Insights Into Long Non-Coding RNA and mRNA Expression in the Jejunum of Lambs Challenged With F17.

It has long been recognized that enterotoxigenic (ETEC) is the major pathogen responsible for vomiting and diarrhea. F17, a main subtype of ETEC, is characterized by high morbidity and mortality in young livestock. However, the transcriptomic basis underlying F17 infection has not been fully understood. In the present study, RNA sequencing was conducted to explore the expression profiles of mRNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the jejunum of lambs who were identified as resistant or sensitive to F17 that was obtained in a challenge experiment. A total of 772 differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs and 190 DE lncRNAs were detected between the F17-resistance and F17-sensitive lambs (i.e., , TCONS_00223467, and TCONS_00241897). Then, a two-step machine learning approach (RX) combination Random Forest and Extreme Gradient Boosting were performed, which identified 16 mRNAs and 17 lncRNAs as potential biomarkers, within which and TCONS_00182693 were prioritized as key biomarkers involved in F17 infection. Furthermore, functional enrichment analysis showed that peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) pathway was significantly enriched in response to F17 infection. Our finding will help to improve the knowledge of the mechanisms underlying F17 infection and may provide novel targets for future treatment of E. coli F17 infection.