Domestic species such as cattle (Bos taurus taurus and B. t. indicus) represent attractive biological models to characterize the genetic basis of short‐term evolutionary response to climate pressure induced by their post‐domestication history. Here, using newly generated dense SNP genotyping data, we assessed the structuring of genetic diversity of 21 autochtonous cattle breeds from the whole Mediterranean basin and performed genome‐wide association analyses with covariables discriminating the different Mediterranean climate subtypes. This provided insights into both the demographic and adaptive histories of Mediterranean cattle. In particular, a detailed functional annotation of genes surrounding variants associated with climate variations highlighted several biological functions involved in Mediterranean climate adaptation such as thermotolerance, UV protection, pathogen resistance or metabolism with strong candidate genes identified (e.g., NDUFB3, FBN1, METTL3, LEF1, ANTXR2 and TCF7). Accordingly, our results suggest that main selective pressures affecting cattle in Mediterranean area may have been related to variation in heat and UV exposure, in food resources availability and in exposure to pathogens, such as anthrax bacteria (Bacillus anthracis). Furthermore, the observed contribution of the three main bovine ancestries (indicine, European and African taurine) in these different populations suggested that adaptation to local climate conditions may have either relied on standing genomic variation of taurine origin, or adaptive introgression from indicine origin, depending on the local breed origins. Taken together, our results highlight the genetic uniqueness of local Mediterranean cattle breeds and strongly support conservation of these populations.

BackgroundThe transcription factor 7-like 2 (TCF7L2) gene is the most significant genetic risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Association analyses were performed on participants (n = 751, aged between 30 and 64) in the ISOR population-based study in the city of Oran. Dietary intakes were estimated using a weekly food frequency questionnaire.ResultsThe T allele of the rs7903146 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was associated with lower body weight (p = 0.02), lower BMI (p = 0.009), lower waist circumference (p = 0.01) and a lower waist-to-hip ratio (p = 0.02). The T allele was associated with a significantly higher risk of T2D (odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval) = 1.55 (1.09–2.20), p = 0.01) and this association was independent of BMI. When considering the T2D risk, there were nominal interactions between the rs7903146 SNP and dessert (p = 0.05) and milk intakes (p = 0.01). The T2D risk was greater in T allele carriers with high dessert and milk intakes (OR = 2.61 (1.51-4.52), p = 0.0006, and 2.46 (1.47-4.12), p = 0.0006, respectively). In subjects with a high dessert intake, the T allele was also associated with higher fasting plasma glucose concentrations (4.89 ± 0.46 mmol/L in TT subjects, 4.72 ± 0.48 mmol/L in CT subjects and 4.78 ± 0.51 mmol/L in CC subjects; p = 0.03).ConclusionsThe T allele of the rs7903146 SNP is associated with a significantly higher risk of T2D in an Algerian population. This association was further strengthened by a high dessert intake, suggesting that gene-diet interactions increase the T2D risk.

Knowledge on genetic diversity and structure of camel populations is fundamental for sustainable herd management and breeding program implementation in this species. Here we characterized a total of 331 camels from Northern Africa, representative of six populations and thirteen Algerian and Egyptian geographic regions, using 20 STR markers. The nineteen polymorphic loci displayed an average of 9.79 ± 5.31 alleles, ranging from 2 (CVRL8) to 24 (CVRL1D). Average He was 0.647 ± 0.173. Eleven loci deviated significantly from Hardy-Weinberg proportions (P<0.05), due to excess of homozygous genotypes in all cases except one (CMS18). Distribution of genetic diversity along a weak geographic gradient as suggested by network analysis was not supported by either unsupervised and supervised Bayesian clustering. Traditional extensive/nomadic herding practices, together with the historical use as a long-range beast of burden and its peculiar evolutionary history, with domestication likely occurring from a bottlenecked and geographically confined wild progenitor, may explain the observed genetic patterns.

Caractéristiques morpho-biométriques et systèmes d'élevage des poules locales en Algérie occidentale (Oranie) Résumé Des enquêtes ont été menées dans 48 élevages répartis sur les 9 wilayas de la région de l'Oranie afin de caractériser les populations de poules locales et leur mode d'élevage. Ces enquêtes ont porté sur les caractéristiques des élevages (état socio-économique de l'éleveur, mode d'élevage, reproduction et destination des produits d'élevage) et sur la description phénotypique de 334 poules locales. Les résultats montrent que les femmes sont les principales responsables des élevages avicoles et qu'elles utilisent le revenu modeste de ce type d'exploitations pour répondre à certaines charges domestiques. Les poules sont élevées dans des conditions médiocres et leur productivité est faible. Les mensurations corporelles considérées (poids corporel, longueur des pattes et des barbillons, diamètre des pattes et hauteur des crêtes) confirment le dimorphisme sexuel connu dans cette espèce, avec des valeurs de poids corporel significativement plus élevées chez le mâle (1 817 AE 297 g) que chez la femelle (1 335 AE 227 g). Cette étude sera complétée par une caractérisation génétique et moléculaire. Ainsi, l'association de l'information phénotypique et génétique et l'amélioration des conditions d'élevage pourront aider les éleveurs à améliorer les performances de cette activité. AbstractMorpho-biometric characteristics and breeding systems of local chickens in the Oranie region (West Algeria)Surveys were conducted on 48 farms in the nine administrative districts of the Oranie region in order to better characterize the populations of local chickens and associated farming methods in this region. These surveys recorded the main characteristics of the farms (socioeconomic status of the farmer, farming method, reproduction and destination of livestock products) and the phenotypic description of 334 local chickens. The results showed that women were primarily responsible for poultry farms and used the modest income of such farms to respond to some expenses for their families. The chickens were raised under poor conditions and, consequently, their productivity was low. A large phenotypic diversity was revealed. Recorded body measurements (body weight, leg length, wattles length, leg diameter, and comb height) confirmed the sexual dimorphism known in chickens, with significantly higher values for body weight in males (1,817 AE 297 g) than in females (1,335 AE 227 g). This study should be completed by a genetic characterization. The combination of phenotypic and genetic information and the improvement of farming conditions should help farmers to improve the performance of local chickens.

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder. Considering that XP patients have a defect of the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway which enables them to repair DNA damage caused by UV light, they have an increased risk of developing skin and eyes cancers. In the present study, we investigated the involvement of the prevalent XPA and XPC genes mutations—nonsense mutation (c.682C>T, p.Arg228X) and a two-base-pair (2 bp) deletion (c.1643_1644delTG or p.Val548Ala fsX25), respectively—in 19 index cases from 19 unrelated families in the West of Algeria. For the genetic diagnosis of XPA gene, we proceeded to PCR-RFLP. For the XPC gene, we validated a routine analysis which includes a specific amplification of a short region surrounding the 2 bp deletion using a fluorescent primer and fragment sizing (GeneScan size) on a sequencing gel. Among the 19 index cases, there were 17 homozygous patients for the 2 bp deletion in the XPC gene and 2 homozygous patients carrying the nonsense XPA mutation. Finally, XPC appears to be the major disease-causing gene concerning xeroderma pigmentosum in North Africa. The use of fragment sizing is the simplest method to analyze this 2 bp deletion for the DNA samples coming from countries where the mutation c.1643_1644delTG of XPC gene is prevalent.