ABSTRACT
The competences of the immune systems of the ancient pig breed Turopolje (T×T), German Landrace × Turopolje (L×T) and 'modern' pig breed German Landrace × Pietrain (L×P) were compared in this study. All pigs were immunized with a modified live vaccine against 'Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome' (PRRS) virus (Ingelvac PRRS MLV(®)) to simulate an infection. Antibody production against PRRS MLV was evaluated in serum. Elimination of the viral infectious fragments during the experimental period was monitored in serum, leukocytes and tonsils by RT-qPCR. Furthermore relevant immune marker genes were quantified either on gene expression level using RT-qPCR [toll like receptor (TLR) 7, TLR8, TRAF6, CD163, SIGLEC1, CD4, CD8, CD14, CD19, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), interleukin (IL) 1, IL2, IL6, IL12], and on protein level using ELISA [interleukin (IL)-1, IL-2, IL-6, and IL-12]. The three breeds showed individual inactivation efficiencies as a reaction to the PRRS MLV vaccination. T×T eliminated the virus in serum within 16 days, followed by L×T (28 days) and L×P (36 days). The antibody titers against PRRS MLV of L×T and L×P were significantly higher compared to T×T (p<0.05). The gene expression data and protein analysis of interleukins revealed that T×T reacted with a type 1 immune response. In contrast, the two other breeds (L×T and L×P) showed a type 2 immune response, which resulted in the higher synthesis of B-cells and an increased concentration of specific anti-PRRS MLV antibodies.
Subject(s)
Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome/immunology , Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome/prevention & control , Porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus/immunology , Sus scrofa/immunology , Viral Vaccines/immunology , Animals , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Antigens, CD/genetics , Breeding , Cytokines/genetics , Cytokines/metabolism , Female , Gene Expression , Germany , Immunocompetence/genetics , Lymphoid Tissue/immunology , Lymphoid Tissue/virology , Male , Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome/virology , Sialic Acid Binding Ig-like Lectin 1/genetics , Species Specificity , Sus scrofa/classification , Sus scrofa/genetics , Swine , Toll-Like Receptors/geneticsABSTRACT
The White Park Cattle (WPC) is an indigenous ancient breed from the British Isles which has a long-standing history in heroic sagas and documents. The WPC has retained many primitive traits, especially in their grazing behaviour and preferences. Altogether, the aura of this breed has led to much speculation surrounding its origin. In this study, we sequenced the mitogenomes from 27 WPC and three intronic fragments of genes from the Y chromosome of three bulls. We observed six novel mitogenomic lineages that have not been found in any other cattle breed so far. We found no evidence that the WPC is a descendant of a particular North or West European branch of aurochs. The WPC mitogenomes are grouped in the T3 cluster together with most other domestic breeds. Nevertheless, both molecular markers support the primitive position of the WPC within the taurine breeds.