Episodic positive selection in the evolution of avian toll-like receptor innate immunity genes.

ABSTRACT: Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are a family of conserved pattern-recognition molecules responsible for initiating innate and acquired immune responses. Because they play a key role in host defence, these genes have received increasing interest in the evolutionary and population genetics literature, as their variation represents a potential target of adaptive evolution. However, the role of pathogen-mediated selection (i.e. episodic positive selection) in the evolution of these genes remains poorly known and has not been examined outside of mammals. A recent increase in the number of bird species for which TLR sequences are available has enabled us to examine the selective processes that have influenced evolution of the 10 known avian TLR genes. Specifically, we tested for episodic positive sel

SUBMITTER: Grueber CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3940441 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature