Polymorphism and haplotype structure in River Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) coding sequence.

Area of Science:

• Animal genomics
• Immunology
• Veterinary science

Background:

• River buffalo are vital livestock in Asia, used for food and labor.
• Understanding buffalo genetic diversity is crucial for improving animal health and productivity.
• The toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) gene plays a key role in the innate immune system by recognizing bacterial flagellin.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize sequence variability within the river buffalo toll-like receptor 5 (TLR5) gene.
• To identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and their potential impact on protein function.
• To compare the TLR5 protein domain structure across different buffalo species and related bovines.

Main Methods:

• Sequencing of the TLR5 gene coding region in river buffalo.
• Identification and analysis of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
• Haplotype analysis and prediction of protein domain structure using bioinformatics tools.

Main Results:

• Seventeen SNPs were identified in the river buffalo TLR5 gene, with seven being non-synonymous.
• Four distinct haplotypes were found in the studied river buffalo population.
• Comparative analysis revealed that river buffalo, swamp buffalo, and African Forest buffalo share similar TLR5 protein domain structures, distinct from cattle and American bison.
• PolyPhen 2 analysis indicated one amino acid substitution with potential functional significance in river buffalo.

Conclusions:

• The study provides valuable genetic information on the TLR5 gene in river buffalo.
• Identified SNPs and potential functional variants can contribute to marker-assisted selection for disease resistance.
• The comparative protein domain analysis sheds light on the evolutionary relationships of buffalo species concerning immune function.