Immunogenetic variation shapes the gut microbiome in a natural vertebrate population.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The gut microbiome (GM) can influence many biological processes in the host, impacting its health and survival, but the GM can also be influenced by the host's traits. In vertebrates, Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes play a pivotal role in combatting pathogens and are thought to shape the host's GM. Despite this-and the documented importance of both GM and MHC variation to individual fitness-few studies have investigated the association between the GM and MHC in the wild.

Results

We characterised MHC class I (MHC-I), MHC class II (MHC-II) and GM variation in individuals within a natural population of the Seychelles warbler (Acrocephalus sechellensis). We determined how the diversity and composition of the GM varied with MHC characteristics, in addition

SUBMITTER: Davies CS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8903650 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature