Polymorphisms of HOMER1 gene are associated with piglet splay leg syndrome and one significant SNP can affect its intronic promoter activity in vitro.

Background: In our previous genome-wide association study (GWAS) on the piglet splay leg (PSL) syndrome, the homer scaffolding protein 1 (HOMER1) was detected as a candidate gene. The aim of this work was to further verify the candidate gene by sequencing the gene and find the significantly associated mutation. Then we preliminarily analyzed the effect of the significant SNP on intronic promoter activity.

Rab11a is required for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus induced autophagy to promote viral replication.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is the leading virus known to cause massive economic loss in pig industry worldwide. In our previous study, transcriptional profiling of PRRSV-infected lung tissue of Tongcheng and Landrane pigs, which have highly pathogenic PRRSV (HP-PRRSV) susceptibility differences, showed differential expression of Rab11a. The small GTPase Rab11a regulates intracellular membrane trafficking events involved in autophagy.