Integrated Proteomic and Transcriptomic Analysis of Differential Expression of Chicken Lung Tissue in Response to NDV Infection during Heat Stress

Two highly inbred and genetically distinct chicken lines, Fayoumis and Leghorns, were exposed to a lentogenic strain of NDV while under the effects of heat stress. The Fayoumis line, which is relatively more resistant to pathogens than Leghorns, had larger numbers of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) during the early stages of infection compared to Leghorns. Subsequently, Fayoumis down-regulated their immune response at the latter stages to return to homeostasis. Leghorns had very few DEGs across all observed time points, with the majority of DEGs involved with metabolic and glucose-related functions. Proteomic analysis corroborated findings made within Leghorns, while also identifying interesting candidate genes missed by expression profiling. Poor correlation between changes observed in the proteomic and transcriptomic datasets highlights the potential importance of integrative approaches to understand the mechanisms of disease response. The study aimed to identify candidate genes and proteins involved with the chicken response to NDV infection during heat stress using an integration of proteomic and transcriptomic approaches. The experimental design involved exposing Fayoumis and Leghorn chicks to a lentogenic strain of NDV while under the effects of heat stress. Lung tissue samples were collected at 2, 6, and 10 days post-infection (dpi) and analyzed using RNA sequencing and mass spectrometry. RNA sequencing revealed that Fayoumis had larger numbers of DEGs during the early stages of infection compared to Leghorns. These DEGs were involved in various biological processes, including immune response, cell signaling, and metabolism. Proteomic analysis identified proteins involved in immune response, cell signaling, and metabolism, which were differentially expressed in Fayoumis and Leghorns. The study provides novel insights into the global protein and expression profiles of Fayoumis and Leghorns in response to NDV infection during heat stress. The findings suggest that Fayoumis have a more robust immune response to NDV infection during heat stress, which is characterized by the up-regulation of immune-related genes and proteins. In contrast, Leghorns have a weaker immune response, which is characterized by the down-regulation of immune-related genes and proteins. The study highlights the importance of integrative approaches, such as proteomics and transcriptomics, in understanding the mechanisms of disease response. The findings provide potential genetic targets involved with NDV resistance during heat stress in poultry and have implications for the development of novel therapeutic strategies to prevent and control NDV infection in chickens.