Comparative genomic analysis of different virulence strains reveals reasons for the increased virulence of Aeromonas veronii

Aeromonas veronii is an important zoonotic and aquatic agent. More and more cases have shown that it has caused huge economic losses in the aquaculture industry in addition to threatening human health. But the reasons for the increasing virulence of A. veronii are still unclear. In order to further understand the reasons for the increased virulence of A. veronii, we conducted a comparative analysis of the genomes of A. veronii with different virulence. The analysis revealed that there are multiple virulence factors, such as those related to fimbriae, flagella, toxins, iron ion uptake systems and type II, type III and type VI secretion systems in the virulent strain TH0426 genome. And comparative analysis showed that there were two complete type III secretion systems (API1 and API2), of which the API2 and iron ion transport system were unique to the TH0426 strain. In addition, TH0426 strain also has unique functional gene clusters, which may play important roles in terms of resisting infection, adapting to different environments and genetic evolution. These particular virulence factors and gene clusters may be the important reasons for the increased virulence. These insights will provide a reference for the study of the pathogenesis of A. veronii.     

生物信息学在畜禽基因组研究中的应用

生物信息学已成为整个生命科学发展的重要组成部分，是生命科学研究的前沿领域。作者简述了畜禽基因组学和畜禽生物信息学的研究概况，着重阐述了生物信息学在畜禽基因组研究中的应用现状，并展望其发展前景。     

Agricultural Genomics: An Approach to Plant Protection

Genomics studies, focused on whole-genome analysis, have opened up a new era for biology in general, and for agriculture in particular. Along with the use of genetic plant models and the progress in sequencing agriculturally important organisms, the combination of bioinformatics and functional genomics globally enhances agricultural genomics. These studies are likely to pave the way towards better understanding of plant–pathogen biological networks, and eventually to lead to breakthroughs in the promotion of plant resistance to agricultural pests.     

猪等孢球虫研究进展

猪等孢球虫是一种能引起仔猪球虫病的专性寄生性原虫,可引起仔猪严重腹泻甚至死亡,其发病率可高达50%~75%,病死率高达75%,呈世界性流行,严重危害养猪业发展。目前对仔猪球虫病的防控主要以药物预防为主,随着耐药虫株的不断产生及公众对药物残留的高度关注,使得这一防控手段面临巨大挑战,新型抗猪球虫药物、疫苗及其他防控手段亟待研究开发。论文对猪等孢球虫的生活史、基因组学、免疫学及其与其他微生物的互作关系等方面进行综述,以期为仔猪球虫病的综合防控提供参考。     

Genetic parameters for milk fatty acids,milk yield and quality traits of a Holstein cattle population reared under tropical conditions

Information about genetic parameters is essential for selection decisions and genetic evaluation. These estimates are population specific; however, there are few studies with dairy cattle populations reared under tropical and sub‐tropical conditions. Thus, the aim was to obtain estimates of heritability and genetic correlations for milk yield and quality traits using pedigree and genomic information from a Holstein population maintained in a tropical environment. Phenotypic records (n = 36 457) of 4203 cows as well as the genotypes for 57 368 single nucleotide polymorphisms from 755 of these cows were used. Covariance components were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood method under a mixed animal model, considering a pedigree‐based relationship matrix or a combined pedigree‐genomic matrix. High heritabilities (around 0.30) were estimated for lactose and protein content in milk whereas moderate values (between 0.19 and 0.26) were obtained for percentages of fat, saturated fatty acids and palmitic acid in milk. Genetic correlations ranging from −0.38 to −0.13 were determined between milk yield and composition traits. The smaller estimates compared to other similar studies can be due to poor environmental conditions, which may reduce genetic variability. These results highlight the importance in using genetic parameters estimated in the population under evaluation for selection decisions.     

新的禾本科模式植物——二穗短柄草

水稻（Oryza sativa）是禾本科中目前唯一已完成基因组测序的模式植物,但由于它很早从冷季型禾本科中进化分离出来,故其作为禾本科其他亚科的模式植物有一定局限性,因此,需要一种新的、更适合的模式植物。二穗短柄草（Brachypodium distachyon）是一种温带禾草,归属禾本科早熟禾亚科短柄草族短柄草属,具有基因组小、株型小、自花授粉、一年生、生命周期短、有二倍体和一系列多倍体、易培植、易转化等诸多优点,尤其是与很多重要的谷类作物如小麦、大麦、燕麦、玉米、水稻、高梁等以及许多牧草与草坪草有较近的亲缘关系,因而是温带禾本科植物功能基因纽学以及生物能源作物（如柳枝稷）研究的理想模式植物,作者例举二穗短柄草之所以成为新模式植物系统的依据,并介绍其在遗传进化、基因组特点、功能基因组及形态特征等方面的研究进展。     

Identification of genomic alterations with clinical impact in canine splenic hemangiosarcoma

Canine hemangiosarcoma (HSA) is an aggressive cancer of endothelial cells with short survival times. Understanding the genomic landscape of HSA may aid in developing therapeutic strategies for dogs and may also inform therapies for the rare and aggressive human cancer angiosarcoma. The objectives of this study were to build a framework for leveraging real-world genomic and clinical data that could provide the foundation for precision medicine in veterinary oncology, and to determine the relationships between genomic and clinical features in canine splenic HSA. One hundred and nine dogs with primary splenic HSA treated by splenectomy that had tumour sequencing via the FidoCure® Precision Medicine Platform targeted sequencing panel were enrolled. Patient signalment, weight, metastasis at diagnosis and overall survival time were retrospectively evaluated. The incidence of genomic alterations in individual genes and their relationship to patient variables including outcome were assessed. Somatic mutations in TP53 (n = 44), NRAS (n = 20) and PIK3CA (n = 19) were most common. Survival was associated with presence of metastases at diagnosis and germline variants in SETD2 and NOTCH1. Age at diagnosis was associated with somatic NRAS mutations and breed. TP53 and PIK3CA somatic mutations were found in larger dogs, while germline SETD2 variants were found in smaller dogs. We identified both somatic mutations and germline variants associated with clinical variables including age, breed and overall survival. These genetic changes may be useful prognostic factors and provide insight into the genomic landscape of hemangiosarcoma.     

Evolution of ACCase-inhibitor resistance in Chloris virgata is conferred by a Trp2027Cys mutation in the herbicide target site

BACKGROUND

Chloris virgata is a troublesome weed in tropical regions. With the evolution of glyphosate resistance in key grass species, acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACCase) inhibitors have become a commonly used tool in soybean production areas in Brazil. We assessed if suspected resistant populations exhibited cross resistance to the different classes of ACCase inhibitors and investigated the resistance mechanisms in C. virgata.

RESULTS

Dose–response experiments revealed resistance to haloxyfop-methyl and pinoxaden, with 432- and 3-fold resistance, respectively, compared to susceptible populations. Due to the lack of genetic resources for C. virgata, we sequenced, assembled, and annotated the genome using short-read Illumina technology. The k-mer analysis estimated a genome size of approximately 336 Mbp, with BUSCO completeness of 97%, and over 36 000 gene models were annotated. We examined if ACCase copy number variation and increased gene expression were involved in the resistance phenotype and found no difference when compared to a susceptible population. A mutation was detected in ACCase that encodes for amino acid position 2027, resulting in a tryptophan-to-cysteine (Trp2027Cys) substitution. We found the resistant population absorbed 11.4% less herbicide and retained 21% more herbicide on the treated leaf compared to the susceptible population. We developed a genotyping assay targeting the resistance-endowing Trp2027Cys substitution for quick resistance diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

A Trp2027Cys amino acid substitution in ACCase confers resistance to haloxyfop and pinoxaden in C. virgata. We provide important insights into the evolutionary history of C. virgata and a draft genome as a useful resource to further our understanding of the biology in the genus Chloris. © 2023 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.     

Variants of a genomic island in Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida link isolates with their geographical origins

Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida is a fish pathogen. Analysis of its genomic characteristics is required to determine the worldwide distribution of the various populations of this bacterium. Genomic alignments between the 01-B526 pathogenic strain and the A449 reference strain have revealed a 51-kb chromosomal insertion in 01-B526. This insertion (AsaGEI1a) has been identified as a new genomic island (GEI) bearing prophage genes. PCR assays were used to detect this GEI in a collection of 139 A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida isolates. Three forms of this GEI (AsaGEI1a, AsaGEI1b, AsaGEI2a) are now known based on this analysis and the sequencing of the genomes of seven additional isolates. A new prophage (prophage 3) associated with AsaGEI2a was also discovered. Each GEI appeared to be strongly associated with a specific geographic region. AsaGEI1a and AsaGEI2a were exclusively found in North American isolates, except for one European isolate bearing AsaGEI2a. The majority of the isolates bearing AsaGEI1b or no GEI were from Europe. Prophage 3 has also a particular geographic distribution and was found only in North American isolates. We demonstrated that A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida possesses unsuspected elements of genomic heterogeneity that could be used as indicators to determine the geographic origins of isolates of this bacterium.     

Genetics of upper and lower airway diseases in the horse

Genetic predispositions for guttural pouch tympany, recurrent laryngeal neuropathy and recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) are well documented. There is also evidence that exercise‐induced pulmonary haemorrhage and infectious diseases of the respiratory tract in horses have a genetic component. The clinical expression of equine respiratory diseases with a genetic basis results from complex interactions between the environment and the genetic make‐up of each individual horse. The genetic effects are likely to be due to variations in several genes, i.e. they are polygenic. It is therefore unlikely that single gene tests will be diagnostically useful in these disorders. Genetic profiling panels, combining several genetic factors with an assessment of environmental risk factors, may have greater value, but much work is still needed to uncover diagnostically useful genetic markers or even causative variants for equine respiratory diseases. Nonetheless, chromosomal regions associated with guttural pouch tympany, recurrent laryngeal neuropathy and RAO have been identified. The association of RAO with other hypersensitivities and with resistance to intestinal parasites requires further study. This review aims to provide an overview of the available data and current thoughts on the genetics of equine airway diseases.