Early Immune Responses in Rainbow Trout Liver upon Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia Virus (VHSV) Infection

<div><p>Among the essential metabolic functions of the liver, in mammals, a role as mediator of systemic and local innate immunity has also been reported. Although the presence of an important leukocyte population in mammalian liver is well documented, the characterization of leukocyte populations in the teleost liver has been only scarcely addressed. In the current work, we have confirmed the presence of IgM⁺, IgD⁺, IgT⁺, CD8α⁺, CD3⁺ cells, and cells expressing major histocompatibility complex (MHC-II) in rainbow trout (<i>Oncorhynchus mykiss</i>) liver by flow cytometry and/or immunohistochemistry analysis. Additionally, the effect of viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus (VHSV) on the liver immune response was assessed. First, we studied the effect of viral intraperitoneal injection on the transcription of a wide selection of immune genes at days 1, 2 and 5 post-infection. These included a group of leukocyte markers genes, pattern recognition receptors (PRRs), chemokines, chemokine receptor genes, and other genes involved in the early immune response and in acute phase reaction. Our results indicate that T lymphocytes play a key role in the initial response to VHSV in the liver, since CD3, CD8, CD4, perforin, Mx and interferon (IFN) transcription levels were up-regulated in response to VHSV. Consequently, flow cytometry analysis of CD8α⁺ cells in liver and spleen at day 5 post-infection revealed a decrease in the number of CD8α⁺ cells in the spleen and an increased population in the liver. No differences were found however in the percentages of B lymphocyte (IgM⁺ or IgD⁺) populations. In addition, a strong up-regulation in the transcription levels of several PRRs and chemokines was observed from the second day of infection, indicating an important role of these factors in the response of the liver to viral infections.</p></div

Extensive macrosynteny between Medicago truncatula and Lens culinaris ssp. culinaris

The first predominantly gene-based genetic linkage map of lentil (Lens culinaris ssp. culinaris) was constructed using an F5 population developed from a cross between the cultivars Digger (ILL5722) and Northfield (ILL5588) using 79 intron-targeted amplified polymorphic (ITAP) and 18 genomic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Linkage analysis revealed seven linkage groups (LGs) comprised of 5–25 markers that varied in length from 80.2 to 274.6 cM. The genome map spanned a total length of 928.4 cM. Clear evidence of a simple and direct macrosyntenic relationship between lentil and Medicago truncatula was observed. Sixty-six out of the 71 gene-based markers, which were previously assigned to M. truncatula genetic and physical maps, were found in regions syntenic between the Lens c. ssp. culinaris and M. truncatula genomes. However, there was evidence of moderate chromosomal rearrangements which may account for the difference in chromosome numbers between these two legume species. Eighteen common SSR markers were used to connect the current map with the most comprehensive and recent map that exists for lentil, providing the syntenic context of four important domestication traits. The composite map presented, anchored with orthologous markers mapped in M. truncatula, provides a strong foundation for the future use of genomic and genetic information in lentil genetic analysis and breeding