Molecular characterization of MHC class IIB genes of sympatric Neotropical cichlids.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) is a key component of the adaptive immune system of all vertebrates and consists of the most polymorphic genes known to date. Due to this complexity, however, MHC remains to be characterized in many species including any Neotropical cichlid fish. Neotropical crater lake cichlids are ideal models to study evolutionary processes as they display one of the most convincing examples of sympatric and repeated parallel radiation events within and among isolated crater lakes.

Results

Here, we characterized the genes of MHC class IIB chain of the Midas cichlid species complex (Amphilophus cf. citrinellus) including fish from five lakes in Nicaragua. We designed 19 new specific primers anchored in a stepwise fashion in order to det

SUBMITTER: Hofmann MJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5310070 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature