Transcriptome sequencing analysis of the role of miR-499-5p and in chicken skeletal myofiber specification.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) might play critical roles in skeletal myofiber specification. In a previous study, we found that chicken miR-499-5p is specifically expressed in slow-twitch muscle and that its potential target gene is . In this study, we performed RNA sequencing to investigate the effects of and miR-499-5p on the modulation and regulation of chicken muscle fiber type and its regulatory mechanism.

A gene co-expression network analysis of the candidate genes and molecular pathways associated with feather follicle traits of chicken skin.

Back and thigh skin of chickens showed significant differences in the thickness and the feather follicle density and size, which are important traits for slaughtered chickens' appearance. In the present study, global gene expression profiling was conducted in the back and thigh skin of chickens using Microarray technology. The results showed that 676 genes were differentially expressed between back and thigh skin.

[Analysis on variation of hemagglutinin genes of sixteen H9N2 subtype avian influenza viruses isolated in Shandong area].

In order to explore the genetic mutations of the H9N2 subtype avian influenza viruses isolated in Shandong, sixteen avian influenza virus subtype H9N2 were isolated from different areas of Shandong Province. The complete HA fragments of the viruses were amplified by RT-PCR and the sequences were analyzed on homology and heredity evolution after the cloning and sequencing of the products. The results showed that the amino acid motif of cleavage sites for all the sixteen virus in the HA gene were RSSR decrease GLF, which was consistent with the characterization of the LPAIV.