A Study of the Resistance of Hu Sheep Lambs to IEscherichia coli/I F17 Based on Whole Genome Sequencing

Acute infectious diseases caused by Escherichia coli in lambs or young sheep have severe impacts on the growth and development of sheep, among which Escherichia coli F17 (Escherichia coli F17, E. coli F17) is one of the primary pathogens causing bacterial diarrhoea in lambs. The mechanism of lambs’ resistance regulation to it remains to be elucidated. This study aims to analyze the whole genome sequencing of E. coli F17 in antagonistic and susceptible Hu sheep lambs. The objective is to investigate the critical mutation loci in sheep and understand the genetic mechanism of sheep resistance to E. coli F17 at the genome level. Antagonist and susceptible venous blood samples were collected from Hu sheep lambs for whole genome sequencing and whole genome association analysis. A total of 466 genes with significant SNPs (p < 1.0 × 10[sup.−3]) were found. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis and protein interaction network analysis were performed on these genes, and preliminary investigations showed that SNPs on CTNNB1, CDH8, APOD, HCLS1, Tet2, MTSS1 and YAP1 genes may be associated with the antagonism and susceptibility of Hu sheep lambs to E. coli F17. There are still some shortcomings that have not been explored via in vivo and in vitro functional experiments of the candidate genes, which will be our next research work. This study provides genetic loci and candidate genes for resistance of Hu sheep lambs to E. coli F17 infection, and provides a genetic basis for breeding disease-resistant sheep.