Association of MicroRNAs with Antibody Response to Mycoplasma bovis in Beef Cattle

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify microRNAs associated with a serum antibody response to Mycoplasma bovis in beef cattle. Serum from sixteen beef calves was collected at three points: in summer after calves were born, in fall at weaning, and in the following spring. All sera collected in the summer were ELISA-negative for anti-M. bovis. By the fall, eight animals were seropositive for IgG (positive group), while eight remained negative (negative group). By spring, all animals in both groups were seropositive. MicroRNAs were extracted from sera and sequenced on the Illumina HiSeq next-generation sequencer. A total of 1,374,697 sequences mapped to microRNAs in the bovine genome. Of these, 82% of the sequences corresponded to 27 microRNAs, each represented by a minimum of 10,000 sequences. There was a statistically significant interaction between ELISA response and season for bta-miR-24-3p (P = 0.0268). All sera collected at the initial summer had a similar number of copies of this microRNA (P = 0.773). In the fall, the positive group had an increased number of copies when compared to the negative group (P = 0.021), and this grew more significant by the following spring (P = 0.0001). There were 21 microRNAs associated (P< 0.05) with season. These microRNAs could be evaluated further as candidates to potentially improve productivity in cattle. The microRNAs bta-let-7b, bta-miR- 24-3p, bta-miR- 92a, and bta-miR-423-5p, were significatly associated with ELISA status (P< 0.05). These microRNAs have been recognized as playing a role in the host defense against bacteria in humans, mice, and dairy cattle. Further studies are needed to establish if these microRNAs could be used as diagnostic marker or indicator of exposure, or whether intervention strategies could be developed as an alternative to antibiotics for controlling disease due to M. bovis.

Circulating microRNAs as Potential Biomarkers of Infectious Disease

“…On the other hand, analysis of biobanked bovine serum samples from experimental infections with MAP (stored at −20°C for 10–15 years) revealed that the circulating miRNA profile was remarkably similar in composition to the profile from fresh sera (<1 year at −80°C) ( 94 ). miRNAs have also been shown to correlate with season (summer, after the calves were born; fall, at weaning; and the following spring) when serum from Mycoplasma bovis -infected calves was profiled, but similar to the MAP studies described above a strong signature of infection was not observed ( 224 ).…”

Gene set enrichment analysis of SNP data in dairy and beef cattle with bovine respiratory disease

“…bovis compared to seronegative controls (Casas et al . ). The identification of leading‐edge genes in the regulatory RNA gene set suggests that dysregulation of microRNAs affects susceptibility to BRD through a diminished innate and adaptive immune response during BRD infection.…”

Gap analysis ofMycoplasma bovisdisease, diagnosis and control: An aid to identify future development requirements

“…In the initial characterization of the host transcriptional responses in five tissues following intratracheal M. bovis administration, differential expression of 157–994 genes was detected (depending on tissue), with the BPIFA1 , C9 and CD14 genes identified as “key players” in the immune function networks (Behura et al., ). In addition, recent analysis of microRNAs circulating in sera from beef cattle that had been naturally or experimentally infected with M. bovis has identified four microRNAs (bta‐let‐7b, bta‐miR‐24‐3p, bta‐miR‐92a and 423‐5p) that are associated with a humoral antibody response (Casas et al., ). Each of these molecules had been previously shown to be involved in the immune response of dairy cattle to bacterial infection.…”