Genetic Diversity and Signatures of Selection in a Native Italian Horse Breed Based on SNP Data

Horses are nowadays mainly used for sport and leisure activities, and several local breeds, traditionally used in agriculture, have been exposed to a dramatic loss in population size and genetic diversity. The loss of genetic diversity negatively impacts individual fitness and reduces the potential long-term survivability of a breed. Recent advances in molecular biology and bioinformatics have allowed researchers to explore biodiversity one step further. This study aimed to evaluate the loss of genetic variability and identify genomic regions under selection pressure in the Bardigiano breed based on GGP Equine70k SNP data. The effective population size based on Linkage Disequilibrium (Ne) was equal to 39 horses, and it showed a decline over time. The average inbreeding based on runs of homozygosity (ROH) was equal to 0.17 (SD = 0.03). The majority of the ROH were relatively short (91% were ≤ 2Mbp long), highlighting the occurrence of older inbreeding, rather than a more recent occurrence. A total of eight ROH islands, shared among more than 70% of the Bardigiano horses, were found. Four of them mapped to known quantitative trait loci related to morphological traits (e.g., body size and coat color) and disease susceptibility. This study provided the first genome-wide scan of genetic diversity and selection signatures in an Italian native horse breed

Addition of aromatic nucleophiles to a C=N double bond of 1,2,5-thiadiazole 1,1-dioxide

A new synthesis of 3,4-diphenyl-4-aryl-1,2,5-thiadiazolines 1,1-dioxide through the addition of aromatic derivatives to 1,2,5-thiadiazole 1,1-dioxide is presented. Anhydrous AlCl3 is used as catalyst.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Addition of aromatic nucleophiles to a C=N double bond of 1,2,5-thiadiazole 1,1-dioxide

A new synthesis of 3,4-diphenyl-4-aryl-1,2,5-thiadiazolines 1,1-dioxide through the addition of aromatic derivatives to 1,2,5-thiadiazole 1,1-dioxide is presented. Anhydrous AlCl3 is used as catalyst.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Analysis of ddRAD-seq data provides new insights into the genomic structure and patterns of diversity in Italian donkey populations

With more than 150 recognized breeds, donkeys assume relevant economic importance, especially in developing countries. Even if the estimated number of heads worldwide is 53M, this species received less attention than other livestock species. Italy has traditionally been considered one of the cradles of European donkey breeding, and despite a considerable loss of biodiversity, today still counts nine autochthonous populations. A total of 220 animals belonging to nine different populations were genotyped using the double-digest restriction site associated DNA (ddRAD) sequencing to investigate the pattern of diversity using a multi-Technique approach. A total of 418,602,730 reads were generated and successfully demultiplexed to obtain a medium-density SNP genotypes panel with about 27K markers. The diversity indices showed moderate levels of variability. The genetic distances and relationships, largely agree with the breeding history of the donkey populations under investigation. The results highlighted the separation of populations based on their genetic origin or geographical proximity between breeding areas, showed low to moderate levels of admixture, and indicated a clear genetic difference in some cases. For some breeds, the results also validate the success of proper management conservation plans. Identified runs of homozygosity islands, mapped within genomic regions related to immune response and local adaptation, are consistent with the characteristics of the species known for its rusticity and adaptability. This study is the first exhaustive genome-wide analysis of the diversity of Italian donkey populations. The results emphasized the high informativeness of genome-wide markers retrieved through the ddRAD approach. The findings take on great significance in designing and implementing conservation strategies. Standardized genotype arrays for donkey species would make it possible to combine worldwide datasets to provide further insights into the evolution of the genomic structure and origin of this important genetic resource

Descripción de un caso de paratuberculosis caprina juvenil en Argentina

La paratuberculosis (PTBC) es una enfermedad crónica causada por Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) que puede afectar a varias especies de rumiantes, entre ellos los caprinos, ocasionando importantes pérdidas productivas.Trabajo publicado en Cagliada, Maria del Pilar Lilia y Galosi, Cecilia Mónica (comps.). I Congreso de Microbiología Veterinaria. Libro de resúmenes. La Plata: Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, 2021.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

Heavy element evolution in the inner regions of the Milky Way

We present results for the evolution of the abundances of heavy elements (O, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Cr, Mn, Ni, and Fe) in the inner Galactic regions (RGC 64 4 kpc). We adopt a detailed chemical evolution model already tested for the Galactic bulge and compare the results with Apache Point Observatory Galactic Evolution Experiment data. We start with a set of yields from the literature that are considered the best to reproduce the abundance patterns in the solar vicinity. We find that, in general, the predicted trends nicely reproduce the data but in some cases either the trend or the absolute values of the predicted abundances need to be corrected, even by large factors, in order to reach the best agreement. We suggest how the current stellar yields should be modified to reproduce the data and we discuss whether such corrections are reasonable in the light of the current knowledge of stellar nucleosynthesis. However, we also critically discuss the observations. Our results suggest that Si, Ca, Cr, and Ni are the elements for which the required corrections are the smallest, while for Mg and Al moderate modifications are necessary. On the other hand, O and K need the largest corrections to reproduce the observed patterns, a conclusion already reached for solar vicinity abundance patterns, with the exception of oxygen. For Mn, we apply corrections already suggested in previous works

GENETIC PARAMETERS IN THE BARDIGIANO HORSE BREED POPULATION

The Bardigiano is an Italian native horse breed with excellent resilience, well adapted to mountain areas. In 1977 the Bardigiano studbook was founded to improve the use of this breed for riding purposes while maintaining its distinctive features. To facilitate the conversion of the Bardigiano to an equestrian horse type, in 1992 one Arabian stallion was included in the breeding program. Since 1977, body measurements (height at wither, chest girth, cannon bone circumference, shoulder length) have been recorded and, in 1987 conformation, attitude and gait-related traits, evaluated as 10 grading traits and 10 linear scores, were also introduced in the horse’s assessment. Therefore, for nearly 3,000 out of 5,135 horses with body measurements, additional traits were also available. The 10 grading traits, measured on a scale from 1 (extremely undesirable) to 10 (excellent), are summed and used to calculate a global score, which is used to approve stallions for breeding. This study aimed in assessing the suitability of body measurements and grading traits in the genetic evaluation. The heritabilities and genetic correlations were calculated by univariate and bivariate animal models, using a statistical model that accounted for: gender, generation, horse’s age at evaluation, and percentage of Arabian blood. The body measurements showed heritabilities ranging from 0.23 (length of shoulder) to 0.64 (height at wither). The conformation-attitude traits displayed heritabilities from 0.13 to 0.31, whereas, in the case of gait-related traits, the heritability was equal to 0.10. The genetic correlations between the global score and body measurements were moderate to high, ranging from 0.30 to 0.87. The highest genetic correlations were shown between body measurements and the grading trait “development” (0.55 to 0.97). We conclude that body measurements can be used as effective indicators of conformation and attitude-related traits in the Bardigiano breed. Further studies combining body measurements in morphometric indices are suggested to optimise the breeding strategy

A comparative study of neoadjuvant chronomodulated folfox and radiotherapy vs. Conventional folfox and radiotherapy in locally advanced carcinoma rectum

Aim: This study was undertaken to determine and compare the efficacy and toxicity of chronomodulated FOLFOX + radiotherapy to conventional FOLFOX + radiotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting of locally advanced rectal cancer. Materials and methods: A total of 44 patients were randomly assigned to the two arms with 24 in chronomodulated arm (Arm A) and 20 in conventional arm (Arm B).Four cycles of FOLFOX chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy were given to18 patients in Arm A and all the 20 patients in Arm B completed the treatment. All the patients were evaluated for surgery. Tumor down staging and toxicity profile were compared. Results: tumor down staging and sphincter preservation rates were similar in both the arms. Incidence of grade-III and grade-IV stomatitis, diarrhea and paresthesia was more in Arm B than in Arm A. Nausea was the most common symptom in both the treatment arms.83% patients in Arm A and 86% patients in Arm B experienced nausea at some point during the treatment. Diarrhea was more common in Arm B with 15 % patients experiencing grade 3-4 diarrhea when compared to 5.55% in Arm A. Stomatitis was more common in Arm B with 10% patients experiencing grade 3-4 toxicity as compared to 5.5% in Arm A. It was observed with increased frequency in Arm B with 7(20%) patients experiencing grade 3 sensory neuropathy compared to 2(11.1%) in Arm A. The incidence of hematological toxicities was similar in both arms with only grade 1 and 2 neutropenia occurring in both the arms. The incidence of leucopenia was greater in the conventional arm (Arm B).Conclusions: we conclude that the administration of Chronomodulated FOLFOX followed by radiotherapy has a better toxicity profile and hence better tolerance and similar tumor down staging when compared to conventional FOLFOX and radiotherapy in the neoadjuvant treatment of locally advanced carcinoma rectum