Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Passerine MHC: genetic variation and disease resistance in the wild

Westerdahl, Helena LU (2007) In Journal of Ornithology 148. p.469-477
Abstract
The passerine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and IIB genes are different from those of the avian model species the chicken because passerines have (1) a larger number of MHC genes, (2) MHC genes with longer introns, and (3) MHC genes that are pseudo-genes. Most passerine MHC genes are transcribed (coding), extremely variable and subject to balancing selection. The high genetic diversity of the MHC genes of passerines is most likely maintained by selection from a large number of different pathogens. Association between MHC alleles and resistance to avian malaria infections have been reported in House Sparrows and Great Reed Warblers. Passerines are infected by a large number of different avian malaria infections. Therefore... (More)
The passerine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and IIB genes are different from those of the avian model species the chicken because passerines have (1) a larger number of MHC genes, (2) MHC genes with longer introns, and (3) MHC genes that are pseudo-genes. Most passerine MHC genes are transcribed (coding), extremely variable and subject to balancing selection. The high genetic diversity of the MHC genes of passerines is most likely maintained by selection from a large number of different pathogens. Association between MHC alleles and resistance to avian malaria infections have been reported in House Sparrows and Great Reed Warblers. Passerines are infected by a large number of different avian malaria infections. Therefore passerines and avian malaria is a study system that is well-suited to investigations of balancing selection and associations between MHC genes and disease resistance. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
MHC class I and class II, passerines, Avian, balancing selection, disease resistance, malaria
in
Journal of Ornithology
volume
148
pages
469 - 477
publisher
Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
external identifiers
  • wos:000255199000040
  • scopus:36949025933
ISSN
2193-7206
DOI
10.1007/s10336-007-0230-5
project
Avian MHC genes
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
70dfa414-9522-4442-9203-41efdadef7e6 (old id 1407310)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:10:28
date last changed
2025-02-15 03:17:49
@article{70dfa414-9522-4442-9203-41efdadef7e6,
  abstract     = {{The passerine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and IIB genes are different from those of the avian model species the chicken because passerines have (1) a larger number of MHC genes, (2) MHC genes with longer introns, and (3) MHC genes that are pseudo-genes. Most passerine MHC genes are transcribed (coding), extremely variable and subject to balancing selection. The high genetic diversity of the MHC genes of passerines is most likely maintained by selection from a large number of different pathogens. Association between MHC alleles and resistance to avian malaria infections have been reported in House Sparrows and Great Reed Warblers. Passerines are infected by a large number of different avian malaria infections. Therefore passerines and avian malaria is a study system that is well-suited to investigations of balancing selection and associations between MHC genes and disease resistance.}},
  author       = {{Westerdahl, Helena}},
  issn         = {{2193-7206}},
  keywords     = {{MHC class I and class II; passerines; Avian; balancing selection; disease resistance; malaria}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{469--477}},
  publisher    = {{Springer Science and Business Media B.V.}},
  series       = {{Journal of Ornithology}},
  title        = {{Passerine MHC: genetic variation and disease resistance in the wild}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10336-007-0230-5}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10336-007-0230-5}},
  volume       = {{148}},
  year         = {{2007}},
}