Transcriptomic Characterization of Innate and Acquired Immune Responses in Red-Legged Partridges (Alectoris rufa): A Resource for Immunoecology and Robustness Selection

摘要: Present and future challenges for wild partridge populations include the resistance against possible disease transmission after restocking with captive-reared individuals, need to cope stress prompted by new dynamic challenging scenarios. Selection of individuals best immune ability may be a good strategy improve general immunity, hence adaptation stress. In this study, non-infectious phytohemagglutinin (PHA) sheep red blood cells allowed classification red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) according their overall responses (IR). Skin from area injection PHA spleen, both animals showing extreme high low IR, were selected investigate transcriptional profiles underlying different pathogens external aggressions. RNA-seq yielded 97 million raw reads eight sequencing libraries approximately 84% processed mapped reference chicken genome. Differential expression analysis identified 1488 up- 107 down-regulated loci in IR versus IR. Partridges displaying higher innate show an enhanced activation host defence gene pathways complemented tightly controlled desensitization that facilitates return cellular homeostasis. These findings indicate system respond aggressions (either diseases or produced environmental changes) involves extensive post-transcriptional regulations, expand our understanding on molecular mechanisms avian system, opening possibility improving robustness using genome assisted selection (GAS) approaches increased genes such as AVN BF2 markers. This study provides first transcriptome data Alectoris genus, resource ecology enables integration genomic tools further studies.