[en] Increasing agricultural production while reducing the reliance on synthetic inputs such as antibiotics is an important challenge. For cattle breeding, this implies better understanding the genetics underlying meat production and the immune response. Here, we use systems immunology to investigate the genetic and environmental drivers of immune variation in Belgian White Blue male cattle, a breed historically bred for meat production. While seasonality and other non-genetic factors account for much of the immune variation observed, genome-wide association studies identify loci with major effects on specific immunophenotypes. Genetics also emerges as the primary driver of cytokine production. Finally, we develop a predictive model linking genetic data to cytokine responses. Our findings support the selection of cattle with improved immunity and advance our understanding of mammalian immune variation.
Disciplines :
Veterinary medicine & animal health
Author, co-author :
Li, Shifang ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des maladies infectieuses et parasitaires (DMI)
Myster, Françoise ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des maladies infectieuses et parasitaires (DMI) > Vaccinologie vétérinaire
Darimont, Célia ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) > FARAH: Santé publique vétérinaire
Tang, Lijing ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de gestion vétérinaire des Ressources Animales (DRA) > Génomique animale
Javaux, Justine ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) > FARAH: Santé publique vétérinaire
Sandor, Rémy ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Fundamental and Applied Research for Animals and Health (FARAH) > FARAH: Santé publique vétérinaire
Costa Monteiro Moreira, Gabriel ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de gestion vétérinaire des Ressources Animales (DRA)
Gualdron Duarte, Jose Luis ; Université de Liège - ULiège > GIGA > GIGA Molecular & Computational Biology - Unit of Animal Genomics ; Walloon Breeders Association, Rue des Champs Elysées, 4, 5590, Ciney, Belgium
Crepin, Philippe; Walloon Breeders Association, Rue des Champs Elysées, 4, 5590, Ciney, Belgium
Dive, Marc; Walloon Breeders Association, Rue des Champs Elysées, 4, 5590, Ciney, Belgium
Mayeres, Patrick; Walloon Breeders Association, Rue des Champs Elysées, 4, 5590, Ciney, Belgium
Druet, Tom ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des sciences de la vie
Netea, Mihai G ; Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Georges, Michel ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de gestion vétérinaire des Ressources Animales (DRA)
Charlier, Carole ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département de gestion vétérinaire des Ressources Animales (DRA)
Gillet, Laurent ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département des maladies infectieuses et parasitaires (DMI) > Vaccinologie vétérinaire
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