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Baca-Gonzalez, VictoriaAuthor

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April 22, 2025
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Exploring diversity in avian immune defence: Insights from cathelicidin clusters

Publicated to: Developmental And Comparative Immunology. 166 105363- - 2025-05-01 166(), DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2025.105363

Authors: Gonzalez-Acosta, Sergio; Baca-Gonzalez, Victoria; Asensio-Calavia, Patricia; Otazo-Perez, Andrea; Lopez, Manuel R; Morales-delaNuez, Antonio; de la Lastra, Jose Manuel Perez

Affiliations

CSIC, Biotechnol Macromol Res Grp, IPNA, Avda Astrofis Francisco Sanchez 3, San Cristobal De La Lagun 38206, Spain - Author
Inst Nacl Invest & Tecnol Agr & Alimentaria INIA C, Campus Montegancedo,Autopista M-40,Km 38, Pozuelo De Alarcon 28223, Madrid, Spain - Author
ULL, Escuela Doctorado & Estudios Posgrad, Avda Astrofis Francisco Sanchez SN,Edificio Calaba, San Cristobal De La Lagun 38200, Spain - Author
Univ Las Palmas Gran Canaria, IUSA ONEHLTH 4, Anim Prod & Biotechnol, Arucas, Spain - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid UPM, Plant Biotechnol & Genom, Campus Montegancedo,Autopista M-40,Km 38, Pozuelo De Alarcon 28223, Madrid, Spain - Author
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Abstract

Cathelicidins are a family of proteins from which a class of Host Defence Peptides (HDPs) is derived. They are components of the innate immune system of most vertebrates, including birds. Despite their promising activities, the genomic organisation and interspecies diversity of avian cathelicidins has been less studied than in other animal groups. In this research, we investigated the cathelicidin cluster in 72 avian species from 26 different orders by mining the avian genome assemblies available in NCBI database, using bioinformatics tools to analyse the cluster composition, gene structure and phylogenetic relationships. Cathelicidin clusters were found principally on chromosomes 1 and 2, usually located at the ends of the chromosomes, except in Falconiformes and Psittaciformes. The Galloanserae cluster diverged from the rest of avian groups by having cath1 in the Galliformes and a putative pseudogene of cathB1 in Anseriformes. In contrast, the remaining avian species displayed a predominantly cathelicidin cluster comprising cathB1, cath3, and cath2. However, Passeriformes lacked cath3 while Falconiformes exhibited the pseudogenisation of cath3. In addition, we found kelch like family member 18 and transforming growth factor beta 4 (zinc finger protein 777 in Passeriformes) as flanking genes. We identified 190 putative cathelicidins genes, of which 103 were undescribed, that displayed a high percentage of identity across cathelicidin type. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that cathelicidin genes are highly conserved supporting the hypothesis that cathelicidins play a crucial role in avian immunity. This work highlights the use of bioinformatic tools to improve our understanding of avian cathelicidins and the evolution of this important family protein.

Keywords

AntibacterialAntimicrobial peptidesBirdsEvolutionFamilyGene-expressionGenomic analysisIdentificationInfluenza-virusesInnate immunityPhylogeneticPhylogeneticsSequenc

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Developmental And Comparative Immunology due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency WoS (JCR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2025, it was in position 15/181, thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Zoology.

Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2025-12-06:

  • The use, from an academic perspective evidenced by the Altmetric agency indicator referring to aggregations made by the personal bibliographic manager Mendeley, gives us a total of: 7.
  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 6 (PlumX).

With a more dissemination-oriented intent and targeting more general audiences, we can observe other more global scores such as:

  • The Total Score from Altmetric: 1.
  • The number of mentions on the social network X (formerly Twitter): 1 (Altmetric).

Awards linked to the item

Agencia Canaria de Investigacion, Innovacion y Sociedad de la Informacion (ACIISI) del Gobierno de Canarias", Project ProID2020010134 "Bioprospeccion y biotecnologia en el descubrimiento de peptidos antimicrobianos contra patogenos resistentes". The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.