Project description:To investigate microRNAs (miRNAs) involving in the regulation of the schistosome development and survival, we compared miRNA expression profiles of adult Schistosoma japonicum derived from yellow cattle and water buffalo using high-throughput sequencing with Illumina Hiseq Xten.
Project description:Feed regimens have a pivotal role in modulating the transcriptional programs that, in turns, have an impact on many biological processes, including metabolism, health and development. Green feed diet in ruminant exerts a beneficial effect on rumen metabolism and enhances the content of health-promoting biomolecules in the milk. However, a comprehensive analysis focused to the identification of genes, and therefore, biological processes modulated by the green feed diet in buffalo rumen has never been reported so far. In this regard, to highlight the impact of the green feed diet on ruminal transcriptomic profiles, we performed RNA-sequencing in buffaloes fed a total mixed ratio (TMR) + the inclusion of 30% of ryegrass green feed (treated group) in comparison with buffaloes fed a dry TMR diet (control group).
Project description:Duplicated sequences are the important source of gene innovation and structural variation within mammalian genomes. Using a read depth approach based on next-generation sequencing, we performed a genome-wide analysis of segmental duplications (SDs) and associated copy number variants (CNVs) in water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Aligning to the UMD3.1 cattle genome, we estimated 44.6 Mb (~1.73% of cattle genome) segmental duplications in the autosomes and X chromosome using the sequencing reads of Olimpia (the sequenced water buffalo). 70.3% (70/101) duplications were experimentally validated using the fluorescent in situ hybridization. We also detected a total of 1344 CNV regions across 14 additional water buffalos as well as Olimpia, amounting to 59.8Mb of variable sequence or 2.2% of the cattle genome. The CNV regions overlap 1245 genes and are significantly enriched for specific biological functions such as immune response, oxygen transport, sensory system and signalling transduction. Additionally, we performed array Comparative Genomic Hybridization (aCGH) experiments using the 14 water buffalos as test samples and Olimpia as the reference. Using a linear regression model, significant and high Pearson correlations (r = 0.781) were observed between the digital aCGH values and aCGH probe log2 ratios. We further designed Quantitative PCR assays to confirm CNV regions within or near annotated genes and found 74.2% agreement with our CNV predictions.