Sex-Dependent Influence of Major Histocompatibility Complex Diversity on Fitness in a Social Mammal.

ABSTRACT: Parasite infections affect males and females differently across a wide range of species, often due to differences in immune responses. Generally, females tend to have stronger immune defences and lower parasite loads than males. The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays a crucial role in the adaptive immune response, and extensive research has explored how variation in this region influences infection and fitness outcomes. However, studies of sex-specific relationships between MHC variation and infection are scarce, perhaps because MHC genes are located on the autosomes, which are shared by both sexes. Here, we provide evidence of sexually antagonistic selection in a wild, group-living mammal-the banded mongoose. Using genetic and life history data collected from over 300 individual

SUBMITTER: Schubert N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12421486 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature