Vol. 12, Special Issue 12 (2023)

Author(s):
Piyali Mondal, GN Tanuj, Sai Manohar Peela, P Manoj Kumar Goud, Sonal Sharma, Ravikumar Gandham and BP Mishra

Abstract:
Peste-des-petits ruminants (PPR) disease is a highly contagious viral disease of major economic importance in sheep and goats caused by the PPR virus (PPRV). The virus is grouped in the Morbillivirus genus under the family Paramyxoviridae. Antigenically it has a close relationship with Rinderpest (RP) disease in cattle. Following the successful eradication program of RP and considering the severity and importance of this disease, the PPR- Global Control and Eradication Strategy (PPR-GCES) was adopted by FAO and OIE in 2015 for the effective control and eradication of PPR. For the efficient implementation and evaluation of such eradication programs, we require an extensive knowledge of molecular mechanisms involving both genetic and epigenetic players of host and virus involved in the epidemiology and pathogenesis of the disease. Earlier studies on the transcriptome profile of host cells infected or vaccinated with PPRV both in vivo and in vitro revealed various dysregulated immune factors and also an altered miRNA profile suggestive of the role of non-coding RNA during PPRV infection. However, the long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) regulation of PPRV infection in PBMC cell subsets has not yet been reported. In this study, we have identified differentially expressed lncRNAs in monocytes, a CD14+ PBMC cell subset, of sheep vaccinated with PPRV. On their functional analysis, out of 82 up and 198 downregulated differentially expressed lncRNAs, 13 lncRNAs were found to be responsible for the generation of immune response in sheep and all were downregulated. The key lncRNAs may serve as potential molecular markers in PPRV vaccination. It can also help us to understand the molecular mechanism of occurrence and development of the disease in sheep.