title: Variation in the Ovine Abomasal Lymph Node Transcriptome between Breeds Known to Differ in Resistance to the Gastrointestinal Nematode.
abstract: Texel lambs are known to be more resistant to gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) infection than Suffolk lambs, with a greater ability to limit infection. The objectives of this study were to: 1) profile the whole transcriptome of abomasal lymph node tissue of GIN-free Texel and Suffolk lambs; 2) identify differentially expressed genes and characterize the immune-related biological pathways and networks associated with these genes. Abomasal lymph nodes were collected from Texel (n = 6) and Suffolk (n = 4) lambs aged 19 weeks that had been GIN-free since 6 weeks of age. Whole transcriptome profiling was performed using RNA-seq on the Illumina platform. At the time of conducting this study, a well annotated Ovine genome was not available and hence the sequence reads were aligned with the Bovine (UMD3.1) genome. Identification of differentially expressed genes was followed by pathway and network analysis. The Suffolk breed accounted for significantly more of the differentially expressed genes, (276 more highly expressed in Suffolk v 162 in Texel; P < 0.001). The four most significant differentially expressed pathways were all related to immunity and were classified as: Role of Pattern Recognition Receptors in Recognition of Bacteria and Viruses, Activation of IRF by Cytosolic Pattern Recognition Receptors, Role of RIG-I-like Receptors in Antiviral Innate Immunity, and Interferon Signaling. Of significance is the fact that all of these four pathways were more highly expressed in the Suffolk. These data suggest that in a GIN-free environment, Suffolk lambs have a more active immune profile relative to the Texel: this immune profile may contribute to the poorer efficiency of response to a GIN challenge in the Suffolk breed compared to the Texel breed.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland; Teagasc Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Albin M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: Teagasc Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Good
authors.affiliation: Teagasc Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Athenry, Co. Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Hanrahan
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McGettigan
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Browne
authors.affiliation: Teagasc Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, Co. Meath, Ireland.
authors.forename: Orla M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Keane
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: Bojlul
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bahar
authors.affiliation: UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: Jai
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: Bryan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Markey
authors.affiliation: UCD Conway Institute of Biomolecular and Biomedical Research, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lohan
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
authors.forename: Torres
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sweeney
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009348:Nematoda / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D009349:Nematode Infections / Q000235:genetics* / Q000469:parasitology*; D012756:Sheep; D012757:Sheep Diseases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000469:parasitology; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000235:genetics