Detection of selection signatures for response to Aleutian mink disease virus infection in American mink

Abstract

Aleutian disease (AD) is the most significant health issue for farmed American mink. The objective of this study was to identify the genomic regions subjected to selection for response to infection with Aleutian mink disease virus (AMDV) in American mink using genotyping by sequencing (GBS) data. A total of 225 black mink were inoculated with AMDV and genotyped using a GBS assay based on the sequencing of ApeKI-digested libraries. Five AD-characterized phenotypes were used to assign animals to pairwise groups. Signatures of selection were detected using integrated measurement of fixation index (FST) and nucleotide diversity (θπ), that were validated by haplotype-based (hap-FLK) test. The total of 99 putatively selected regions harbouring 63 genes were detected in different groups. The gene ontology revealed numerous genes related to immune response (e.g. TRAF3IP2, WDR7, SWAP70, CBFB, and GPR65), liver development (e.g. SULF2, SRSF5) and reproduction process (e.g. FBXO5, CatSperβ, CATSPER4, and IGF2R). The hapFLK test supported two strongly selected regions that contained five candidate genes related to immune response, virus–host interaction, reproduction and liver regeneration. This study provided the first map of putative selection signals of response to AMDV infection in American mink, bringing new insights into genomic regions controlling the AD phenotypes.

AMDV Vaccine: Challenges and Perspectives

“…A commonly used approach is detecting infected mink earlier on by serological testing techniques and by, subsequently, eliminating them [ 73 , 74 ]. Other techniques that have been explored or that are in development include the usage of passive anti-AMDV antibodies, antivirals, immunomodulators and the selection of mink with AMDV-tolerant traits [ 70 , 85 , 86 , 88 , 90 ]. Unfortunately, despite some positive results, these are not enough to eradicate this deadly disease, which is why the design of an effective vaccine is of primordial importance.…”

“…More specifically, the authors performed a sequencing approach to focus on genomic regions related to host specific immune responses. Using this strategy, two regions of the mink genome were shown to be strongly selected and these contained important genes involved in the immune response, viral–host interaction, reproduction and liver regeneration [ 70 ]. Additionally, since AMDV is a rapidly evolving pathogen, it is of great importance to be informed about current and past circulating strains to be able to develop epidemiological models, predictions and forecasting of the strains that may cause serious outbreaks.…”

“…Another strategy to eliminate the harmful effects of AMDV is by selecting mink that are tolerant to this virus and this can be performed by identifying mink with a low antibody titer, which is performed in Europe and North America [ 58 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 69 ]. The selection for tolerance can also be performed by characterizing genomic regions of AD-tolerant mink [ 70 ]. Despite the different measures aimed to control the spread of AMDV and its harmful effects on mink, the virus is, unfortunately, still persistent on farms, which increases the demand of more effective AD preventative measures, as well as effective therapies.…”

AMDV Vaccine: Challenges and Perspectives

“…More specifically, the authors performed a sequencing approach to focus on genomic regions related to host specific immune responses. Using this strategy, two regions of the mink genome were shown to be strongly selected and these contained important genes involved in immune response, viral-host interaction, reproduction and liver regeneration [70]. Additionally, since AMDV is rapidly evolving pathogen, it is of great importance to be informed about current and past circulating strains for being able to develop epidemiological models, prediction and forecasting of the strains that may cause serious outbreaks.…”

“…Another strategy to eliminate the harmful effects of AMDV is by selecting mink that are tolerant to this virus and this can be done by identifying mink with a low antibody titer, which is performed in Europe and North America [58,[66][67][68][69]. Selection for tolerance can also be done by characterizing genomic regions of AD-tolerant mink [70]. Despite the different measures aimed to control the spread of AMDV spread and its harmful effects on mink, the virus is unfortunately still persistent on farms, which increases the demand of more effective AD preventative measures, as well as effective therapies.…”