title: Enrichment and verification of differentially expressed miRNAs in bursa of Fabricius in two breeds of duck.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The bursa of Fabricius (BF) is a central humoral immune organ belonging specifically to avians. Recent studies had suggested that miRNAs were active regulators involved in the immune processes. This study was to investigate the possible differences of the BF at miRNA level between two genetically disparate duck breeds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using Illumina next-generation sequencing, the miRNAs libraries of ducks were established.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that there were 66 differentially expressed miRNAs and 28 novel miRNAs in bursa. A set of abundant miRNAs (i.e.,let-7,miR-146a-5p,miR-21-5p,miR-17~92) which are involved in immunity and disease were detected and the predicted target genes of the novel miRNAs were associated with duck high anti-adversity ability. By gene ontology analysis and enriching KEGG pathway, the targets of differential expressed miRNAs were mainly involved in immunity and disease, supporting that there were differences in the BF immune functions between the two duck breeds. In addition, the metabolic pathway had the maximum enriched target genes and some enriched pathways that were related to cell cycle, protein synthesis, cell proliferation and apoptosis. It indicted that the difference of metabolism may be one of the reasons leading the immune difference between the BF of two duck breeds.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This data lists the main differences in the BF at miRNAs level between two genetically disparate duck breeds and lays a foundation to carry out molecular assisted breeding of poultry in the future.
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China.
authors.forename: Junying
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China.
authors.forename: Hehe
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China.
authors.forename: Jiwen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China.
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, Chengdu 611130, China.
authors.forename: Chunchun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Han
keywords: Bursa of Fabricius; Duck; Gene Ontology; Genetically Disparate Breeds; KEGG; MiRNAs