Genetic variation at innate and adaptive immune genes - contrasting patterns of differentiation and local adaptation in a wild gull.

ABSTRACT: Immunogenetic variation in natural vertebrate populations is expected to respond to spatial and temporal fluctuations in pathogen assemblages. While spatial heterogeneity in pathogen-driven selection enhances local immunogenetic adaptations and population divergence, different immune genes may yield contrasting responses to the environment. Here, we investigated population differentiation at the key pathogen recognition genes of the innate and adaptive immune system in a colonial bird species, the black-headed gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus. We assessed genetic variation at three toll-like receptor (TLR) genes (innate immunity) and the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and II genes (adaptive immunity) in gulls from seven colonies scattered across Poland. As expected, we found

SUBMITTER: Minias P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10539538 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature