Venkata Dukkipati

Citation

Thesis Title
A Search for Genetic Factors Influencing Immune Responses to a Killed Mycobacterium avium subpecies paratuberculosis vaccine in Australian Fine-Wool Merino Sheep

Read article at Massey Research Online:

Mr Dukkipati’s research focused on identifying genetic markers for immune responses to paratuberculosis vaccination in sheep. Immune response data, together with blood samples from sheep, were obtained from a long-term vaccination trial in Australia. The blood samples were genotyped for eight genetic markers and the effects of genetic polymorphisms on immune responses were determined by employing suitable statistical methods. The study identified six genotypes and four alleles at six marker loci as either ‘probable’ or ‘most likely’ to be associated with immune responses to vaccination. Based on published data regarding the role of the host’s immune responses in protection against paratuberculosis, the identified markers may be useful in selective breeding of resistant sheep. This has the potential to curtail incidence of the disease in breeding as well as commercial flocks.

Supervisors
Professor Hugh Blair
Dr Alan Murray
Professor Dorian Garrick