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Diversity and evolutionary history of the MHC DQA gene in leporids

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Abstract

The European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) is used as a model for many human diseases, yet comparatively little is known of its genetics, particularly at important loci such as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). This study investigated genetic diversity and evolutionary history of the DQA gene in a range of leporid species by analysing coding sequence diversity of exon 2 and intron 2 in 53 individuals of 16 different species. Fifty leporid DQA alleles were detected, including 13 novel European rabbit alleles. In the rabbit, the highest levels of diversity were observed in wild rabbits from Portugal, with wild rabbits from England and domestic rabbits showing less diversity. Within the sample, several recombination events were detected and trans-specific evolution of alleles was evidenced, both being general characteristics of mammalian MHC genes. Positive selection is implicated as operating on six codons within exon 2, which are also subject to positive selection in other mammals. Some of these positions are putative antigen recognition sites and underline the importance of pathogen-driven selection on these MHC genes.

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Acknowledgements

A.K.S was funded by a Wellcome Trust Training Fellowship. W.vdLoo was funded by the Belgian Foundation for Scientific Research (NFWO-V). This work was also supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology Portugal: grants SFRH/BD/31048/2006, SFRH/BPD/27021/2006, SFRH/BD/xxxxx/200x to J.A., P.J.E., M.C., respectively. We are grateful to Michelle Fain for interesting discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, UK

    Alison K. Surridge

  2. School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK

    Alison K. Surridge & Godfrey M. Hewitt

  3. CIBIO/UP, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, R. Padre Armando Quintas – Crasto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal

    Wessel van der Loo, Joana Abrantes, Miguel Carneiro & Pedro J. Esteves

  4. Departamento de Zoologia e Antropologia da Faculdade de Ciências da, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Wessel van der Loo, Joana Abrantes & Miguel Carneiro

  5. Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias da Saúde (CITS), ISPN, CESPU, Gandra, Portugal

    Pedro J. Esteves

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  1. Alison K. Surridge
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  2. Wessel van der Loo
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Correspondence to Alison K. Surridge.

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Surridge, A.K., van der Loo, W., Abrantes, J. et al. Diversity and evolutionary history of the MHC DQA gene in leporids. Immunogenetics 60, 515–525 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00251-008-0309-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00251-008-0309-z

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