Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

2015 NE-1334 Annual Meeting

Genetic bases for resistance and immunity to avian diseases

October 9-10-11, 2015, University of California, Davis CA

 Location:        2154 Meyer Hall (Weir Room)

Host:               Mary Delany (medelany@ucdavis.edu)

Chair:             Ramesh Selvaraj ( selvaraj.7@osu.edu )

Secretary:       Robert Beckstead (beckstead.uga@gmail.com )

Registration fee: $50.00 Cash or checks payable to UC Regents (see Justin Smith during meeting)

SCHEDULE (10-5-15)

 7:45 Opening Remarks - Mary Delany; Introductions - All

 8:00 am Robert Beckstead, University of Georgia

 8:30 am Ramesh Selvaraj, The Ohio State University

 9:00 am Marla McPherson, UC Davis (Delany Lab)

 9:30 am Perot Saelao & Kin Khine Zar Mon, UC Davis (Zhou Lab)

10:00 am BREAK

 10:15 am Yvonne Dreshler, Western University of Health Sciences

 10:45 am Gisela Erf, University of Arkansas

 11:15 am Rodrigo Gallardo, UC Davis

 11:45 am: LUNCH – MEXICAN BUFFET

 12.30 pm: Mohammed Heidari, USDA

 1.00 pm Sue Lamont, Iowa State University

 1.30 pm Marcia Miller, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute

 2.00 pm Wole Odemuyiwa, Tuskegee University

 2:30 pm Mark Parcells, University of Delaware

 3:00 pm BREAK

 3:15 pm Jeb Owen, Washington State University (new member)

3:30 pm Ryan Arsenault, University of Delaware (guest)

 3:45 pm Renee Kopulos, Northern Illinois University (guest)

 4:00 pm Business Meeting

 6:15 pm DINNER at Café Italia aka Dancing Tomato Café, 1121 Richards Blvd, Davis, CA 95616,

 SUNDAY OCTOBER 11

 8:15 am Bob Taylor, West Virginia University

 8:45 am Tom Berghof, Wageningen University and Research Centre (Parmentier Lab)

 9:15 am Mandy Bao, Wageningen University and Research Centre (Van der  Poel & Parmentier Labs)

 9:45 am Fritz Van ginkle, Auburn University

 10:15 am Hans Cheng, USDA-ARS Avian Disease & Oncology Lab (guest); Alec Steep (Cheng Lab)

 10:45 am Janet Fulton, Hyline International (guest)

 11:15 am Pat Wakenell, Purdue University

 11:45 am Open discussion as desired.

 12:00 BAG LUNCHES to stay & eat or to pick up & go! END of Day 2

 October 10, 2015

NE-1334 business meeting

 4:00     Meeting called to order by Ramesh Selvaraj

 Member present: Gisela Erf, Jeb Owen, Marcia Miller, Yvonne Dreshler, Sue Lamont, Bob Taylor, Mark Parcells, Mary Delany, Mohammad Heidari, Robert Beckstead, Jan van der Poel, Patricia Wakenell, Hauijun Zhou, Rodrigo Gallardo

4:10     Participants thanked Mary Delany for hosting the meeting

4:15     Motion was made by Patricia Wakenell to make Robert Beckstead the chair.  Sue Lamont seconded the motion.  The motion carried. 

 4:25     Motion was made by Hauijun Zhou to make Rodrigo Gallardo secretary.  Patricia Wakenell seconded the motion.  The motion carried.

 4:30     Participants discussed the need for an impact statement to be included in the annual report and the requirement to turn in the report 1 week before the annual meeting.

 4:40     There was significant discussion by the member regarding the absence of the NIFA representative Lakshmi Matukumalli and the need for his attendance at the annual meetings.

 5:00     The 2014 NE-1334 minutes were corrected to state that Mark Reiger was absent from the meeting. Bob Taylor made a motion to accept the amended 2014 NE-1334 minutes. Robert Beckstead seconded the motion.  The motion carried.

 5:10     Announcement that next years meeting will be hosted by Mark Berres in Wisonsin.

 5:15     Mark Parcells made a motion to accept Ryan Arsenault as a technical member of NE-1334. Mary Delany seconded the motion. The motion passed. 

 5:30     The meeting was adjourned.

Minutes recorded and prepared by

Robert Beckstead

Secretary NE-1334 2015

Objective 1. Identify and characterize genes and their relationships to disease resistance in poultry with an emphasis on the major histocompatibility complex, as well as other genes encoding alloantigens, communication molecules and their receptors and other candidate systems.

 Huaijun Zhou:

Improving food security in Africa by enhancing resistance to Newcastle disease virus and heat stress in chickens: Effects of two stressors (biotic: NDV and abiotic: heat stress) were investigated. Birds of two genetically distinct and highly inbred lines (Fayoumi and Leghorn), and Hy-Line Brown were either exposed to NDV only (Iowa State) or NDV and heat stress (UCD). There were significant differences between Fayoumi and Leghorn birds in virus titers, antibody response to NDV infection and heat stress (Fayoumi is resistant and Leghorn is susceptible to both stressors).

Salmonella enterica serovars Enteritidis infection alter the indigenous microbiota diversity in young layer chicks: Salmonella colonization in the gastrointestinal tract of the chickens has a direct effect on altering the natural development of the gastrointestinal microbiota. Significant inverse correlation between Enterobacteriaceae and Lachnospiraceae family in both non-infected and infected groups, suggest possible antagonistic interaction between members of these two taxa, which could potentially influences the overall microbial population in the gut. Our results also revealed that genetic difference between two genetic lines had minimal effect on the establishment of microbiota population. Overall, this study provided preliminary insights into the contributing role of Salmonella Enteritidis in influencing the overall makeup of chicken's gut microbiota.

Robert Becksetead:

Developed a PCR strategy that allows for the detection of H. gallinarum DNA from different types of samples: PCR results showed that all 3 primer sets were specific for H. gallinarum at an annealing temperature of 70 ^oC. Since all 3 primer sets were successful in detecting H. gallinarum DNA, a multiplex PCR diagnostic test may be developed to further increase the sensitivity of the primer sets.

Developed a dry medium, which would allow storage at warm temperatures over a long period of time. Results showed that this dry medium may be used as an epidemiological tool to obtain H. meleagridis samples from the field.

Established an accurate and reliable in vitro procedure to test alternative compounds against H. meleagridis cells. Inclusion of 93.5 ppm Nitarsone reduced mortality by over 60%. The inclusion of 3-nitrophenylboronic acid reduced mortality by almost 40%.

Jiuzhou Song

Transcriptome analysis revealed activation of major histocompatibility complex 1 and 2 pathways in chicken trachea immunized with infectious laryngotracheitis virus vaccine. The gene ontology analysis showed that genes included in the biological process cluster were related to antigen processing and presentation, positive regulation of immune system processes, T cell selection, and positive regulation of T cell activation. Chicken embryo origin vaccine activation of the major histocompatibility complex 1 and 2 pathways provided insight for evaluation and design of infectious laryngotracheitis vaccines.

Methylome Analysis in Chickens Immunized with Infectious Laryngotracheitis Vaccine: Methyl-CpG binding domain protein-enriched genome sequencing (MBD-Seq) method was employed in the detection of the 1,155 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) across the entire genome.

 Mark Berres

Distribution of genetic variation of RJF across the Annamite Range in south-central Vietnam was studied. Wild RJF populations are structured genetically at both coarse and fine-scales. Allelic variation is substantial and isolation-by-distance mechanisms appear not to operate at distances greater than 5 Km. These results establish conclusively that although RJF are widely distributed throughout SE and Central Asia, their populations are discontinuous and genetically distinctive. It remains to be determined if wild RJF are susceptible to endogenous threats such as risks to genetic introgression from native domestic chickens. We found no evidence of spatial dependence on two landscape features of landcover and topography. This suggests that the spatial genetic variation in the Red Junglefowl is more related to demography or specific movement characteristics (or both) rather than any dependence on landscape or sampling arrangements. 313 unique haplotypes in 398 chromosomes, none of which matched any known haplotype known from domestic chickens, were identified. The majority of genetic variation was partitioned at the within-individual level with only 0.83% apportioned at the between-population level. Evidence of recombination, including hotspots, and limited linkage disequilibrium among loci, were identified. Compared to domestic chickens, our results suggest extraordinarily high haplotype diversity remains in wild RJF and are consistent with a pattern of balancing selection. We conclude that wild RJF populations in Vietnam represent one of the richest resources of natural genomic variation that could directly help to improve agricultural diversity.

Gisela Erf

Assessed the melanocyte-specific autoimmune response to feather and embryo-derived melanocytes. Significant infiltration of CD4+ and CD8+ αβTCR+ cells were only observed in vitiliginous SL chickens injected with melanocytes (P<0.05). While ongoing, the results of this study strongly support a role for melanocyte-specific cell-mediated immunity in the pathology of vitiligo in SL chickens. Gene-expression analysis in collected tissues is underway to determine the functional activity of infiltrating leukocytes.

Reduced expression of the RNase Dicer in primary melanocytes obtained from vitiligo-prone Smyth line chickens was identified. Dicer protein expression and localization were determined by immunofluorescence and by Western blot using cellular cytoplasmic and nuclear fractions. While the study is ongoing, results obtained thus far show that Dicer is localized in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus of chicken melanocytes corroborating previous studies in RPE cells. Its expression (mRNA and protein levels) was significantly downregulated (P<0.05) in SL compared to BL melanocytes. This is the first evidence that Dicer is dysregulated in SL melanocytes and that this dysregulation seems to occur at the transcription level.

Uveitis and blindness in Smyth line chickens with autoimmune vitiligo: expression of cytokine- and melanogenesis-related-genes in eyes before and during loss of choroidal melanocytes were studied. Overall, autoimmune loss of melanocytes in choroids of SL chickens is associated with cytokine profiles similar to those observed in feather target tissue and with altered expression of melanogenesis-related genes.

 Rodrigo Gallardo

The response of six congenic lines plus a leghorn and a brown commercial line to a challenge with an IBV M41 strain looking for the resistance provided by the MHC was studied. Clinical signs such as respiratory sounds, tracheal lesions, and viral load were measured to determine disease resistance of the different MHC genetic lines. In addition, humoral immune responses were measured. All tested lines inbred and commercial were susceptible to the initial IBV M41 infection. Even though airsacculitis and clinical signs were detected in all the lines, mortality was only associated with groups B17, B19 and white leghorn. Reduced viral load seems (B18 and B21) to be associated with reduction of clinical signs but not with systemic antibody responses

Variability Assessment of California Infectious Bronchitis Virus Variants studies identified seven different subpopulations.

Sue Lamont

Genomics and immunology of host response to avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) was studied.

Host transcriptional response of broilers to infection with avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC), with an overall objective to identify genes, signaling pathways and biological networks associated with infection and resistance to APEC in chickens was studied.

 Genomics of host response to Newcastle Disease virus (NDV) was studied. Inbred Fayoumi (relatively resistant) and Leghorn (relatively susceptible) chicks were challenged with LaSota strain NDV. Samples were collected at 2 and 6 dpi to measure viral load (in tears, by qPCR) and at 10 dpi to measure circulating anti-NDV antibody. Birds were euthanized at multiple times (2, 6, 10 dpi) after challenge, and many tissues collected for RNA seq analyses. RNA was isolated from lung, trachea and Harderian glands, and 192 individual libraries generated for sequencing. All libraries have been sequenced and yielded high quality data. Detailed pathway analysis is on-going.

J.J. van der Poel (ABG) and H.K. Parmentier (ADP)

MHC analysis of parental and 1st generation chickens showed no indication of an MHC effect on Nab titers in lines selected for natural antibodies. .

 Ellen Collisson, Maisie Dawes, & Yvonne Drechsler

Impact of MHC on IBV associated clinical illness: We have demonstrated that B2 haplotype chickens display greater disease resistance to IBV with faster viral clearance from tissues than B19 haplotypes. We further showed that resistance can be partly attributed to enhanced innate immune responses of B2 chicks, particularly greater macrophage responses induced by IFNgamma or Poly I:C. RNA sequencing has shown that B2 macrophages show greater activation and tighter regulation of genes upon differentiation and activation. These findings suggest that the innate immune response and specifically macrophages have a significant impact on disease resistance and susceptibility of chicken haplotypes and ultimately will help us better understand the genetic basis of enhanced immunity.

Mark Parcells

In our study of the replication, innate gene expression and immune patterning elicited by rMd5ΔMeq, a recombinant Marek’s disease virus (MDV) having both copies of the meq oncogene deleted, we found MDV replication is sensed via TLR3 and MDA5. At 14 and 21 days post-infection, times typically corresponding to MDV lytic infection and latency, respectively, we have found an interesting difference in IL-12 subunit expression. At 14 days post-infection (dpi), we observed roughly equivalent expression of IL-12p19, p35 and p40 in the spleen total RNA from rMd5ΔMeq-infected chickens. This pattern would suggest roughly equivalent levels of IL-12p70 (IL-12p35 + IL-12p40) and IL-23 (IL-12p19 + IL-12p40). At 21 dpi, however, we observed upregulation of both IL-12p35 and IL-12p40, suggesting that IL-12p70 would be in greater abundance than IL-23. IL-12p70 is essential for TH1 immune patterning, the patterning associated with development of a CTL response.

Marcia Miller

Within the sequenced MHC-Y BACs there are many YF (MHC class I-like genes), many Ylec (putative c-type lectin-like NK cell receptor genes) and several YLβ (MHC class IIβ gene) sequences. Also present are numerous LINE/CR1 and retroviral LTR repeats. These comprise nearly half the cloned MHC-Y sequence. We are now completing an analysis of the inter-relationship between the MHC-Y genes and the CR1 and LTR sequences.

To define the ligands bound by the MHC class I molecules encoded in the MHC- Y region, we are expressing YF class I proteins in E. coli as inclusion bodies. Currently mass spectrometry evidence suggests that YF1*7.1 (refolded tag-free heavy and light chains) binds a glycerophospholipid of microbial origin. We are moving ahead to confirm this observation and with a structural determination to reveal the interactions occurring between the ligand and YF1*7.1.

Bob Taylor

Antibody response and tumor growth differences among MHC identical populations with different background genes will reveal genes that can improve immune responses in commercial stocks.

1. Receptor expression, such as the ephrin B2 (EphB2) receptor, influences the bursa of Fabricius microenvironment for B-cell development

 Objective 2. Identify and characterize environmental, dietary and physiological factors that modulate immune system development, optimal immune function and immune system related disease resistance and welfare in poultry genetic stocks.

Matt Koci:

Typhimurium or S. Enteritidis serovars of Salmonella were able to colonize the cecum of both chicks and mice, and typically with greater colony forming units per gram (cfu/g) in the chick as compared with the mice. Salmonella; however, did not consistently colonize the liver and spleen of the chicks and when it did the cfu/g where 5-log lower than that detected in the cecum. Conversely, Salmonella was consistently recovered from the liver and spleens of the infected mice and at levels similar to that of the mouse cecum. Collectively this suggested that these serovars have a diminished capacity to cross the gut epithelium and invade the chicken host as compared to the mouse. Subsequent in vitro experiments using a series of S. Typhimurium mutants lacking and/or complemented with the various transcriptional regulators of the SPI-1 complex demonstrated that growth at 42°C, down-regulates expression of SPI-1 genes sipC, invF, hilA, and the SPI-1 activator rtsA as compared to expression at 37°C. Overexpression of the hilA activators fur, fliZ, or hilD were not able to overcome the inhibitory effects of growth at 42°C despite having similar levels of protein at both 37 and 42C. In contrast, overexpression of either hilC or rtsA was capable of inducing hilA and sipC at 42°C.  Collectively, these data indicate that poultry physiology results in environmental conditions, such as temperature, that have a profound impact on Salmonella modulating expression of key virulence markers. These findings help explain why Salmonella serovars associated with food borne disease do not result in clinical signs when infecting chickens.  Understanding the different gene expression profile of Salmonella in chickens as compared to mammals will allow for the development of better control and diagnostic tools.

Jiuzhou Song

Histone modifications in bursa induced by MDV infection at early cytolytic and latency phases were studied. Comprehensive analysis of chromatin signatures, therefore, revealed further clues about the epigenetic effects of MDV infection although further studies are necessary to elucidate the functional implications of the observed variations in histone modifications.

Genome-wide mapping of DNase I hypersensitive sites and association analysis with gene expression in MSB1 cells: Results indicated that DNase I HS sites highly correlate with active genes expression in MSB1 cells, suggesting DHSs can be considered as markers to identify the cis-regulatory elements associated with chicken Marek's disease. Results demonstrated that lincRNAs may play an important role in MD resistance and provide a rich resource for hypothesis-driven functional studies.

 Mark Berres:

The global sPCA in all 212 Red Junglefowl samples resulted in high positive eigenvalues and uniformly low negative eigenvalues. This, together with the overall well-defined sPCA’s regressed gradient variances, illustrated monotonic clines of genetic similarities along the east and the west sides of the Annamite Mountain Range landscape. Specifically, we found evidence of strong local structure within individual sPCA models in the four major sampling. Overall, we found strong population genetic structure at coarse geographic scales and evidence of fine-scale genetic subdivision at distances as low as 5 km. Our results suggest that the current natural populations of Red Junglefowl in Vietnam are relatively small (locally) and contain substantial and genetic variation that differs considerably.

Frits Ginkel

Effects of early vaccination on memory response: We isolated head-associated lymphoid tissues (HALT) and spleen lymphocytes ~3.5 weeks after vaccination and stimulated them for 6 days in vitro with LPS and measured IBV-specific antibody levels in the culture supernatant. No significant differences in IBV-specific antibody levels for IgA in HALT culture supernatant or IgG in spleen cell culture supernatant were observed. However, when we measured IBV-specific B cells in spleen using FACS analyses significant higher levels of IBV-specific B cells were observed in the spleen of birds vaccinated at 3 weeks of age versus control birds. This increase was not observed in 1 day old vaccinated birds. The IBV-specific B cells frequency in the spleen of 1 day old birds did not differ from control bird cultures.

Sue Lamont

Interaction of response to inflammatory stimulus and heat stress in chickens was studied.

Juan Carlos Rodríguez-Lecompte

Proximal promoter region methylation patterns of TLR2b, TLR4, Igβ and MHCII β

Chain was studied. We have found that the proximal promoter regions of our genes of interest have different numbers of CpG 2 dinucleotides: TLR2b has 1, TLR4 has 9, Igβ – 13 and MHCII β chain has 24. Furthermore, we have found that while some of these positions remained methylated or unmethylated throughout incubation with folic acid, some of them have changed their status, depending on concentration and time of incubation. Association between FA conc. and percent of proximal promoter methylation of TLR2b,TLR4, Igβ and MHCII β chain was studied. The effect of FA conc. at 4 and 8 hours incubation time on mRNA levels of TLR2b, TLR4, Igβ and MHCII β chain was studied.

Effect of incubation time and FA concentration on TLR2b, TLR4, Igβ and MHCII β chain mRNA levels was studied. Effect of LPS on TLR2b, TLR4, Igβ and MHCII β chain mRNA levels was studied.

Effect of different levels of vitamin D active form 1,25 (OH)2 D3 on chicken B-Cells associated with avian innate immune responses was studied. Taken together, the results above demonstrate that FA indeed has the capability to affect immune system related traits in the chicken. This immunomodulatory effect of FA under challenging and non-challenging conditions has significant impact. Using nutritional intervention in the form of FA supplementation to modulate the chicken’s immune capabilities is a promising and interesting notion, and it has the potential to affect the nutritional practices of the poultry industry. It is possible that the benefits from FA supplementation would affect not only one but several generations, a significant factor to consider in the chicken breeding industry.

J.J. van der Poel and H.K. Parmentier

Overall no effects of dietary beta-glucans were observed on performance and specific humoral immune responses. Only 40-50% of the broilers responded with an antibody response to the LPS/ HuSA challenge. When a distinction was made between immunological responders and nonresponders it was consistently found (in all 3 experiments) that beta glucans enhanced the cachectin response in the responder birds only. These results suggest that betaglucans will only influence the immune system in a part of the broiler population. Chicken like mammals have natural auto-antibodies which may be directed to neo-epitopes. IgG and IgM auto-antibodies were studied in 5 High line and 5 Low line families from the new KLH-Nab selection lines. Preliminary data indicated that recognition of auto-antigen fragments for IgG were age dependent but very individually restricted, whereas IgM profiles were less individually restricted. No or little obvious parental-neonatal alikeness was found. Binding to auto-antigens or related (mammalian) ‘auto-antigens’ was found in the NAb selection lines, which showed similar heritabilities and maternal effects as found for Nabs binding KLH (Mandy Bao, submitted). NAAb profiles were also studied for other species (bovine and pig). Deglycosylation of N-linked carbohydrates on KLH strongly reduced the binding of Natural antibodies as well as specific antibodies from KLH-immunized birds, indicating that the majority of circulating antibodies is directed towards carbohydrates. Since carbohydrates are also abundantly present on microorganisms, this may implicate that selection for higher NAb levels will enhance the first line of defense.

Ramesh Selvaraj

Two experiments were conducted to study Regulatory T cell (Treg [CD4⁺CD25⁺]) properties during the establishment of a persistent intestinal infection in broiler chickens. Four-day-old broiler chicks were orally gavaged with 5x10⁶ CFU/mL Salmonella enteritidis or sterile PBS (control). Samples were collected at 4, 7, 10, and 14 d post infection. There was a significant (P < 0.05) increase in the number of CD4⁺CD25⁺ cells by day 4 post infection that increased steadily throughout the course of the 14 days of infection, whereas the number of CD4⁺CD25⁺ cells in the non-infected controls remained steady throughout the study. CD4⁺CD25⁺ cells from cecal tonsils of S. enteritidis-infected birds had a higher (P < 0.05) IL-10 mRNA content than CD4⁺CD25⁺ cells from the non-infected controls at all time points studied. The amount of IL-2 mRNA content in the cecal tonsil CD4⁺CD25^- cells from the infected birds did not differ (P > 0.05) when compared to that of non-infected control birds. At a lower effector/responder cell ratio of 0.25:1, CD4⁺CD25⁺ cells from cecal tonsils of Salmonella-infected birds suppressed T cell proliferation at days 7 and 14 post S. enteritidis infection, while CD4⁺CD25⁺ cells from non-infected control groups did not suppress T cell proliferation. In the second experiment, day-old chickens were orally gavaged with PBS (control) or 1.25 X 10⁸ CFU/bird of S. enteritidis. At 7 and 21 d post Salmonella infection, CD25⁺ cells collected from cecal tonsils of S. enteritidis-infected birds and restimulated in vitro with Salmonella antigen had higher (P < 0.05) IL-10 mRNA content compared to those in the control group. Spleen CD4⁺CD25⁺, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ cell percentage did not differ (P > 0.05) between the Salmonella-infected and control birds. In conclusion, a persistent intestinal S. enteritidis infection increased the Treg percentage, suppressive properties, and IL-10 mRNA amounts in the cecal tonsils of broiler birds.

Mark Parcells

Over the course of this year, we have developed a modified pathogenesis model for

MDV infection. Differential expression of interleukin 12 subunits (IL-12p19,

IL-12p35 and IL-12p40) during the shift from Marek’s disease virus (MDV) lytic to latent infection, suggests that virulent, oncogenic strains (Md5) initially induce high levels of IL-23

(IL12p19/IL-12p40) followed by high levels of IL-12p40. The result of this is that IL-12p80, an inhibitor of TH1 patterning predominates, blocking the development of protective CTL responses. Alternatively, rMd5ΔMeq, a non-oncogenic MDV strain that elicits a highly protective vaccine response, elicits roughly equivalent levels of IL-12p70 (IL-12p35 + IL-12p40 heterodimer) and IL-23 at two weeks post-infection, but predominantly higher levels of IL-12p70 by three weeks post-infection.

Objective 3. Develop, evaluate and characterize methodologies, reagents and genotypes to assess immune function and disease resistance to enhance production efficiency through genetic selection in poultry.

Jiuzhou Song

Advantage of the KEGG-PATH model through the functional analysis of the bovine mammary transcriptome during lactation was demonstrated.

Gisela Erf:

Monitoring tissue responses for the growing feather as an “in vivo test-tube” was conducted. The development of the “in vivo test-tube system” using the growing feathers as a dermal test-site provides an important tool to monitor and evaluate cellular immune system activities in complex tissues and the immunological mechanisms underlying disease susceptibility and resistance in poultry. With this test-system, humoral and cellular, innate and adaptive immune responses can be assessed and monitored in an individual. This ability is unique to the avian system and constitutes important opportunities to evaluate and develop effective prophylactic (e.g. vaccines) and immune modulating (e.g. adjuvants) treatments.

Frits Ginkel

We generated Ad5 vectors that induced antibody responses that were highly reactive to different IBV serotypes but these IBV-specific immune responses were not associated with great protection upon subsequent challenge with IBV. Therefor this approach needs to be improved to replace existing vaccination protocols

Sue Lamont

ISU genetic lines were used to assess antibody production after vaccination with a recombinant AI vaccine developed by HarrisVaccines.

Ellen Collisson, Maisie Dawes, & Yvonne Drechsler

Culture and stimulation of macrophages with poly I:C, IFN and LPS: Broad

differences in B2 versus B19 macrophage function was identified in terms of innate and interacting adaptive immunity. While B2 macrophages upon isolation and culture upregulate a large number of genes followed by rapid downregulation of those genes. Evan more dramatic activation occurs following interferon or poly I:C stimulation.. B19 macrophages show a relatively delayed activation and subsequent disorganization of gene regulation. Furthermore, B19 macrophages are not tightly regulated after initial activation upon adhesion, and therefore subsequent stimulation is not effective. In addition, organizing the genes activated into Gene Ontology terms indicate that genes associated with macrophage activation and differentiation, as well as a large number of other biological mechanisms, are differentially regulated in the two haplotypes, also demonstrating differences in disease resistance.

Dr. Collisson is also working with Professor Tim Gondwe at the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Sciences on providing villages in Malawi with hybrid birds with increased disease resistance.

Wole Odemuyiwa

Early response to double-stranded RNA in domestic chickens

Using poly I:C transfected into HD-11 macrophage cell line as a model, we identified genes that are specifically upregulated or downregulated within 24 hours of exposure to dsRNA. We confirmed the pattern of response seen in HD-11 cells by using primary macrophage culture obtained from cells isolated from the bone marrow of chickens. We then investigated the effect of breeds on the activation of the MDA-5 pathway by injecting poly I:C into twelve different breeds of domestic chickens obtained from McMurray farms. We collected whole blood and harvested the spleen to evaluate the expression of the differentially upregulated genes previously identified in macrophage cultures. Our results showed significant breed differences in the expression of genes of innate immunity following activation of the MDA-5 pathway in the domestic chicken. We are now investigating differences in response among commercial lines.

Refereed Journals

1. V. A. Meliopoulos, S. A. Marvin, P. Freiden, L. A. Moser, P. Nighot, R. Ali, A. Blikslager, M. Reddivari, R. J. Heath, M. D. Koci, S. Schultz-Cherry. Oral administration of astrovirus capsid protein is sufficient to induce acute diarrhea. mBio. Sumbitted. 2015.
2. A. L. Ballou, R. A. Ali, M. A. Mendoza, J. C. Ellis, H. M. Hassan, W. J. Croom, and M. D. Koci. Development of the chick microbiome: How early exposure influences future microbial diversity. Frontiers Veterinary Science. Submitted. 2015.
3. B. Troxell, N. Petri, C. Daron, R. Pereira, M. Mendoza, H. M. Hassan, M. D. Koci. The body temperature of poultry contributes to the control of systemic invasion through reducing expression of SPI-1 genes in Salmonella enterica serovars Typhimurium and Enteritidis. Applied and Environmental Microbiology. In Press. 2015.
4. Kim, T.H, H. Zhou. 2015. Functional Analysis of Chicken IRF7 in Response to dsRNA Analog Poly(I:C) by Integrating Overexpression and Knockdown: 10.1371/journal.pone.0133450
5. Schmid M. et al. H. Zhou. 2015.Third Report on Chicken Genes and Chromosomes Cytogenet Genome Res 145:78-179 (DOI:10.1159/000430927)
6. Leif, A. et al., The FAANG Consortium. 2015. Coordinated international action to accelerate genome-to-phenome with FAANG, the Functional Annotation of Animal Genomes project. Genome Biology 16:57. DOI: 10.1186/s13059-015-0622-4
7. Shi S, Shen Y, Zhao Z, Hou Z, Yang Y, Zhou H, Zou J, Guo Y. 2014. Integrative analysis of transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling of ascites syndrome in broiler chickens induced by low temperature. Mol Biosyst. 10(11):2984-93. doi: 10.1039/c4mb00360h.
8. †Luo, J., Carrillo, J.A., Menendez, K.R., Tablante, N.L., Zhao, K., and *Song, J. 2014 Transcriptome analysis reveals an activation of MHC-I and MHC-II pathways in chicken trachea immunized with infectious laryngotracheitis virus vaccine. Poultry Science. 10.3382/ps.2013-03624.
9. Shang, S., Xie, Q., Duan, J.R., Ernst, C., Fulton, J.E., O’Sullivan, N., Song, J. Zhang, H. 2014. Host genetic resistance to Marek’s disease sustains HVT protective efficacy comparable to CVI988/Rispens in both experimental and commercial lines of chickens. Vaccine. 02/2014; DOI:10.1016/j.vaccine.2014.01.092.
10. Du, J.l., Yuan, Z.F., Ma, Z.W., Song, J., Xie, X.L., Chen, Y.L. 2014. KEGG-PCA: Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes-based pathway correlation analysis using Principal Component Analysis method. Molecular BioSystem, 2014, DOI: 10.1039/C4MB00287C, Paper.
11. †Mitra, A., Luo, J., He, Y., Gu, Y., Zhang, H. Zhao, K., Cui, K. and *Song, J. 2015 Histone modifications induced by MDV infection at early cytolytic and latency phases. BMC Genomics 13: 557. DOI 10.1186/s12864-015-1492-6.
12. José A. C., He, Y., Luo, J., Menendez, K.R., Tablante, T. L., Zhao, K., Paulson , J.N., Li, B., and *Song, J. 2015 Methylome Analysis in Chickens Immunized with Infectious
13. He Y., Ding, Y., Zhan, F., Zhang, H., Hu, G., Zhao, K., Han, B., Yang, N., Mao, L., *Song, J., 2015. The conservation and signatures of lincRNAs in Marek's disease of chicken. Scientific Reports 5, 15184; doi: 10.1038/srep15184
14. Lian, L., Li, X., Zhao, C., Han, B., Qu, L., Song, J., Liu, C., and Yang, N. Chicken gga-miR-181a targets MYBL1 and shows an inhibitory effect on proliferation of Marek’s disease virus-transformed lymphoid cell line Poultry Science. (Accepted)
15. He Y., José A. C, Luo, J., Ding, Y., Tian, F., *Song, J., 2014. Genome-wide mapping of DNase I hypersensitive sites and association analysis with gene expression in MSB1 cells. Front. Genet. | doi: 10.3389/fgene.2014.00308.
16. Galvan,S.C., Carranc, A.G., Song J., and Félix RT., Epigenetics and animal virus infections. Front. Genet., 04 March 2015 | doi: 10.3389/fgene.2015.00048.
17. Ma, M., Lin,R., Carrillo, J., Bhutani, M., Pathak, A., Ren, H., Li,Y., Song, J., Mao, L. ΔDNMT3B4-del Contributes to Aberrant DNA Methylation Patterns in Lung Tumorigenesis. EBioMedicine (2015), doi: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2015.09.002
18. Nguyen-Phuc, Hoa, Fulton, Janet E., and M. E. Berres. 2015. Genetic variation of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) in wild Red JungleFowl (Gallus gallus). Submitted to Poultry Science.
19. Fulton JE, Lund AR, McCarron AM, Pinegar K, Korver D, Classen H, Aggrey S, Utterbach C,Anthony NB, and M. E. Berres. 2015. MHC Variability in Heritage chicken breeds. Accepted in Poultry Science.
20. Nguyen-Phuc, Hoa and M. E. Berres. 2015. Spatial genetic structure of wild Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus) in South Central Vietnam. Submitted to Molecular Ecology.
21. Nguyen-Phuc, Hoa and M. E. Berres. 2015. Spatial dependence models and correlation of neutral genetic variation in wild Red Junglefowl (Gallus gallus). Submitted to Landscape Ecology.
22. Byrne, K. A.*, D. M. Falcon*, and G. F. Erf. 2015. Novel approach to simultaneously monitor local and systemic in vivo effects of varying doses of intradermally injected LPS. J. Immunol. 193:146.11.
23. Falcon, D. M.*, R. L. Dienglewicz, K. A. Byrne*, and G. F. Erf. 2015. Ex vivo killing of primary melanocytes by syngeneic mononuclear cells from active, autoimmune vitiligo lesions in Smyth chickens. J. Immunol. 193:115.12.
24. Lyle, C. S.*, K. A. Byrne*, D. M. Falcon*, R. L. Dienglewicz*, HM. Jang, Z. Aguilar, and G. F. Erf. 2015. Immunostimulatory activity of indium phosphide quantum dots in vitro and in vivo. J. Immunol. 193:73.13 (in press).
25. Erf, G. F., O. Alaamri*, H. Jang, K. A. Byrne*, D. M. Falcon*, Z. Aguilar, and R. L. Dienglewicz. 2015. Simultaneous monitoring of in vivo humoral and cellular immune responses in the avian model. J. Immunol. 193:73.8.
26. Erf, G. F., HM Jang, K. A. Byrne*, O Alaamri*, C. S. Lyle*, D. M. Falcon*, and R.L. Dienglewicz. 2015. Differences in cellular and humoral primary and secondary immune responses to protein antigen administered with or without adjuvant. Poult. Sci. (E. Suppl. 1) 94: (in press).
27. Byrne, K. A.* and G. F. Erf. 2015 Tissue and blood responses to peptidoglycan injection into chicken dermal tissue. Poult. Sci. (E. Suppl. 1) 94: (in press).
28. Huett, W.*, Byrne, K. A. *, Sorrick, J.*, and G. F. Erf. 2015. Uveitis and blindness in Smyth line chickens with autoimmune vitiligo: expression of cytokine- and melanogenesis-related-genes in eyes before and during loss of choroidal melanocytes. Pigment Cell & Melanoma Res. 28 (in press).
29. Falcon, D. M.*, R. L. Dienglewicz, and G. F. Erf. 2015. Monitoring of leukocyte infiltration responses to melanocytes injected into growing feathers of Smyth line chickens with autoimmune vitiligo. Pigment Cell & Melanoma Res. 28 (in press).
30. Falcon, D. M.*, G. F. Erf and S. Dridi. 2015. Reduced expression of the RNase Dicer in primary melanocytes obtained from vitiligo-prone Smyth line chickens. Pigment Cell & Melanoma Res. 28 (in press).
31. Gallardo R.A., Carrasco-Medanic R., Zhou H., Lyu S., Wang Y., Woolcock P.R., Hoerr F.J. Effects of challenge with very virulent infectious bursal disease virus reassortants in commercial chickens. Avian Dis, 58(4): 579-86.
32. Gallardo R.A., Aleuy O.A., M. Pitesky, G. Senties-Cue, A. Abdelnabi, P.R. Woolcock, M. R. Hauck, H. Toro. Variability Assessment of California Infectious Bronchitis Virus Variants. Avian Dis. Submitted for publication.
33. van Ginkel, F.W., J. Padgett, G. Martinez-Romero, M.S. Miller, K. Joiner, S.L. Gulley. 2015. Age-dependent immune responses and immune protection after avian coronavirus vaccination. Vaccine 33: 2655-2661.
34. Sun, H., Liu, P., Nolan, L.K., and Lamont, S.J. 2015. Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) infection alters bone marrow transcriptome in chickens. BMC Genomics 16:690 DOI 10.1186/s12864-015-1850-4.
35. Walugembe, M., Hsieh, J.C.F., Koszewski, N.J., Lamont, S.J., Rothschild, M.F., and Persia, M.E. 2015. Effects of dietary fiber on cecal short fatty acid and cecal microbiota of broiler and laying hen chicks. Poultry Sci. 94:2351–2359.
36. Kim, D. K., Lillehoj, H.S., Jang, S.I., Lee, S.H., Hong, Y.H., and Lamont, S.J. 2015. Genetically disparate Fayoumi chicken lines show different response to avian necrotic enteritis. J. Poultry Sci. doi.org/10.2141/jpsa.0140203.
37. Schmid, M., Smith, J., Burt, D.W., Aken, B.L., Antin, P.B. et al. 2015. Third Report on Chicken Genes and Chromosomes 2015. Cytogenet Genome Res 145: 78-179.
38. Yitbarek A, Echeverry H, Munyaka P, and Rodriguez-Lecompte JC, 2015. Innate immune responses in chicken pullets fed probiotic and symbiotic. Poult. Sci. 94:1802-1811.
39. Waititu SM, Yitbarek A, Matini E, Echeverry H, Kiarie E, Rodriguez-Lecompte JC,. Nyachoti CM.            2014. Effect of supplementing direct-fed microbials on broiler performance, nutrient digestibilities, and immune responses. Poult. Sci. 93:625-635
40. Jing M, Munyaka P, Tactacan G, Rodriguez-Lecompte, JC, O K, and House JD. 2014. Performance,            serum biochemical responses and gene expression of intestinal folate transporters of young and older laying hens in response to dietary folic acid supplementation and challenge with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide. Poult. Sci. 93:122-131
41. A. van Knegsel, H. M. Hammon, U. Bernabucci, G. Bertoni, R.M. Bruckmaier, R. M. A. Goselink, J. J.Gross, B. Kuhla, C. C. Metges, H. K. Parmentier, E. Trevisi, A. Tröscher, A. M. van Vuuren. Metabolicadaptation during early lactation: key to cow health, longevity and a sustainable dairy production chain.: Perspectives in Agriculture, Veterinary Science, Nutrition and Natural Resourches. CAB Review 9: doi:10.1079/PAVSNNR20149002, 2014.
42. F. Molist, E. van Eerden, H. K. Parmentier, J. Vuorenmaa. Effects of inclusion of hydrolyzed yeast on the immune response and performance of piglets after weaning. Animal Feed Science and Technology 195:136-141, 2014.
43. H. K. Parmentier, E. Harms, A. Lammers, M. G. B. Nieuwland. Age and genetic selection affect autoimmune profiles of chickens. Dev. Comp. Immunol. 47: 205-214, 2014.
44. J. O. Khobondo, M. G. B. Nieuwland, L. E. Webb, E. A. M. Bokkers, H. K. Parmentier. Natural (auto)antibodies in calves are affected by age and diet. Veterinary Quarterly 35: 64-75, 2015.
45. D. B. de Koning, E. P. W. C. Damen, M. G. B. Nieuwland, E. M. van Grevenhof, W. Hazeleger, B.Kemp, H. K. Parmentier. Association of natural (auto-) antibodies at an early age with osteochondrosis at slaughter in growing gilts. Livestock Science 176: 152-160, 2015.
46. T. V. L. Berghof, S. A. S. van der Klein, J. A. J. Arts, H. K. Parmentier, J. J. van der Poel, H. Bovenhuis. Genetic and non-genetic inheritance of natural antibodies binding keyhole limpet hemocyanin in a purebred chicken line. Plos One, e0131088, 2015.
47. A. Koppenol, E. Delezie, H. K. Parmentier, J. Buyse, N. Everaert. Limited evidence for transgenerational effects of maternal dietary supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids on immunity in broiler.Veterinary Journal 203: 244-249, 2015.
48. N. Mayasari, G. de Vries Reilingh, M. G. B. Nieuwland, G. J. Remmelink, H. K. Parmentier, B. Kemp,A. T. M. van Knegsel. Effect of maternal dry period length on colostrum immunoglobulin content, natural and specific antibodies titers and development of calves. J. Dairy Science 98: 3969-3979, 2015.
49. S. A. S. van der Klein, T. V. L. Berghof, J. A. J. Arts, H. K. Parmentier, J. J. van der Poel, H. Bovenhuis. Genetic relations between natural antibodies binding keyhole limpet hemocyanin and production traits in a purebred layer chicken line. Poultry Science 94: 875-882, 2015.
50. E. Wondmeneh, E. H. van der Waaij, H. K. Parmentier, B.J. Ducro, J. A. M. van Arendonk. High natural antibody titers of indigenous chickens are related with increased hazard in confinement. Poultry Science 94: 1493-1498, 2015.
51. B. de Klerk, B. Ducro, H. Heuven, I. den Uijl, J. van Arendonk, H. K. Parmentier, J. J. van der Poel. Phenotypic and genetic relationships of natural antibodies binding keyhole limpet hemocyanin in bovine plasma and milk. J. Dairy Science 98: 2746-2752, 2015.
52. M. Bao, H. Bovenhuis, M. G. B. Nieuwland, H. K. Parmentier, J. J. van der Poel. Genetic parameters of IgM and IgG antibodies binding autoantigens in healthy chickens. In press, Poultry Sci. 2015.
53. K Simon, De Vries Reilingh G and Lammers A. 2014. Development of ileal cytokine and immunoglobulin expression levels in response to early feeding in broilers and layers. Poultry Science. In press.
54. Banat G. R., Tkalcic S., Dzielawa J. A., Jackwood M. W., Saggese M. D., Yates L., Kopulos R.,Briles W. E., Collisson E. W. Association of the chicken MHC B haplotypes with resistance to avian coronavirus. Dev. Comp. Immunol. 2013;39:430-437.
55. Dawes M.E., Griggs L.M., Collisson E.W., Briles W.E., Drechsler Y. Dramatic differences in the response of macrophages from B2 and B19 MHC-defined haplotypes to interferon gamma and polyinosinic:polycytidylic acid stimulation. Poultry Science 2014 Vol 93: 830-838
56. Miller MM and Taylor, Jr.RL. Brief Review of the Chicken Major Histocompatibility Complex – the Genes, their Distribution on Chromosome 16 and their Contributions to Disease Resistance. Submitted.
57. Fulton JE, McCarron AE, Lund AR, Pinegar K, Wolc A, Chazara O, Bed’Hom B, Berres ME, Miller MM. A high density SNP panel reveals extensive diversity, frequent recombination and multiple recombination hotspots within the chicken major histocompatibility complex B region between BG2 to CD1A1. To be submitted in October 2015.
58. Miller, MM, Goto, RM, McPherson, M, Delgado MH, Dalton J, Warden C, Wu X, Hosomichi K, Delany ME, and Shiina T. FISH analysis and sequencing of the red jungle fowl MHC-Y region reveals multiple compartmentalized clusters of MHC class I-like, MHC class IIβ, c-type-lectin-like genes interspersed with repetitive elements. To be submitted in December 2015
59. Miller, MM, Goto, RM, Gugui, G., Bjorkman P. Nature of ligands bound byYF1*7.1. To be submitted in August 2016.
60. Taylor, R. L., Jr., J. L. Anderson, and S. C. Smith, 2014. Commentary on: Atherosclerosis-susceptible and atherosclerosis-resistant pigeon aortic cells express different genes in vivo. http://www.athero.org/commentaries/comm1188.asp
61. Taylor, R. L., Jr. 2015. Letter to the Editor – An incomplete story told by a single number. Poult. Sci. 94:1995-1996 doi:10.3382/ps/pev221
62. Taylor, R. L., Jr., Z. Medarova, and W. E. Briles. Immune effects of chicken non-Mhc alloantigens. Poult. Sci. 95: in press doi:10.3382/ps/pev331 (review)
63. Taylor, R. L., Jr. The future of poultry science research: Challenges as opportunities. AMENA, Asociación Mexicana de Especialistas en Nutrición Animal, Puerta Vallarta, Mexico in press
64. CAST (Long., J. H. Blackburn, A. Martin, F. Silversides, R. L. Taylor, Jr., and C. Youngs). The need for agricultural innovation to sustainably feed the world by 2050: Protecting food animal gene pools for future generations. in press
65. Miller, M. M., and R. L. Taylor, Jr. Brief review of the chicken major histocompatibility complex – the genes, their distribution on chromosome 16 and their contribution to disease resistance. (review)
66. Weathers, B., S. L. Branton, R. Jacob, E. D. Peebles, R. L. Taylor, Jr., and G. T. Pharr. Expression of the ephrin receptor B2 in the embryonic chicken bursa of Fabricius.

Book Chapters

2016. D. Koci and S. Schultz-Cherry. “Astrovirus”. Food Microbiology Series: Laboratory Models for Foodborne Infections. Ed. D. Liu. Springer Science. New York. 2016.

Presentations

1. Koci, M. Intestinal immunology and the role of enteric viruses in intestinal health. Zoetis Intestinal Health Seminar. North Carolina State University (NCSU), June 2015.
2. Koci, M No Theses Without the Feces. RTP180. Research Triangle Park, NC. June 2015.
3. Koci, M Resistance, Immunity and Vaccines: Lessons from our Feathered Friends. Triangle Immunology and Virology Interest Group. Research Triangle Park, NC. February 2015.
4. Koci, M Innovation in Action: Novel Research in Agriculture and Life Sciences. Stewards of the Future: the Future of Foods. Raleigh, NC. November 2014.
5. Koci, M The Future With or Without Anitbiotics. 41st Poultry Nutrition Conference. Raleigh NC.
6. Saelao, P., Y. Wang, D,A, Bunn, R. Gallardo, S.J. Lamont. Zhou, H. 2015. Transcriptome Response of Two Distinct Highly Inbred Lines to Combined Stressors of Newcastle Disease Virus and Heat. International Symposium on Animal Functional Genomics, Piacenza, Italy.
7. Herrmann, M. S. H. Zhou, R. Gallardo, D. Bunn, S. Lamont. 2015. Differential response of resistant and susceptible chicken lines to a lentogenic Newcastle Disease Virus strain. Global Alliance for Research on Avian Diseases (GARAD) Conference, UK.
8. Rowland, K., H. Zhou, R. Gallardo, D. Bunn, S. Lamont. 2015. Identifying genes and genetic markers associated with NDV resistance in chickens. Poultry Breeders Roundtable meeting, St Louis, MO.
9. Zhou, H., D,A, Bunn, R. Gallardo, S. J. Lamont, J. C.M. Dekkers, A. Muhairwa, P. Msoffe, B. Kayang, A. Naazie, G. Aning, C. J. Schmidt. 2015. Improving Food Security in Africa By Enhancing Resistance to Newcastle Disease and Heat Stress in Chickens: Genomics to Improve Poultry. Plant & Animal Genome XXIII, San Diego, CA.
10. Y. Wang, P. Saelao, D,A, Bunn, R. Gallardo, S.J. Lamont. Zhou, H. 2015. Transcriptome Analysis of Genetic Resistance to Heat Stress in Two Genetically Distinct Chicken Inbred Lines. Plant & Animal Genome XXIII, San Diego, CA.
11. Saelao, P. H. Zhou. 2015. Tissue-Specific Transcriptome Regulation through Histone Modifications in Chickens. Plant & Animal Genome XXIII, San Diego, CA. November 2014.
12. Giuffra , E., S. Foissac ,O. Madsen ,M. A.M. Groenen , R. Crooijmans , P. J. Ross , I. Korf ,H. Zhou. 2015. The Functional Annotation of Animal Genomes (FAANG) Initiative. Plant & Animal Genome XXIII, San Diego, CA.
13. Zhou H., Wang Y, N. Huefner, Lupiani B, Reddy SM, Lamont SJ. 2015. Systems Biology Analysis of Mechanism of Host Response to Avian Influenza Virus Infection in Two Genetically Distinct Chicken Inbred Lines. Plant & Animal Genome XXIII, San Diego, CA.
14. Kim, T.H, Y. Wang, Z. Zhao, S. J. Lamont, H. Zhou. 2015. RNA-Seq Based Genome-Wide Analysis of Genomic Imprinting in Chicken Lungs. Plant & Animal Genome XXIII, San Diego, CA.
15. Saelao, P., Y. Wang, A. Nazmi, D,A, Bunn, R. Gallardo, S.J. Lamont. Zhou, H. 2015. Transcriptional Analysis of Resistance to Newcastle Disease Virus Infection in Two Genetically Distinct Inbred Chicken Line. Plant & Animal Genome XXIII, San Diego, CA.
16. Gallardo R.A., M. Pitesky, B. Crossley. 2014. Understanding Variability of California Infectious Bronchitis Viral Strains. American Association of Avian Pathologists Annual Meeting. Denver, CO.
17. Gallardo R.A., H. Zhou, Y. Wang, K. Smith. 2015. Major Histocompatibility Complex and Genetic Resistance Towards Infectious Bronchitis Virus. American Association of Avian Pathologists Annual Meeting. Boston, MA.
18. C. Breedlove, A.M. Ghetas, S. Gulley, F.W. van Ginkel, K. Joiner, V.L. van Santen, H. Toro. Effects of Supplemental Fermentation Product of S. cerevisiae in Chicken Diets on Resistance against Infectious Bronchitis Virus. Southern Conference on Avian Diseases, Atlanta, GA, January 2015.
19. Miller, S.L. Gulley, and F.W. van Ginkel. Effects of vaccination on IBV-specific antibody production and avidity in chickens. Phi Zeta Research Emphasis Day. November 5, 2014, Auburn AL.
20. Elad O, Rodríguez-Lecompte JC, Sharif S, McKenna P. 2014. Effect of Folic Acid on the Expression of TLR2b, TLR4 and Igβ Genes in Chicken B cells, with or Without LPS Challenge. Avian Immunology Research Group (AIRG) meeting 2014, University of Guelph, ON, Canada July 16-19 2014 (Poster)
21. Rodríguez-Lecompte JC, Elad O, Yitbarek A, Sharif S, McKenna P. 2014. Effect of different levels of vitamin D active form 1,25 (OH)2 D3 on chicken B-Cells associated with avian innate immune responses. Avian Immunology Research Group (AIRG) meeting 2014, University of Guelph, ON, Canada July 16-19 2014 (Poster)
22. Alizadeh M, Rodriguez-Lecompte JC, Slominski BA. 2014. The effect of different formulation of yeast-derived products on growth performance, innate and humoral immunity in broiler chickens. The International Scientific Conference on Probiotics and Prebiotics – IPC2014, 24–26th June 2014, Budapest, Hungary (Oral presentation).
23. Rodríguez-Lecompte JC, Echeverry H, Yitbarek A, Parada M. 2014. Innate immune response of chicken macrophages to Escherichia coli derived-LPS and Propionibacterium acnes and granulosum challenge. 63rd Western Poultry Conference & XXXIX ANECA Joint Annual Meeting, Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico April 2-5, 2014 (Oral presentation)
24. Drechsler Y: International Anatomy & Pathology meeting, Zagreb, Croatia, 2014. The role of CD8 T lymphocyte in virally associated protective immunity.
25. Drechsler Y: GARAD. London, UK 2015: RNA Sequencing Elucidates Large-Scale Temporal Dysregulation of Gene Expression in B19 versus B2 Haplotype Activated Macrophages WVPA, Capetwon, South Africa 2015.
26. Drechsler Y and Collisson EW: RNA sequencing shows significantly different gene expression of macrophages in B2 compared to B19 haplotype chickens
27. Collisson EW, Griggs LM, Drechsler Y: Macrophages are Key Players in B Haplotype Associated Enhanced Adaptive Immunity to Avian Influenza Virus.
28. Platform Report at NC-1170 - Advanced Technologies for the Genetic Improvement of Poultry and the NSRP-8, National Animal Genome Research Program held at XXII Plant and Animal Genome Meeting, San Diego, CA, January 10, 2015

Abstracts

1. V. A. Meliopoulos, S. A. Marvin, B. Sharp, P. Freiden, L. A. Moser, P. Nighot, R. Ali, A. Blikslager, M. Reddivari, R. J. Heath, M. D. Koci, and S. Schultz-Cherry. The Astrovirus Capsid Protein: A Novel Viral Enterotoxin That Increases Intestinal Barrier Permeability And Sodium Malabsorption In A Small Animal Model. July 2015. 34th Annual Meeting of the American Society for Virology. London ON, Canada.
2. B. Troxell, R. Ali, M. Mendoza, H. M. Hassan, and M. D. Koci. Growth at the Body Temperature of Poultry Inhibits the Function of the HilD Protein and Reduces Expression of SPI-1 Genes within Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. May 2015. 115th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology. New Orleans, LA.
3. A. L. Ballou and M. D. Koci. Impact of Gut Microbiome Modulation on Gut Inflammation. March 2015. Experimental Biology 2015. Boston, MA.
4. A. L. Ballou, R. A. Ali, J. Croom, M. D. Koci. Where do probiotics live and work? January 2015. 2015 International Poultry Scientific Forum. Atlanta, GA.
5. Zhang, H., Xie, Q.M., Chang, S., Ernst, C.W. Black-Pykosz, A., He, Y., *Song J. 2014. Differential expression profiling of miRNAs between a Marek’s disease resistant and a susceptible line of chickens by deep sequencing. The 10th International Symposium on Marek’s Disease and Avian Herpes viruses. East Lansing, Michigan.
6. He, Y., Luo, J., Ding, Y., Zhang, H., Cheng, H., and *Song, J. 2014. LINCRNA Identification of Marek’s Disease in CD4+ T cells. The 10th International Symposium on Marek’s Disease and Avian Herpes viruses. East Lansing, Michigan.
7. He, Y., Luo, J., Ding, Y., Zhang, H., Tian, F., and *Song, J. 2014 Epigenetics pattern and Host-virus interaction. International Society Animal Genetics 2014 XiAn, China.
8. Ding, Y., He, YH., Carrillo, J., Zhang, HM., and *Song, J. Transcriptomic signatures of Marek’s disease in immune organs. Poultry Science Association Annual Meeting. Louisville, Kentucky, United States. July 27-30, 2015
9. Han, B , He, YH. Ding, Y. Zhang, L. Yang, N. and *Song, J. 2015 Identification of LincRNAs and their modeling of knockdown systems associated with chicken Marek’s disease. Poultry Science Association Annual Meeting. Louisville, Kentucky, United States. July 27-30, 2015
10. He, YH, Zhang, HM. and *Song, J. 2015 Differential transcriptome analysis of CD4+ T cells of chickens induced by Marek’s disease virus challenge. International Plant & Animal Genome XXIII. San Diego, CA, USA. January 10-14, 2015
11. He,YH, Zhang, HM. Taylor, RL. and *Song, J. 2015 DNA methylation patterns associated with the resistance of Marek's disease. Poultry Science Association Annual Meeting. Louisville, Kentucky, United States. July 27-30, 2015
12. Herrmann, M.S., Gallardo, R., Bunn, D.A., Zhou, H., and Lamont, S.J. 2015. Differential response of resistant and susceptible chicken lines to a Newcastle Disease Virus vaccine strain. Proc. International Symposium on Vaccines Against Antigenically Variable Viruses (VAAVV), November 5-8, 2015; Ames, IA.
13. Herrmann, M.S., Gallardo, R., Bunn, D.A., Zhou, H., and Lamont, S.J. 2015. Differential response of resistant and susceptible chicken lines to a lentogenic Newcastle Disease Virus strain. Proc. Global Alliance for Research on Avian Diseases, June 28-July 1, 2015; London, England.
14. Herrmann, M.S., Gallardo, R., Bunn, D.A., Zhou, H., and Lamont, S.J. 2015. Differential response of resistant and susceptible chicken lines to a lentogenic Newcastle Disease Virus strain. Proc. National Breeders Roundtable, May 7-8, 2015; St. Louis, MO.
15. Herrmann, M.S., Gallardo, R., Bunn, D.A., Zhou, H., and Lamont, S.J. 2015. Differential response of resistant and susceptible chicken lines to a lentogenic Newcastle Disease Virus strain. Proc.2nd Graduate and Professional Research Conference, April 2, 2015; Ames, IA.
16. Rowland, K., Zhou, H., Gallardo, R., Bunn, D., Lamont, S. 2015. Identifying genes and genetic markers for NDV resistance in commercial layer chickens. Proc. 9th European Symposium on Poultry Genetics, June 16-18, Tuusula, Finland.
17. Rowland, K., Zhou, H., Gallardo, R., Bunn, D., Lamont, S. 2015. Identifying genes and genetic markers associated with NDV resistance in chickens. Proc. Poultry Breeders Roundtable, May 7-8, St. Louis, MO.
18. Rowland, K., Zhou, H., Gallardo, R., Bunn, D., Lamont, S. 2015. Identifying host genes and genetic markers for antibody production to Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) vaccine strain in commercial layer chickens. Proc. Vaccines Against Antigenically Variable Viruses, November 5-8, Ames, IA.
19. Casebere, K., Kaiser, M., and Lamont, S. 2015. Bacterial component induced inflammatory response in roosters from diverse genetic lines. Animal Science Leaflet R2998, Iowa State University, Ames IA USA
20. Herrmann, M.S., Gallardo, R., Bunn, D.A., Zhou, H., and Lamont, S.J. 2015. Differential response of resistant and susceptible chicken lines to a Newcastle Disease Virus vaccine strain. Proc. International Symposium on Vaccines Against Antigenically Variable Viruses (VAAVV), November 5-8, 2015; Ames, IA.
21. Herrmann, M.S., Gallardo, R., Bunn, D.A., Zhou, H., and Lamont, S.J. 2015. Differential response of resistant and susceptible chicken lines to a lentogenic Newcastle Disease Virus strain. Proc. Global Alliance for Research on Avian Diseases, June 28-July 1, 2015; London, England.
22. Herrmann, M.S., Gallardo, R., Bunn, D.A., Zhou, H., and Lamont, S.J. 2015. Differential response of resistant and susceptible chicken lines to a lentogenic Newcastle Disease Virus strain. Proc. National Breeders Roundtable, May 7-8, 2015; St. Louis, MO.
23. Herrmann, M.S., Gallardo, R., Bunn, D.A., Zhou, H., and Lamont, S.J. 2015. Differential response of resistant and susceptible chicken lines to a lentogenic Newcastle Disease Virus strain. Proc.2nd Graduate and Professional Research Conference, April 2, 2015; Ames, IA.
24. Hsieh J.C., Jernigan R.L., Lamont S.J. 2015. The Structure of Newcastle Disease Virus Fusion Protein Bound to Chicken Protein Disulfide Isomerase A3 Suggests a Molecular Target for New Therapies. Proc. National Breeders Roundtable; 2015 May 7-8; St. Louis
25. MO. Hsieh J.C., Walugembe M., Koszewski N.J., Lamont S.J., Persia M.E., Rothschild M.F. 2015. Whole Genome Shotgun Sequencing Metagenomics Analysis for the “Common” Scientist – Poultry. International Plant & Animal Genome Conference XXIII; 2015 Jan 10-14; San Diego, CA.\
26. Rowland, K., Zhou, H., Gallardo, R., Bunn, D., Lamont, S. 2015. Identifying genes and genetic markers for NDV resistance in commercial layer chickens. Proc. 9th European Symposium on Poultry Genetics, June 16-18, Tuusula, Finland.
27. Rowland, K., Zhou, H., Gallardo, R., Bunn, D., Lamont, S. 2015. Identifying genes and genetic markers associated with NDV resistance in chickens. Proc. Poultry Breeders Roundtable, May 7-8, St. Louis, MO.
28. Rowland, K., Zhou, H., Gallardo, R., Bunn, D., Lamont, S. 2015. Identifying host genes and genetic markers for antibody production to Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) vaccine strain in commercial layer chickens. Proc. Vaccines Against Antigenically Variable Viruses, November 5-8, Ames, IA.
29. Sauer, Z., Kaiser, M., and Lamont, S.J. 2015. RNA expression levels of 2 immunologically related genes upon lipopolysaccharide stimulation amongst 3 distinct genetic lines of chicken. Animal Science Leaflet R2999, Iowa State University, Ames IA USA
30. Sun, H., Liu, P., Nolan, L.K., and Lamont, S.J. 2015. Combination analysis of three primary lymphoid tissues in response to extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) infection. Next generation sequencing USA congress and single cell analysis USA congress: 2015 Oct 27-28; Boston, USA.
31. Walugembe M., Hsieh J.C., Koszewski N.J., Lamont S.J., Persia M.E., Rothschild M.F. 2015. Metagenomics Analysis of Broiler and Layer Chicks Cecal Content from High Fiber Diets - Poultry. International Plant & Animal Genome Conference XXIII; 2015 Jan 10-14; San Diego, CA.
32. Elad O, Rodriguez-Lecompte JC, Sharif S and McKenna P. 2015. Epigenetic characterization of the effect of folic acid on chicken B cell receptors methylation patterns and mRNA expression. Poult. Sci.9(E-suppl.1)4:29
33. Rodriguez-Lecompte JC, Elad O, Reyes J, Yitbarek A, Sharif S and McKenna P. 2015. Vitamin D active form 1,25-(OH)2D3 supplementation on toll-like receptors, BCR, MHC II, cytokines and chemokine profile in chicken B cells. Poult. Sci. 94 (E-suppl.1):64
34. He, Y., H. Zhang, R. L. Taylor, Jr., and J. Song. 2015. DNA methylation patterns associated with the resistance of Marek's disease. Poult. Sci. 94(E-Suppl. 1):50
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Thesis/Dissertation Completed:

1. Kallie Sullivan. Honors (POSC) Innate and adaptive anti-tumor immunity in naïve and tumor-bearing Arkansas Rous sarcoma Regressor and Progressor chickens” (Sp 2015). University of Arkansas. G.F. Erf, mentor.
2. Innate patterning of the immune response to marek's disease Virus (mdv) during pathogenesis and vaccination, Upendra k.Katneni, august 2015, phd
3. Transcriptional analysis of the unfolded protein Response (upr) and lymphoma microenvironment during Marek’s disease virus (mdv) infection, sabarinath neerukonda, August 2015, MS