RNA-Seq analyses reveal that endothelial activation and fibrosis are induced early and progressively by Besnoitia besnoiti host cell invasion and proliferation

The pathogenesis of bovine besnoitiosis and the molecular bases that govern disease progression remain to be elucidated. Thus, we have employed an in vitro model of infection based on primary bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC), a target cell culture of acute infection. Next, host-parasite interactions were investigated by RNA-Seq at two post-infection (pi) time points: 12 hpi, when tachyzoites have already invaded host cells, and 32 hpi, when Besnoitia besnoiti tachyzoites have replicated for at least two generations. Additionally, the gene expression profile of B. besnoiti tachyzoites was also studied at both pi time points. Primary bovine endothelial cells from bovine aorta (BAEC) were infected with Besnoitia besnoiti tachyzoites and samples were collected at 12 hours post-infection (hpi) or 32 hpi. Non-infected BAEC cells were included as negative controls. 4 biological replicates were included in the experiment