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Characterization of class II β chain major histocompatibility complex genes in a family of Hawaiian honeycreepers: ‘amakihi (Hemignathus virens)

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Abstract

Hawaiian honeycreepers (Drepanidinae) have evolved in the absence of mosquitoes for over five million years. Through human activity, mosquitoes were introduced to the Hawaiian archipelago less than 200 years ago. Mosquito-vectored diseases such as avian malaria caused by Plasmodium relictum and Avipoxviruses have greatly impacted these vulnerable species. Susceptibility to these diseases is variable among and within species. Due to their function in adaptive immunity, the role of major histocompatibility complex genes (Mhc) in disease susceptibility is under investigation. In this study, we evaluate gene organization and levels of diversity of Mhc class II β chain genes (exon 2) in a captive-reared family of Hawaii ‘amakihi (Hemignathus virens). A total of 233 sequences (173 bp) were obtained by PCR+1 amplification and cloning, and 5720 sequences were generated by Roche 454 pyrosequencing. We report a total of 17 alleles originating from a minimum of 14 distinct loci. We detected three linkage groups that appear to represent three distinct haplotypes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed one variable cluster resembling classical Mhc sequences (DAB) and one highly conserved, low variability cluster resembling non-classical Mhc sequences (DBB). High net evolutionary divergence values between DAB and DBB resemble that seen between chicken BLB system and YLB system genes. High amino acid identity among non-classical alleles from 12 species of passerines (DBB) and four species of Galliformes (YLB) was found, suggesting that these non-classical passerine sequences may be related to the Galliforme YLB sequences.

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Further reading

  • Hosomichi K, Shiina T, Shimizu S, Inoko H, Hanzawa K (2004) Characterization of Mhc class II B genes expressed in the chicken and quail immunological organs. (Direct submission)

  • Sharma D, Singh A, Gupta J, Kumar S, Nehra S (2006) Sequence analysis of BL Beta II for estimating genetic diversity among poultry species. (Direct submission)

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by Introduced Avian Diseases in Hawaii: Threats to Biodiversity of Native Forest Ecosystems, NSF DEB 0083944. Additional funding and support was provided by NIH/NCRR IDeA Networks of Biomedical Research Excellence (INBRE) P20RR016467, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Institutes of Health, award number: P20GM 103466, NIG-NIGMS P30GM114737 and the Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo. We would like to thank Scott Derrickson for providing blood samples from the captive-reared ‘amakihi and Robert Fleischer for providing additional aliquots of DNA and for his helpful discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, HI, 96720, USA

    Susan I. Jarvi, Kiara R. Bianchi, Margaret EM Farias, Ann Txakeeyang, Thomas McFarland & Ashley Asano

  2. Pacific Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases Research, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, Kane’ohe, HI, USA

    Mahdi Belcaid

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  1. Susan I. Jarvi
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  2. Kiara R. Bianchi
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  3. Margaret EM Farias
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  4. Ann Txakeeyang
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  5. Thomas McFarland
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  6. Mahdi Belcaid
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  7. Ashley Asano
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Correspondence to Susan I. Jarvi.

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This article is dedicated to the memory of Professor Elwood Briles in recognition for his monumental role in avian immunogenetics starting with his early discovery of alloantigen systems through to his recent contributions to genomic-based definitions of polymorphic regions within avian genomes.

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Jarvi, S.I., Bianchi, K.R., Farias, M.E. et al. Characterization of class II β chain major histocompatibility complex genes in a family of Hawaiian honeycreepers: ‘amakihi (Hemignathus virens). Immunogenetics 68, 461–475 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00251-016-0908-z

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