Implication of complex vertebral malformation and deficiency of uridine monophosphate synthase on molecular-based testing in the Iranian Holstein bulls population

The aim of this study was to identify the deficiency of uridine monophosphate synthase (DUMPS) and the complex vertebral malformation (CVM) in Iranian Holstein bulls. A total of 144 blood samples were prepared of Holstein bulls in Abbas Abad Animal Breeding Center and Ferdowsi University of Mashhad's Dairy Farm in Khorasan state of Iran. Genomic PCR-RFLP protocol was performed to amplify the polymorphic region of the bovine uridine monophosphate synthase UMPS gene. Also, genomic PCR-SSCP method was performed for CVM to amplify the polymorphic region of the bovine solutecarrier family 35 member 3 (SLC35A3) genes. The results of this study demonstrated that there was no carrier of DUMPS and CVM in Iranian bulls in these centers

The diversity of leptin gene in Iranian native, Holstein and Brown Swiss cattle

This study describes genetic variability in the leptin in Iranian native, Brown Swiss and Holstein cattle (Bos Indicus and Bos Taurus). This is the first study of genetic polymorphism of the leptin gene in Iranian native cattle. We examined exon 2 of the leptin gene from 587 individuals in six different populations of Iranian native cattles (86 Sarabi, 66 Taleshi, 94 Sistani, 76 Golpayegani, 104 Brown Swiss and 161 Holstein cattle) using PCR-RFLP method. Analysis of the frequencies of the various alleles ineach breed indicated that allele C in Sarabi, Taleshi, Sistani, Golpayegani, Brown Swiss and Holstein cattle with 68, 55, 69, 71, 55 and 57% value were the most frequent alleles. Observed heterozygosities were highest in Golpayegani (57.89%). These new data suggest that allele frequencies of leptin differ between the various Iranian cattle breeds

Breadth of the CD4+ T cell response to Anaplasma marginale VirB9-1, VirB9-2 and VirB10 and MHC class II DR and DQ restriction elements

MHC class II molecules influence antigen-specific CD4(+) T-lymphocyte responses primed by immunization and infection. CD4(+) T-cell responses are important for controlling infection by many bacterial pathogens including Anaplasma marginale, and are observed in cattle immunized with the protective A. marginale outer membrane (OM) vaccine. Immunogenic proteins that comprise the protective OM vaccine include type IV secretion system (T4SS) proteins VirB9-1, VirB9-2, and VirB10, candidates for inclusion in a multi-epitope vaccine. Our goal was to determine the breadth of the VirB9-1, VirB9-2, and VirB10 T-cell response and MHC class II restriction elements in six cattle with different MHC class II haplotypes, defined by DRB3, DQA, and DQB allele combinations for each animal. Overlapping peptides spanning each T4SS protein were tested in T-cell proliferation assays with autologous antigen presenting cells (APC) and artificial APC expressing combinations of bovine DR and DQ molecules. Twenty immunostimulatory peptides were identified; three representing two or more epitopes in VirB9-1, ten representing eight or more epitopes in VirB9-2, and seven representing seven or more epitopes in VirB10. Of eight DRA/DRB3 molecules, four presented 15 peptides, which was biased as DRA/DRB3*1201 presented ten and DRA/DRB3*1101 presented four peptides. Four DQA/DQB molecules composed of two intrahaplotype and two interhaplotype pairs presented seven peptides, of which five were uniquely presented by DQ molecules. In addition,three functional mixed isotype (DQA/DRB3) restriction elements were identified. The immunogenicity and broad MHC class II presentation of multiple VirB9-1, VirB9-2, and VirB10 peptide epitopes justify their testing as a multi-epitope vaccine against A. marginale

Comparison of bovine lymphocyte antigen DRB3.2 allele frequencies between two subpopulations of Iranian holstein cattle

The bovine lymphocyte antigen (BoLA-DRB3) gene encodes cell surface glycoproteins that initiate immune responses by presenting processed antigenic peptides to CD4 T helper cells. DRB3 is the mostpolymorphic bovine MHC class II gene which encodes the peptide-binding groove. Since different alleles favor the binding of different peptides, DRB3 has been extensively evaluated as a candidatemarker for associations with various bovine diseases and immunological traits. Therefore, in this study, the genetic diversity of the bovine class II DRB3 locus in the two Iranian subpopulations of Holstein cattle (Moghan farm n = 250 and Razavi farm n = 175) was investigated by polymerase chain reactionrestriction fragment length polymorphism method (PCR-RFLP). Bovine DNA was isolated from whole blood. A hemi-nested PCR followed by digestion with restriction endonucleases RsaI, HaeIII and BstYI was conducted on the DNA. The results indicated that exon 2 of the BoLA-DRB3 gene is highlypolymorphic in the two populations, and the frequency of BoLA-DRB3 depends on breed. On the other hand the presence of BoLA-DRB3*8, *24, and *16 alleles with high frequency in BoLA-DRB3.2 system,can be used as appellative index for nominate Holstein