Alectoris rufa Transcriptome or Gene expression. Alectoris rufa

In this study, RNA-sequencing and de novo assembly of genes expressed in different immune tissues, including thymus, bursa of Fabricius, spleen, and skin, was performed. The candidate gene sequences and pathways identified would help in understanding key and unique metabolic and immune processes in the red-legged partridge, providing a base for future functional genomic and ecological research on the Alectoris genus and contributing to the on-going development of genomic resources in avian species. A large number of potential genetic markers were also identified from the partridge transcriptome, which provide new tools for future studies in this and related species. Further investigation into candidate genes and gene-associated markers will help to uncover individual variability in the resistance to infections and other external aggressions in partridges.