Specific gene expression responses to parasite genotypes reveal redundancy of innate immunity in vertebrates.

ABSTRACT: Vertebrate innate immunity is the first line of defense against an invading pathogen and has long been assumed to be largely unspecific with respect to parasite/pathogen species. However, recent phenotypic evidence suggests that immunogenetic variation, i.e. allelic variability in genes associated with the immune system, results in host-parasite genotype-by-genotype interactions and thus specific innate immune responses. Immunogenetic variation is common in all vertebrate taxa and this reflects an effective immunological function in complex environments. However, the underlying variability in host gene expression patterns as response of innate immunity to within-species genetic diversity of macroparasites in vertebrates is unknown. We hypothesized that intra-specific variation among parasi

SUBMITTER: Haase D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4177871 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature