Host gene expression is associated with viral shedding magnitude in blue-winged teals (Spatula discors) infected with low-path avian influenza virus. (November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dolinski, Amanda C.; Homola, Jared J.; Jankowski, Mark D.; Robinson, John D.; Owen, Jennifer C.
• Is Part Of: Comparative immunology, microbiology and infectious diseases. Volume 90/91(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11
• Subjects: Avian influenza -- Viral shedding -- Supershedders -- Blue-winged teal -- Gene expression -- RNA-seq; Communicable diseases in animals -- Periodicals; Veterinary immunology -- Periodicals; Veterinary microbiology -- Periodicals; Immunology -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- immunology -- Periodicals; Communicable Diseases -- veterinary -- Periodicals; Allergy and Immunology -- Periodicals; Microbiology -- Periodicals; Veterinary Medicine -- Periodicals; Immunologie -- Périodiques; Microbiologie -- Périodiques; Maladies infectieuses -- Périodiques; Communicable diseases; Immunology; Microbiology; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 636.08969
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2022.101909
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0147-9571

Abstract

Abstract: Intraspecific variation in host infectiousness affects disease transmission dynamics in human, domestic animal, and many wildlife host-pathogen systems including avian influenza virus (AIV); therefore, identifying host factors related to host infectiousness is important for understanding, controlling, and preventing future outbreaks. Toward this goal, we used RNA-seq data collected from low pathogenicity avian influenza virus (LPAIV)-infected blue-winged teal ( Spatula discors ) to determine the association between host gene expression and intraspecific variation in cloacal viral shedding magnitude, the transmissible fraction of virus. We found that host genes were differentially expressed between LPAIV-infected and uninfected birds early in the infection, host genes were differentially expressed between shed level groups at one-, three-, and five-days post-infection, host gene expression was associated with LPAIV infection patterns over time, and genes of the innate immune system had a positive linear relationship with cloacal viral shedding. This study provides important insights into host gene expression patterns associated with intraspecific LPAIV shedding variation and can serve as a foundation for future studies focused on the identification of host factors that drive or permit the emergence of high viral shedding individuals. Highlights: Gene expression in the ileum was associated with viral shedding in LPAIV-infected blue-winged teal. High viral shedding was associated with low gene expression at five days-post infection (dpi). Viral load was associated with expression of innate immune genes on one and three dpi. Viral load was associated with expression of adaptive immune genes on five dpi. Expression of genes involved in the Type 1 IFN pathway were positively associated with viral shedding.