A locus-wide approach to assessing variation in the avian MHC: the B-locus of the wild turkey.

ABSTRACT: Studies of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) diversity in non-model vertebrates typically focus on structure and sequence variation in the antigen-presenting loci: the highly variable and polymorphic class I and class IIB genes. Although these studies provide estimates of the number of genes and alleles/locus, they often overlook variation in functionally related and co-inherited genes important in the immune response. This study utilizes the sequence of the MHC B-locus derived from a commercial turkey to investigate MHC variation in wild birds. Sequences were obtained for nine interspersed MHC amplicons (non-class I/II) from each of 40 birds representing 3 subspecies of wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). Analysis of aligned sequences identified 238 single-nucleotide variants approxim

SUBMITTER: Chaves LD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3186117 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature