Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

10/04/2014. Saturday

Dr. Willie Reed, Dean, College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University, welcomed all the participants to Purdue University at 8 am.

Mr. Paul Brenan, Indiana poultry association, gave an introductory note at 8.15 am.

Dr. Kirk Klasing, UC Davis, gave a presentation at 8.30 am. The research focused on measuring the immune responses of three different lines to heat killed E.coli. Commercial birds produced less IL-1 in serum, had lower body temperature, though T cells produce more IL-1. Work is in progress to identify the mechanism through which commercial broilers decrease the inflammatory immune response against E. Coli. In collaboration with crystal biosciences, a heterozygote heavy chain Ig knock out birds were produced. These birds don’t produce B cells. The repertoire of other immune cells is similar between the wild and knock out birds.

Dr. Kaiser presented the report on behalf of Dr. Sue Lamont, Iowa state university at 9.00 am. The research priority was to develop ideal chicken lines that resist new castle disease virus and handle heat stress in Africa. The goal was to look at RNA expression data in two inbred lines and hyline brown to NDV infected birds. Trachea from Fayoumi line showed less damage and had higher antibody levels post-NDV infection. The second part of the research identified the SNPs associated with NDV resistance.

Dr. Mark Berres, University of Wisconsin-Madison presented the report at 9.30 am. The research characterized the genetic characterization of wild red jungle fowl. The objectives were to assess the extent and distribution of genetic variation in red jungle fowl in Cambodia. A variety of environmental habitats were identified in terms of density of trees, density of birds and other parameters. A total of 212 red jungle fowl were captured. There was a significant diversity among population as well as within population. The average spatial correlation effect was 5 km. A resistance allele to avian influenza virus was present only in red jungle fowl from certain lines.

Dr. Ramesh Selvaraj, The Ohio State University, presented the report at 10.30 am. The role of Regulatory T cells during Salmonella infection was discussed. During the infection with S. Entertidis, there was a significant increase in the number of regulatory T cells by day 4 post-infection that increased steadily throughout the course of the 14 days of infection. The amount of IL-10 mRNA content increased steadily in CD4+CD25+ cells from the S. Entertidis-infected animals over the course of infection

Dr. Ginkel, Auburn university, presented research about host immune response against IBV virus at 11.00 am. Birds were immunized against IBV. Age dependent increase in anti-IBV IgG was observed. Vaccination on day 1 delays significant delay in IgG response. Quality of antibody response was measured by using avidity studies. Anti-IBV IgG, tracheal lymphocyte score, mucosal thickness, and affinity index were lower in birds vaccinated at day 1 than the one vaccinated at 4 week of age.

Dr. Mary Delany, UC Davis, presented data on MDV-chicken genome interactions at 11.30 am. MDV integrates preferably in chromosome 9, 12 and 20. Infection with oncogenic strain targets T cells in spleen for integration into the chromosomes at 14 d of infection. Meq oncogene is absolutely essential for the virus to integrate in the host chromosome. MDV integrates early post infection.

Dr. Pat Wakenell, Purdue University, presented the impact of urban and backyard poultry on commercial operations at 12.05 am. The common diseases in backyard poultry are coccidia, MDV, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Avian encephalitis, Pox, Parasites, Favus, histomonas and SE. Absence of MD vaccine, organic diets with no amprolium (anticoccidial), no mycoplasma-free-flock certification, mixed species in same locality, unvaccinated flocks, water source breeding mosquitoes, poorly cleaned coops, and poor management are some of the reasons for disease prevalence in these flocks.

Dr. Heidari, USDA presented MDV pathology in different organs at 1.30 pm. B cell follicle in cecal tonsils were destroyed by MDV at 5 d, though the follicle recovered by 21d. Unlike B cell follicle, thymus don’t recover from MDV infection. Macrophages migrate to MDV infected site and correlates to the amount of destruction post MDV infection. Destruction of germinal follicle centers were observed. Cytokine profile of MDV infected birds were studied. IL1, IL10, IL8, IL18, and IFNg mRNA levels were higher in susceptible line than in resistant lines.

Dr. J Song, University of Maryland, presented the role of long intergenic non coding RNAs in MDV infection at 2.00 pm. The basic properties of long intergenic RNAs were identified to have ~1Kb size, have 2.2 number of exons, have conserved sequences, have a mean 5.4 kb distance to neighboring protein genes. 425 unique lincRNAs were identified in resistant and 636 lincRNAs in susceptible lines. linc-satb1 may be involved in MD immune responses by regulating its upstream protein coding gene SATB1.

Dr. Bob Taylor, University of New Hampshire, presented the differences between line 6-3 and 7-2 in Rous Sarcoma virus response at 2.30 pm. Line 72 had higher RSV tumor profile index (TPI) and line J with lower TPI than other congenic lines. The rate of decline of peak antibody against SRBC was faster in line N.

Dr. Robert Beckstead, University of Georgia, presented research about treatments for blackhead disease in turkeys at 3.30 pm. Blackhead disease is caused by Histomaonas meleagridis and causes 30% to 100% mortality. Disease symptoms differ between difference species. An intermediate host is heterakis gallinarum worm. Zinc and copper sulfate has anti-parasitory effects on Histomonas in vitro. In vivo, Zinc and Copper decreased lateral transmission of Histomonas.

Dr. Marcia Miller, City of hope Beckman Research Institute, presented data on identifying the functions of genes in chromosome 16 of chickens at 4.00 pm. Olfactory receptors, scavenger receptor and CHIR-like sequences were assigned to chromosome 16. Many of the genes of OR14J are linked in heritability to MHC diversity. FISH analysis showed linkage of MHC-Y, NOR, SRCR and OR genes. Resequencing of MHC-Y region with Illumina technology validated the earlier data obtained from Sanger sequencing. MHC-Y class I gene function was defined to bind Vitamin metabolites.

Business meeting: 5.00 pm. 10/04/2014

• Approval of minutes of 2013 meeting. Dr. Robert Beckstead moved a motion that the minutes be approved. Dr. Mary Delany seconded the motion. The motion passed.
• The importance of impact statement was reiterated and it was decided to include all the impact statements from all participants in the final report.
• The group welcomed Lakshmi Matukumali as NIFA representative.
• The group would like to emphasize the importance of the presence of NIFA representative and or advisor to facilitate flow of ideas between the group members and NIFA. A motion was moved by Dr. Ginkel to authorize Dr. Bob Taylor to draft a letter to NIFA emphasizing the importance of NIFA advisors to attend the annual meeting. Dr. Mary Delany seconded the motion. The motion passed.
• The importance of all group members attending annual meeting was discussed.
• The venue of next annual meeting was discussed and agreed as follows. 2015: UC Davis. 2016: University of Wisconsin, Madison. 2017: University of Prince Edward Island
• Concerns about university approval to international travel for the 2017 annual meeting were raised. A suggestion was put forth that a letter from NIFA administrators to university officials will help the participants to get support.

10/05/2014

Hank Parmentier, Wageningen University, presented research with Natural autoantibodies and transgenerational priming of immunity at 8.30 am. Layer birds, selected for 29 generations for high and low antibody titers, were analyzed for autoantibodies profile in healthy and diseased condition. At 5 week of age there were considerable overlap on the epitopes recognized by IgG and IgM autoantibodies in all three lines, but at 1 year the epitopes recognized diverged between lines. Igm and IgG antibodies showed distinct binding patters regardless of isotype.

Immunoglobulin binding patters are affected by age. Transgenerational epigenetic immunological phenomenon was identified in chickens.

Tom Beghod, Wageningen University, presented research about divergent selection for natural antibodies in poultry at 9.00 am. Heritability of anti-KLH Natural antibodiy titers for total Ig was 0.12. Eggshell color and egg breaking strength influence IgM. High genetic correlation between Ig isotypes (0.86-0.89) were identified.

Renee Kopulus and Linda Yates, Northern Illinois University, presented reserach on behalf of Dr. Briles at 9.30. Several chicken lines that are defined for MHC-B types were discussed. Collaboration on SNP genome mapping of A and C alloantigen systems were discussed. MHC-Y system identification was discussed. MHC haplotype differences in NIU line and Arkansas line were discussed. MHC-Y is highly polymorphic.

Dr. Janet Fulton, Hyline presented data about MHC recombinantion in chickens at 10.35 am. A new nomenclature for naming different haplotypes were proposed. Wild jungle fowl are highly heterogenous. SNP panel shows variability across entire MHC.

Dr. Paul Cotter, Cotter Lab, presented data about assessing stress using hematology at 11.15 am. Drawbacks of using H/L ration to measure stress were discussed. Stress can be defined as absence of tranquil hemogram, presence of normal blood picture with no fungus and absence of coccinocyes, cyanophils, plasmacytes and mott cells.

The group thanked Dr. Pat Wakenell and her team for the hosting the meeting.

The meeting was adjourned at 12.00 pm