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Published on: January 27, 2021
MicroRNA expression profile of chicken cecum in different stages during Histomonas meleagridis infection
Yu-Ming Zhang1,2, Qiao-Guang Chen1,2, Chen Chen1,2
1College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, 225009, People's Republic of China.
Background:
Histomonas meleagridis is an anaerobic, intercellular parasite, which infects gallinaceous birds such as turkeys and chickens. In recent years, the reemergence of Histomoniasis has caused serious economic losses as drugs to treat the disease have been banned. At present, H. meleagridis research focuses on virulence, gene expression analysis, and the innate immunity of the host. However, there are no studies on the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) associated with the host inflammatory and immune responses induced by H. meleagridis. In this research, high-throughput sequencing was used to analyze the expression profile of cecum miRNA at 10 and 15 days post-infection (DPI) in chickens infected with Chinese JSYZ-F strain H. meleagridis.
Results:
Compared with the controls, 94 and 127 DEMs were found in cecum of infected chickens at 10 DPI (CE vs CC) and 15 DPI (CEH vs CCH), respectively, of which 60 DEMs were shared at two-time points. Gene Ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis of the target genes of DEMs indicated that 881 and 1027 GO terms were significantly enriched at 10 and 15 DPI, respectively. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG, www.kegg.jp/kegg/kegg1.html ) pathway enrichment analysis of the target genes of DEMs demonstrated that 5 and 3 KEGG pathways were significantly enriched at 10 and 15 DPI, respectively. For previous uses, the Kanehisa laboratory have happily provided permission. The integrated analysis of miRNA-gene network revealed that the DEMs played important roles in the host inflammatory and immune responses to H. meleagridis infection by dynamically regulating expression levels of inflammation and immune-related cytokines.
Conclusion:
This article not only suggested that host miRNA expression was dynamically altered by H. meleagridis and host but also revealed differences in the regulation of T cell involved in host responses to different times H. meleagridis infection.
Insights
This study identifies differentially expressed microRNAs (DEMs) in chickens infected with Histomonas meleagridis, revealing their crucial role in regulating host immune and inflammatory responses over time. These findings offer new insights into combating Histomoniasis in poultry.
Area of Science:
- Poultry immunology
- Molecular parasitology
- Gene expression analysis
Background:
- Histomonas meleagridis causes Histomoniasis, leading to significant economic losses in poultry due to drug bans.
- Current research focuses on virulence and host immunity, but the role of microRNAs in host response is unexplored.
- This study investigates differentially expressed microRNAs (DEMs) in chicken ceca post-H. meleagridis infection.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the expression profile of cecum microRNAs in chickens infected with H. meleagridis.
- To identify differentially expressed microRNAs (DEMs) associated with host inflammatory and immune responses.
- To understand the dynamic changes in miRNA regulation during H. meleagridis infection.
Main Methods:
- High-throughput sequencing of chicken cecum miRNA.
- Analysis of miRNA expression at 10 and 15 days post-infection (DPI).
- Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis of target genes.
- miRNA-gene network integration.
Main Results:
- Identified 94 and 127 DEMs at 10 and 15 DPI, respectively, with 60 shared DEMs.
- Significant enrichment of 881 and 1027 GO terms and 5 and 3 KEGG pathways at 10 and 15 DPI.
- DEMs dynamically regulate inflammation and immune-related cytokines, impacting host responses.
Conclusions:
- Host miRNA expression is dynamically altered by H. meleagridis infection.
- DEMs play a key role in modulating host inflammatory and immune responses.
- Differences in T cell regulation are observed at different infection time points.
