representing a significant (P = 0.021) association between seropositivity and the C/C genotypic class. Moreover, significant differences in the distribution of PRNP exon 3 alleles and genotypes were detected between Yellowstone National Park bison and three bison populations that were either founded from seronegative stock or previously subjected to test-and-slaughter management to eradicate brucellosis. Unlike domestic cattle, no indel polymorphisms were detected within the corresponding regions of the putative bison PRNP promoter, intron 1, octapeptide repeat region or 3'-untranslated region for any population examined. This study provides the first evidence of a potential association between nucleotide variation within PRNP exon 3 and the presence of Brucella spp. antibodies in bison, implicating PrP(C) in the natural resistance of bison to brucellosis infection.
Seabury
C M
CM
Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4467, USA.
Halbert
N D
ND
Gogan
P J P
PJ
Templeton
J W
JW
Derr
J N
JN
D000367:Age Factors; D000682:Amyloid / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D016164:Bison / Q000235:genetics*; D002002:Brucella / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D005843:Geography; D008297:Male; D011328:Prions; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D014481:United States
D000682:Amyloid; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D011328:Prions; D011498:Protein Precursors