Transcriptomic analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells during O. ostertagi infection in cattle highlights a generalized host immune reaction

Over time, anthelmintic treatment has become less efficacious against cattle nematodes. As a result, alternative control strategies are needed. Our study looked to elucidate mechanisms that underlie attenuation of the host immune response by examining global immune expression in cattle during infection. To this end, four steers were infected with L3 parasites of O. ostertagi with peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) collected weekly for 26 days post-infection. Sequences were then mapped, and gene expression was compared between PBMCs for each time point of the infection. Host gene expression, pathway analysis, and protein interaction networks were used to illustrate changes in the host immune response throughout the infection.