Differential gene expression in chronic wasting disease infected white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a type of transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE) that affects cervid species throughout North America. We evaluated gene-expression in white-tailed deer collected by Illinois Department of Natural Resource wildlife managers during annual population reduction (e.g., sharpshooting) and disease monitoring efforts throughout the CWD-endemic area of northcentral Illinois. We conducted comparative transcriptomic analysis of liver (LV) and retropharyngeal lymph node (RPLN) tissue samples between CWD-infected and uninfected deer.