Using de novo genome assembly and high-throughput sequencing to characterize the MHC region in a non-model bird, the Eurasian coot.

ABSTRACT: Genes of the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) form a key component of vertebrate adaptive immunity, as they code for molecules which bind antigens of intra- and extracellular pathogens (MHC class I and II, respectively) and present them to T cell receptors. In general, MHC genes are hyper-polymorphic and high MHC diversity is often maintained within natural populations (via balancing selection) and within individuals (via gene duplications). Because of its complex architecture with tandems of duplicated genes, characterization of MHC region in non-model vertebrate species still poses a major challenge. Here, we combined de novo genome assembly and high-throughput sequencing to characterize MHC polymorphism in a rallid bird species, the Eurasian coot Fulica atra. An analysis of genome

SUBMITTER: Pikus E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9054815 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature