Selection and demography drive range-wide patterns of MHC-DRB variation in mule deer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Standing genetic variation is important especially in immune response-related genes because of threats to wild populations like the emergence of novel pathogens. Genetic variation at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which is crucial in activating the adaptive immune response, is influenced by both natural selection and historical population demography, and their relative roles can be difficult to disentangle. To provide insight into the influences of natural selection and demography on MHC evolution in large populations, we analyzed geographic patterns of variation at the MHC class II DRB exon 2 locus in mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) using sequence data collected across their entire broad range.

Results

We identified 31 new MHC-DRB alleles which were

SUBMITTER: Cook RM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8988406 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature