Diversifying selection and climatic effects on major histocompatibility complex class II gene diversity in the greater horseshoe bat.

ABSTRACT: Heterogeneous pathogenic stress can shape major histocompatibility complex (MHC) diversity by influencing the functional plasticity of the immune response. Therefore, MHC diversity could reflect environmental stress, demonstrating its importance in uncovering the mechanisms of adaptive genetic variation. In this study, we combined neutral microsatellite loci, an immune-related MHC II-DRB locus, and climatic factors to unravel the mechanisms affecting the diversity and genetic differentiation of MHC genes in the greater horseshoe bat (Rhinolophus ferrumequinum), a species with a wide geographical distribution that has three distinct genetic lineages in China. First, increased genetic differentiation at the MHC locus among populations compared using microsatellites indicated diversify

SUBMITTER: Li X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10033860 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature