Research areas
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Immunogenetics and immunogenomics
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Comparative and evolutionary genomics
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Genetic resistance to infectious disease, host and pathogen interactions
Main objectives
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To obtain novel information on genetic mechanisms of infectious diseases in domestic animals.
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Definition of the role of host genetics in infectious diseases.
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Analysis of genetic diversity, evolution and selection in selected immunity-related genes based on comparative immunogenomic analysis.
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Analysis of genetic mechanisms of host and pathogen interactions.
Content of research
Host genetics and comparative immugenomics
The contribution of host genetic factors to infectious diseases is one of fundamental issues in understanding their pathogenesis. Comparative genomic analysis of the genes involved in resistance to model horse and dog infectious disease will be performed. The general objective of this work package is to identify candidate genes involved in host resistance to infectious disease and to analyse their diversity, evolution and selection. Two kinds of immunity-related candidate genes will be analysed: genes at the host and pathogen interface, involved in antigen presentation and recognition and immunity-related genes involved in signalling, regulatory and effector immune pathways. Their genetic diversity, evolution and selection will be analysed in selecteed groups of vertebrates, mostly in important groups of mammals. Among them, model populations of domestic, freeranging and captive equids and of domestic dogs will be explored.
Analysis of genetic diversity of African village dogs may elucidate the origins of the domestic dogs. Disease association analysis and comparison with domestic dogs may reveal genes underlying mechanisms of important dog diseases. In several hundred samples from Kenyan village dogs, microsatellite, association analysis will be used for assessing genetic diversity of various populations and sub-populations of these dogs. Their relationships to other African Kenyan dogs will be studied. Specific attention will be paid to the diversity in the major histocompatibility complex genes. The polymorphism identified will be analysed for associations with resistance to infectious diseases diagnosed by molecular and serological techniques: rabies, distemper and several parasite species.
The hypothesis that resistance / susceptibility to infection following orthopaedic surgery has a genetic component and that the host defence mechanisms play an important role in the host vs. pathogen interaction will be tested. In patients with and without infection, DNA will be isolated from biological material collected and association analysis will be performed.
PLANNED RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE
Technology Units
Host structural genomics for veterinary medicine
CURRENT RESEARCH INFRASTRUCTURE
The laboratories are currently equipped to perform standard genetic DNA analyses.
