The swan genome and transcriptome, it is not all black and white

• DOI: 10.1186/s13059-022-02838-0
• Publication Date: 2023-01-23T00:02:17Z
• Authors: Anjana C. Karawita; Yuanyuan Cheng; Keng Yih Chew; Arjun Challagulla; Robert Kraus; Ralf C. Mueller; Marcus Z. W. Tong; Katina D. Hulme; Helle Bielefeldt-...; Lauren E. Steele; Melanie Wu; Julian Sng; Ellesandra Noye; Timothy J. Bruxner; Gough G. Au; Suzanne Lowther; Julie Blommaert; Alexander Suh; Alexander J. McCa...; Parwinder Kaur; Olga Dudchenko; Erez Aiden; Olivier Fedrigo; Giulio Formenti; Jacquelyn Mountca...; William Chow; Fergal J. Martin; Denye N. Ogeh; Françoise Thiaud-...; Kerstin Howe; Alan Tracey; Jacqueline Smith; Richard I. Kuo; Marilyn B. Renfree; Takashi Kimura; Yoshihiro Sakoda; Mathew McDougall; Hamish G. Spencer; Michael Pyne; Conny Tolf; Jonas Waldenström; Erich D. Jarvis; Michelle L. Baker; David W. Burt; Kirsty R. Short
• Keywords: Plumage

Abstract Background The Australian black swan ( Cygnus atratus ) is an iconic species with contrasting plumage to that of the closely related northern hemisphere white swans. relative geographic isolation may have resulted in a limited immune repertoire and increased susceptibility infectious diseases, notably diseases from which Australia has been largely shielded. Unlike mallard ducks mute olor ), extremely sensitive highly pathogenic avian influenza. Understanding this impaired by absence any available genome transcriptome information. Results Here, we generate first chromosome-length genomes annotated data, all using long-read based pipelines generated for vertebrate species. We use these transcriptomes show unlike other wild waterfowl, swans lack expanded gene repertoire, key viral pattern-recognition receptor endothelial cells mount poorly controlled inflammatory response also implicate genetic differences SLC45A2 swan. Conclusion Together, data suggest system such should infection become established its native habitat, would be significant peril.