Identification and analysis of divergent immune gene families within the Tasmanian devil genome.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is being threatened with extinction in the wild by a disease known as devil facial tumour disease (DFTD). In order to prevent the spread of this disease a thorough understanding of the Tasmanian devil immune system and its response to the disease is required. In 2011 and 2012 two genome sequencing projects of the Tasmania devil were released. This has provided us with the raw data required to begin to investigate the Tasmanian devil immunome in depth. In this study we characterise immune gene families of the Tasmanian devil. We focus on immunoglobulins, T cell receptors and cytokine families.

Results

We identify and describe 119 cytokines including 40 interleukins, 39 chemokines, 8 interferons, 18 tumour necrosis family c

SUBMITTER: Morris KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4662006 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature