Specific MHC class I supertype associated with parasite infection and color morph in a wild lizard population.

ABSTRACT: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a large gene family that plays a central role in the immune system of all jawed vertebrates. Nonavian reptiles are underrepresented within the MHC literature and little is understood regarding the mechanisms maintaining MHC diversity in this vertebrate group. Here, we examined the relative roles of parasite-mediated selection and sexual selection in maintaining MHC class I diversity of a color polymorphic lizard. We discovered evidence for parasite-mediated selection acting via rare-allele advantage or fluctuating selection as ectoparasite load was significantly lower in the presence of a specific MHC supertype (functional clustering of alleles): supertype four. Based on comparisons between ectoparasite prevalence and load, and assessment of th

SUBMITTER: Hacking JD 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6202711 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature