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Associations between malaria and MHC genes in a migratory songbird

Westerdahl, Helena LU ; Waldenström, Jonas LU ; Hansson, Bengt LU orcid ; Hasselquist, Dennis LU ; von Schantz, Torbjörn LU and Bensch, Staffan LU (2005) In Royal Society of London. Proceedings B. Biological Sciences 272(1571). p.1511-1518
Abstract
Malaria parasites are a widespread and species-rich group infecting many wild populations of mammals, birds and reptiles. Studies on humans have demonstrated that genetic factors play a key role in the susceptibility and outcome of malaria infections. Until the present study, it has not been examined whether genetic variation in hosts is important for the outcome of malaria infections in natural avian populations. We investigated associations between major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes and prevalence of three different avian malaria parasites (Haemoproteus payevshyi (GRW1), Plasmodium sp. (GRW2) and Plasmodium sp. (GRW4)) in a long-term study of great reed warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus. We hypothesized that the MHC genes... (More)
Malaria parasites are a widespread and species-rich group infecting many wild populations of mammals, birds and reptiles. Studies on humans have demonstrated that genetic factors play a key role in the susceptibility and outcome of malaria infections. Until the present study, it has not been examined whether genetic variation in hosts is important for the outcome of malaria infections in natural avian populations. We investigated associations between major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes and prevalence of three different avian malaria parasites (Haemoproteus payevshyi (GRW1), Plasmodium sp. (GRW2) and Plasmodium sp. (GRW4)) in a long-term study of great reed warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus. We hypothesized that the MHC genes could either give full protection against a malaria infection, or confer protection against lethal malaria and direct the infection towards being milder. We found a positive association between numbers of MHC class I alleles (a measure of level of heterozygosity) and prevalence of the GRW2 parasite, suggesting the latter scenario. There was also a positive association between a specific MHC allele (B4b), previously shown to be under frequency-dependent selection in the study population, and prevalence of GRW2. These associations suggest that individuals carrying either a large number of MHC alleles or a specific MHC allele are protected against lethal malaria infections. (Less)
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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Royal Society of London. Proceedings B. Biological Sciences
volume
272
issue
1571
pages
1511 - 1518
publisher
Royal Society Publishing
external identifiers
  • wos:000231268700013
  • pmid:16011927
  • scopus:25444481112
ISSN
1471-2954
DOI
10.1098/rspb.2005.3113
project
Malaria in birds
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
839c5cbc-0757-4516-bf71-96607a304946 (old id 145453)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 12:14:59
date last changed
2022-03-28 22:18:45
@article{839c5cbc-0757-4516-bf71-96607a304946,
  abstract     = {{Malaria parasites are a widespread and species-rich group infecting many wild populations of mammals, birds and reptiles. Studies on humans have demonstrated that genetic factors play a key role in the susceptibility and outcome of malaria infections. Until the present study, it has not been examined whether genetic variation in hosts is important for the outcome of malaria infections in natural avian populations. We investigated associations between major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes and prevalence of three different avian malaria parasites (Haemoproteus payevshyi (GRW1), Plasmodium sp. (GRW2) and Plasmodium sp. (GRW4)) in a long-term study of great reed warblers Acrocephalus arundinaceus. We hypothesized that the MHC genes could either give full protection against a malaria infection, or confer protection against lethal malaria and direct the infection towards being milder. We found a positive association between numbers of MHC class I alleles (a measure of level of heterozygosity) and prevalence of the GRW2 parasite, suggesting the latter scenario. There was also a positive association between a specific MHC allele (B4b), previously shown to be under frequency-dependent selection in the study population, and prevalence of GRW2. These associations suggest that individuals carrying either a large number of MHC alleles or a specific MHC allele are protected against lethal malaria infections.}},
  author       = {{Westerdahl, Helena and Waldenström, Jonas and Hansson, Bengt and Hasselquist, Dennis and von Schantz, Torbjörn and Bensch, Staffan}},
  issn         = {{1471-2954}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1571}},
  pages        = {{1511--1518}},
  publisher    = {{Royal Society Publishing}},
  series       = {{Royal Society of London. Proceedings B. Biological Sciences}},
  title        = {{Associations between malaria and MHC genes in a migratory songbird}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/2845050/625051.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1098/rspb.2005.3113}},
  volume       = {{272}},
  year         = {{2005}},
}