Genome-based analysis for the identification of candidate genes associated with skin-photosensitization tolerance in sheep

In ruminant livestock, skin photosensitization, caused by the ingestion of toxic plants, is relatively common and affects animal production. In this study, genotyping data from the Illumina OvineSNP50 BeadChip from two Italian local sheep breeds (Leccese and Altamurana) were used to identify putative genomic regions associated with response to skin photosensitization. We identified four genomic regions harbouring several candidate genes related to dermatitis, immune response, and coat color, that could be potentially involved in modulating photosensitization in sheep. These findings enhance our understanding of the genetic mechanisms underlying skin photosensitization in sheep and provide valuable insights into livestock adaptation to local environmental pressure

Kit per audiometria vocale prassica

Un kit per audiometria vocale prassica comprende una pluralit\ue0 di oggetti aventi forma di anello ciascuno di un colore diverso scelto dal gruppo comprendente il giallo, il blu, il verde, il rosso e l\u2019arancione, una pluralit\ue0 di oggetti aventi forma diversa da un anello, ciascuno di un colore diverso scelto dal gruppo comprendente il giallo, il blu, il verde, il rosso e l\u2019arancione ed una serie di comandi (9) definenti una serie di azioni che un soggetto deve svolgere interagendo con detta pluralit\ue0 di oggetti a forma di anello e detta pluralit\ue0 di oggetti aventi forma diversa da un anello

Empowerment of the Italian small ruminant sector: new traits and tools toward a sustainable management

This work summarizes the main results of the CHEESR project, a national initiative with the aim of introducing innovative tools for biodiversity conservation and genetic improvements of the Italian small ruminant populations. Pedigrees from 81 breeds and genomic data from 11 case-study breeds have been analyzed. These, together with the collection of new phenotypes, led to the development of welfare- and health-related genomic tools for the first time in Italian sheep and goats. The introduction of these new instruments, which will continue with the SHEEP&GOAT project, will contribute to devise new strategies for sustainable development of the Italian small ruminant sector

Effect of genotyping density on the detection of runs of homozygosity and heterozygosity in cattle

Runs of homozygosity (ROHom) are contiguous stretches of homozygous regions of the genome. In contrast, runs of heterozygosity (ROHet) are heterozygosity-rich regions. The detection of these two types of genomic regions (ROHom and ROHet) is influenced by the parameters involved in their identification and the number of available single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The present study aimed to test the effect of chip density in detecting ROHom and ROHet in the Italian Simmental cattle breed. A sample of 897 animals were genotyped at low density (50k SNP; 397 individuals), medium density (140k SNP; 348 individuals), or high density (800k SNP; 152 individuals). The number of ROHom and ROHet per animal (nROHom and nROHet, respectively) and their average length were calculated. ROHom or ROHet shared by more than one animal and the number of times a particular SNP was inside a run were also computed (SNPROHom and SNPROHet). As the chip density increased, the nROHom increased, whereas their average length decreased. In contrast, the nROHet decreased and the average length increased as the chip density increased. The most repeated ROHom harbored no genes, whereas in the most repeated ROHet four genes (SNRPN, SNURF, UBE3A, and ATP10A) previously associated with reproductive traits were found. Across the 3 datasets, 31 SNP, located on Bos taurus autosome (BTA) 6, and 37 SNP (located on BTA21) exceeded the 99th percentile in the distribution of the SNPROHom and SNPROHet, respectively. The genomic region on BTA6 mapped the SLIT2, PACRGL, and KCNIP4 genes, whereas 19 and 18 genes were mapped on BTA16 and BTA21, respectively. Interestingly, most of genes found through the ROHet analysis were previously reported to be related to health, reproduction, and fitness traits. The results of the present study confirm that the detection of ROHom is more reliable when the chip density increases, whereas the ROHet trend seems to be the opposite. Genes and quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapped in the highlighted regions confirm that ROHet can be due to balancing selection, thus related to fitness traits, health, and reproduction, whereas ROHom are mainly involved in production traits. The results of the present study strengthened the usefulness of these parameters in analyzing the genomes of livestock and their biological meaning