SRLV-Resistance

Study on genetic, epigenetic, transcriptomic and proteomic mechanisms modulating sheep resistance to small ruminant lentivirus

Small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV) infect animals worldwide causing inevitable death, lower productivity, and consequently significant economic losses and lower animal welfare. There is no cure or vaccination. It has been shown that genetic markers associated with host resistance to infections and diseases can be applied in animal breeding programs. However, host-pathogen interactions are complex processes, that are mostly understudied not only in animals but also in humans. This substantial lack of knowledge makes viral threat reduction by use of conventional as well as by breeding strategies difficult. The aims of the project are: 1)To identify host genetic and epigenetic factors which modulate sheep resistance to SRLV in order to find reliable genetic markers and epigenetic marks associated with SRLV resistance. 2) To analyze SRLV-induced alterations in host methylome, transcriptome, and proteome to recognize and clarify the potential mechanism of hijacking the host epigenetic machinery and the cell proteome by the virus and the impact of these processes on host-pathogen interactions and host resistance to SRLV infection. 3) To analyze mechanisms of interplay between genomic, epigenomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic factors involved in host-virus interactions.