Comparative Genomics of the Waterfowl Innate Immune System
(2022) In Molecular biology and evolution 39(8).- Abstract
Animal species differ considerably in their ability to fight off infections. Finding the genetic basis of these differences is not easy, as the immune response is comprised of a complex network of proteins that interact with one another to defend the body against infection. Here, we used population- and comparative genomics to study the evolutionary forces acting on the innate immune system in natural hosts of the avian influenza virus (AIV). For this purpose, we used a combination of hybrid capture, next- generation sequencing and published genomes to examine genetic diversity, divergence, and signatures of selection in 127 innate immune genes at a micro- and macroevolutionary time scale in 26 species of waterfowl. We show across... (More)
Animal species differ considerably in their ability to fight off infections. Finding the genetic basis of these differences is not easy, as the immune response is comprised of a complex network of proteins that interact with one another to defend the body against infection. Here, we used population- and comparative genomics to study the evolutionary forces acting on the innate immune system in natural hosts of the avian influenza virus (AIV). For this purpose, we used a combination of hybrid capture, next- generation sequencing and published genomes to examine genetic diversity, divergence, and signatures of selection in 127 innate immune genes at a micro- and macroevolutionary time scale in 26 species of waterfowl. We show across multiple immune pathways (AIV-, toll-like-, and RIG-I -like receptors signalling pathways) that genes involved genes in pathogen detection (i.e., toll-like receptors) and direct pathogen inhibition (i.e., antimicrobial peptides and interferon-stimulated genes), as well as host proteins targeted by viral antagonist proteins (i.e., mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein, [MAVS]) are more likely to be polymorphic, genetically divergent, and under positive selection than other innate immune genes. Our results demonstrate that selective forces vary across innate immune signaling signalling pathways in waterfowl, and we present candidate genes that may contribute to differences in susceptibility and resistance to infectious diseases in wild birds, and that may be manipulated by viruses. Our findings improve our understanding of the interplay between host genetics and pathogens, and offer the opportunity for new insights into pathogenesis and potential drug targets.
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- author
- Jax, Elinor ; Franchini, Paolo ; Sekar, Vaishnovi ; Ottenburghs, Jente ; Monné Parera, Daniel ; Kellenberger, Roman T. ; Magor, Katharine E. ; Müller, Inge ; Wikelski, Martin and Kraus, Robert H.S.
- publishing date
- 2022-08-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Anatidae, DNA polymorphism, genetic divergence, mallard, natural selection
- in
- Molecular biology and evolution
- volume
- 39
- issue
- 8
- article number
- msac160
- publisher
- Oxford University Press
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85135598334
- pmid:35880574
- ISSN
- 0737-4038
- DOI
- 10.1093/molbev/msac160
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- additional info
- Publisher Copyright: © 2022 The Author(s). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Society for Molecular Biology and Evolution.
- id
- f5ec7d97-35b3-4ee6-b95b-74abdd9afdc6
- date added to LUP
- 2022-10-11 12:55:10
- date last changed
- 2024-06-13 15:15:58
@article{f5ec7d97-35b3-4ee6-b95b-74abdd9afdc6,
abstract = {{<p>Animal species differ considerably in their ability to fight off infections. Finding the genetic basis of these differences is not easy, as the immune response is comprised of a complex network of proteins that interact with one another to defend the body against infection. Here, we used population- and comparative genomics to study the evolutionary forces acting on the innate immune system in natural hosts of the avian influenza virus (AIV). For this purpose, we used a combination of hybrid capture, next- generation sequencing and published genomes to examine genetic diversity, divergence, and signatures of selection in 127 innate immune genes at a micro- and macroevolutionary time scale in 26 species of waterfowl. We show across multiple immune pathways (AIV-, toll-like-, and RIG-I -like receptors signalling pathways) that genes involved genes in pathogen detection (i.e., toll-like receptors) and direct pathogen inhibition (i.e., antimicrobial peptides and interferon-stimulated genes), as well as host proteins targeted by viral antagonist proteins (i.e., mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein, [MAVS]) are more likely to be polymorphic, genetically divergent, and under positive selection than other innate immune genes. Our results demonstrate that selective forces vary across innate immune signaling signalling pathways in waterfowl, and we present candidate genes that may contribute to differences in susceptibility and resistance to infectious diseases in wild birds, and that may be manipulated by viruses. Our findings improve our understanding of the interplay between host genetics and pathogens, and offer the opportunity for new insights into pathogenesis and potential drug targets. </p>}},
author = {{Jax, Elinor and Franchini, Paolo and Sekar, Vaishnovi and Ottenburghs, Jente and Monné Parera, Daniel and Kellenberger, Roman T. and Magor, Katharine E. and Müller, Inge and Wikelski, Martin and Kraus, Robert H.S.}},
issn = {{0737-4038}},
keywords = {{Anatidae; DNA polymorphism; genetic divergence; mallard; natural selection}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{08}},
number = {{8}},
publisher = {{Oxford University Press}},
series = {{Molecular biology and evolution}},
title = {{Comparative Genomics of the Waterfowl Innate Immune System}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/molbev/msac160}},
doi = {{10.1093/molbev/msac160}},
volume = {{39}},
year = {{2022}},
}