Animal Immunogenomics - Petr Hořín

Research areas

Main objectives

• To obtain novel information on genetic mechanisms of infectious diseases in domestic animals.
• Definition of the role of host genetics in infectious diseases.
• Analysis of genetic diversity, evolution and selection in selected immunity-related genes based on comparative immunogenomic analysis.
• 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.

list / cards

Name and position	E-mail	Phone
Prof. Petr Hořín Research Programme Coordinator
Ján Futas Junior researcher
Eva Jánová, Ph.D. Junior researcher
Marie Klumplerová Junior researcher
Martin Plášil Ph.D. student
Petra Šplíchalová, Ph.D. Junior Researcher
Prof. Aleš Knoll, Ph.D. Principal Investigator
Tomáš Urban, Ph.D. Senior Researcher

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

2016

• JANOVA, E; HEROLDOVA, M; CEPELKA, L, 2016:Rodent food quality and its relation to crops and other environmental and population parameters in an agricultural landscape. SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 562 , p. 164 - 169.
• NECESANKOVA, M; VYCHODILOVA, L; ALBRECHTOVA, K; KENNEDY, LJ; HLAVAC, J; SEDLAK, K; MODRY, D; JANOVA, E; VYSKOCIL, M; HORIN, P, 2016:MYD88 and functionally related genes are associated with multiple infections in a model population of Kenyan village dogs. MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS 43 (12), p. 1451 - 1463.
• PLASIL, M; MOHANDESAN, E; FITAK, RR; MUSILOVA, P; KUBICKOVA, S; BURGER, PA; HORIN, P, 2016:The major histocompatibility complex in Old World camelids and low polymorphism of its class II genes. BMC GENOMICS 17

2014

• PROMEROVA, M; ANDERSSON, LS; JURAS, R; PENEDO, MCT; REISSMANN, M; TOZAKI, T; BELLONE, R; DUNNER, S; HORIN, P; IMSLAND, F; IMSLAND, P; MIKKO, S; MODRY, D; ROED, KH; SCHWOCHOW, D; VEGA-PLA, JL; MEHRABANI-YEGANEH, H; YOUSEFI-MASHOUF, N; COTHRAN, EG; LINDGREN, 2014:Worldwide frequency distribution of the 'Gait keeper' mutation in the DMRT3 gene. ANIMAL GENETICS 45 (2), p. 274 - 282.

2013

• CEPICA, S; ZAMBONELLI, P; WEISZ, F; BIGI, M; KNOLL, A; VYKOUKALOVA, Z; MASOPUST, M; GALLO, M; BUTTAZZONI, L; DAVOLI, R, 2013:Association mapping of quantitative trait loci for carcass and meat quality traits at the central part of chromosome 2 in Italian Large White pigs. MEAT SCIENCE 95 (2), p. 368 - 375.
• FUTAS, J; HORIN, P, 2013:Natural Killer Cell Receptor Genes in the Family Equidae: Not only Ly49. PLOS ONE 8 (5), p. e64736 - e64736.
• RUSEK, J; KLUMPLEROVA, M; MOLINKOVA, D; SEDLINSKA, M; DUSEK, L; MUZIK, J; PUTNOVA, L; VRTKOVA, I; CELER, V; HORIN, P, 2013:Genetics of anti-EHV antibody responses in a horse population. RESEARCH IN VETERINARY SCIENCE 95 (1), p. 137 - 142.
• VYCHODILOVA, L; MATIASOVIC, J; BOBROVA, O; FUTAS, J; KLUMPLEROVA, M; STEJSKALOVA, K; CVANOVA, M; JANOVA, E; OSICKOVA, J; VYSKOCIL, M; SEDLINSKA, M; DUSEK, L; MARTI, E; HORIN, P, 2013:Immunogenomic analysis of insect bite hypersensitivity in a model horse population. VETERINARY IMMUNOLOGY AND IMMUNOPATHOLOGY 152 (42097), p. 260 - 268.

2012

• DURKIN, K; COPPIETERS, W; DROGEMULLER, C; AHARIZ, N; CAMBISANO, N; DRUET, T; FASQUELLE, C; HAILE, A; HORIN, P; HUANG, LS; KAMATANI, Y; KARIM, L; LATHROP, M; MOSER, S; OLDENBROEK, K; RIEDER, S; SARTELET, A; SOLKNER, J; STALHAMMAR, H; ZELENIKA, D; ZHANG, ZY, 2012:Serial translocation by means of circular intermediates underlies colour sidedness in cattle. NATURE 482 (7383), p. 81 - U103.

GRANTY

• A complex analysis of impact of traditional (surgical) and alternative methods of castration on pig rearing and pork quality in order to ensure sustainable and competitive pork production in the Czech Republic (QJ151023), Ministry of Agriculture - Comprehensive sustainable systems in agriculture, 2015 - 2018
• Immunogenomic analysis of insect bite hypersensitivity in the Old Kladruber horse (GA524/09/1939), Czech Science Foundation - Standard Grants, 2009 - 2011
• Genetic diversity and its conservation in selected horse populations in the Czech Republic (QH92277), Ministry of Agriculture - The Research Program in the Agricultural Sector, 2009 - 2011
• Comparative immunogenomics of the family Equidae (GA523/09/1972), Czech Science Foundation - Standard Grants, 2009 - 2012

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.