Project description:We employed whole genome gene expression analysis to characterize the intestinal exposure to 5 closely related food contaminants belonging to the type B trichocene mycotoxins groups The few data available on fusarenon-X (FX) do no support derivation of health-based guidance values for this mycotoxin, although preliminary results suggest higher toxicity compared to other regulated trichothecenes. Using histo-morphological analysis and whole-transcriptome profiling, the present study was designed to get a global view of intestinal alterations induced by FX. The well-described trichothecene deoxynivalenol (DON) served as a benchmark. FX exposure induced more severe intestinal histological alterations compared to DON. Intestinal inflammation was the hallmark of the molecular toxicity of DON, but also of FX. The dose-response analysis for FX revealed that benchmark doses for up-regulation of key-inflammatory genes expression were 4 to 45-fold higher than the previously reported ones for DON. Transcriptome analysis revealed that both mycotoxins down-regulated PPAR and LXR-RXR signaling pathways controlling lipid metabolism. Interestingly, several pathways including VDR/RXR activation, ephrin receptor signaling, and GNRH signaling were specific to FX and thus, discriminate the intestinal transcriptomic fingerprint of the two mycotoxins. Altogether, these results demonstrate that FX induces a more potent intestinal inflammation than DON. This study also reveals specific FX-targeted pathways, indicating that the toxicity of DON cannot serve as a benchmark for FX, and that toxicity evaluation of each trichothecene should be conducted separately.
Project description:Large White and Meishan pigs were either non-treated or injected with mammalian 1-24 ACTH (Immediate Synachten, Novartis France) at the dose of 250 µg per animal. Pigs were sacrificed either immediately after capture from their home cage (non-treated animals) or 1 hour following ACTH injection. Adrenal glands were immediately collected from pigs and frozen on dry ice and then stored at -80°C until RNA isolation. Keywords: stress response, adrenal, gene expression, pig
Project description:BACKGROUND:In animal breeding, identification of causative genetic variants is of major importance and high economical value. Usually, the number of candidate variants exceeds the number of variants that can be validated. One way of prioritizing probable candidates is by evaluating their potential to have a deleterious effect, e.g. by predicting their consequence. Due to experimental difficulties to evaluate variants that do not cause an amino-acid substitution, other prioritization methods are needed. For human genomes, the prediction of deleterious genomic variants has taken a step forward with the introduction of the combined annotation dependent depletion (CADD) method. In theory, this approach can be applied to any species. Here, we present pCADD (p for pig), a model to score single nucleotide variants (SNVs) in pig genomes. RESULTS:To evaluate whether pCADD captures sites with biological meaning, we used transcripts from miRNAs and introns, sequences from genes that are specific for a particular tissue, and the different sites of codons, to test how well pCADD scores differentiate between functional and non-functional elements. Furthermore, we conducted an assessment of examples of non-coding and coding SNVs, which are causal for changes in phenotypes. Our results show that pCADD scores discriminate between functional and non-functional sequences and prioritize functional SNVs, and that pCADD is able to score the different positions in a codon relative to their redundancy. Taken together, these results indicate that based on pCADD scores, regions with biological relevance can be identified and distinguished according to their rate of adaptation. CONCLUSIONS:We present the ability of pCADD to prioritize SNVs in the pig genome with respect to their putative deleteriousness, in accordance to the biological significance of the region in which they are located. We created scores for all possible SNVs, coding and non-coding, for all autosomes and the X chromosome of the pig reference sequence Sscrofa11.1, proposing a toolbox to prioritize variants and evaluate sequences to highlight new sites of interest to explain biological functions that are relevant to animal breeding.
Project description:Regulatory Mechanisms of Atrial Remodeling of Mitral Regurgitation Pigs This study enrolled 6 pigs (age: 18 months) and divided into three groups: mitral regurgitation pigs (MR) (n = 2; 2 males sacrificed 12 months after surgery), MR pigs treated with valsartan (MRV) (n = 2; 2 males age-matched to MR sacrificed 12 months after surgery), and normal control pigs (NC) (n = 2; 2 males age-matched to MR pigs). Valsartan (3.43 mg/kg/day), a type I angiotensin II receptor blocker, was administered from one week before surgery and then daily after surgery in the MRV group. We sought to systemically elucidate critical differences in the alteration of RNA expression pattern between the atrial myocardium of pigs with and without MR, and between the atrial myocardium of MR pigs with and without valsartan using high-density oligonucleotide microarrays and functional network enrichment analysis.
Project description:Contrary to spontaneous yawning-an ancient phenomenon common to vertebrates-contagious yawning (elicited by others' yawns) has been found only in highly social species and may reflect an emotional inter-individual connection. We investigated yawn contagion in the domestic pig, Sus scrofa. Owing to the complex socio-emotional and cognitive abilities of Sus scrofa, we posited that yawn contagion could be present in this species (Prediction 1) and influenced by individual/social factors (Prediction 2). In June-November 2018, on 104 semi-free ranging adolescent/adult pigs, 224 videos were recorded for video analysis on yawning. Kinship information was refined via genetic analyses. Statistical elaboration was conducted via GLMMs and non-parametric/randomization/cross-tabulation tests. We found yawn contagion in Sus scrofa, as it was more likely that pigs yawned when perceiving rather than not perceiving (yawning/control condition) others' yawns (response peak in the first out of three minutes). Yawn contagion was more likely: (1) in response to males' yawns; (2) as the age increased; (3) within short distance (1 m); (4) between full siblings, with no significant association between kinship and distance. The influence of kinship suggests that-as also hypothesized for Homo sapiens-yawn contagion might be linked with emotional communication and possibly contagion.
Project description:Fecal samples (N = 10) from 6- to 8-week-old wild boar piglets (Sus scrofa), collected from an animal park in Hungary in April 2011, were analyzed using viral metagenomics and complete genome sequencing. Kobuvirus (genus Kobuvirus, family Picornaviridae) was detected in all (100 %) specimens, with the closest nucleotide (89 %) and amino acid (94 %) sequence identity of the strain wild boar/WB1-HUN/2011/HUN (JX177612) to the prototype porcine kobuvirus S-1-HUN (EU787450). This study suggests that genetically highly similar (practically the same geno-/serotype) porcine kobuvirus circulate in wild boars, the wildlife counterparts of domestic pigs. Wild boars could be an important host and reservoir for kobuvirus.
Project description:RNA polyadenylation is an important step in the messenger RNA (mRNA) maturation process, and the first step is recognizing the polyadenylation signal (PAS). The PAS type and distribution is a key determinant of post-transcriptional mRNA modification and gene expression. However, little is known about PAS usage and alternative polyadenylation (APA) regulation in livestock species. Recently, sequencing technology has enabled the generation of a large amount of sequencing data revealing variation in poly(A) signals and APA regulation in Sus scrofa. We identified 62,491 polyadenylation signals in Sus scrofa using expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences combined with RNA-seq analysis. The composition and usage frequency of polyadenylation signal in Sus scrofa is similar with that of human and mouse. The most highly conserved polyadenylation signals are AAUAAA and AUUAAA, used for over 63.35% of genes. In addition, we also analyzed the U/GU-rich downstream sequence (DSE) element, located downstream of the cleavage site. Our results indicate that APA regulation was widely occurred in Sus scrofa, as in other organisms. Our result was useful for the accurate annotation of RNA 3' ends in Sus scrofa and the analysis of polyadenylation signal usage in Sus scrofa would give the new insights into the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation.
Project description:Gene expression of characteristic chondrogenic markers and miRNA expression were analyzed in cells cultured in differentiation medium and significant differences were found between gelation/PRP microgels and those containing only pure gelatin. We used microarrays to detail the miRNA expression in studied cell cultures for identification the expression of miRNA and study the up- and down-regulated miRNA associated.