Differential expression of genes associated with innate immunity and oncogenesis is linked to susceptibility to tropical theileriosis

Purpose: The goal of this study was to use NGS RNAseq to compare transcriptomic profiles of bovine leucocytes from different host genotypes when infected with the pathogenic apicomplexan parasite T. annulata with a view to elucidating mechanisms associated with in vivo virulence between Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle. Methods: infected cell lines were generated from in vivo infections of cows with T. annulata. 5 were derived from Bos taurus hosts and 6 were derived from Bos indicus hosts. We extracted RNA from each immortlaized cell line and generated paired end reads using XXXXXX. Paired end reads were trimmed (Cudadapt 1.2.1 abd Sickle version 1.2) , and aligned to the Bos taurus genome (UMD3.1) using Bowtie 2. Differential analysis was performed useing DEseq 2. qRT PCR was used for validation on a subset of 18 genes using SYBR green. Results: We found a total of 2022 differentially expressed genes (p < 0.05) using DEseq2, and many of these genes are involved in pathways implicated in in vivo differences in virulence observed between host genotypes, including i genes onvolved in interferon pathways, the innate immune response, or cancer-asscoiated. Overall design: Conclusions: RNAseq represents a powerful tool to investiagte mechanisms underpinning observed differences in parasite-mediated morbidity and mortality between host genotypes, and our results reveal possible genes/pathways that could be exploited in breeding more resitant host animals in T. annulata endemic areas.