Contrasting patterns of selection between MHC I and II across populations of Humboldt and Magellanic penguins.

ABSTRACT: The evolutionary and adaptive potential of populations or species facing an emerging infectious disease depends on their genetic diversity in genes, such as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). In birds, MHC class I deals predominantly with intracellular infections (e.g., viruses) and MHC class II with extracellular infections (e.g., bacteria). Therefore, patterns of MHC I and II diversity may differ between species and across populations of species depending on the relative effect of local and global environmental selective pressures, genetic drift, and gene flow. We hypothesize that high gene flow among populations of Humboldt and Magellanic penguins limits local adaptation in MHC I and MHC II, and signatures of selection differ between markers, locations, and species. We evaluate

SUBMITTER: Sallaberry-Pincheira N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5513272 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature