Differential immune gene expression associated with contemporary range expansion in two invasive rodents in Senegal.

ABSTRACT: Biological invasions are major anthropogenic changes associated with threats to biodiversity and health. However, what determines the successful establishment and spread of introduced populations remains unclear. Here, we explore several hypotheses linking invasion success and immune phenotype traits, including those based on the evolution of increased competitive ability concept. We compared gene expression profiles between anciently and recently established populations of two major invading species, the house mouse Mus musculus domesticus and the black rat Rattus rattus, in Senegal (West Africa). Transcriptome analyses identified differential expression between anciently and recently established populations for 364 mouse genes and 83 rat genes. All immune-related genes displaying differe

SUBMITTER: Charbonnel N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7589499 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature