Transcriptome analysis reveals common differential and global gene expression profiles in bluetongue virus serotype 16 (BTV-16) infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in sheep and goats

Bluetongue is an economically important infectious, arthropod borne viral disease of domestic and wild ruminants, caused by Bluetongue virus (BTV). Sheep are considered the most susceptible hosts, while cattle, buffalo and goats serve as reservoirs. The viral pathogenesis of BTV resulting in presence or absence of clinical disease among different hosts is not clearly understood. In the present study, transcriptome of sheep and goats peripheral blood mononuclear cells infected with BTV-16 was explored. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified were found to be significantly enriched for immune system processes - NFκB signaling, MAPK signaling, Ras signaling, NOD signaling, RIG signaling, TNF signaling, TLR signaling, JAK-STAT signaling and VEGF signaling pathways. Greater numbers of DEGs were found to be involved in immune system processes in goats than in sheep. Interestingly, the DEHC (differentially expressed highly connected) gene network was found to be dense in goats than in sheep. Majority of the DEHC genes in the network were upregulated in goats but down-regulated in sheep. The network of differentially expressed immune genes with the other genes further confirmed these findings. Interferon stimulated genes - IFIT1 (ISG56), IFIT2 (ISG54) and IFIT3 (ISG60) responsible for antiviral state in the host were found to be upregulated in both the species. STAT2 was the TF commonly identified to co-regulate the DEGs, with its network showing genes that are downregulated in sheep but upregulated in goats. The genes dysregulated and the networks perturbed in the present study indicate host variability with a positive shift in immune response to BTV in goats than in sheep.