In vitro tests of natural allelic variation of innate immune genes (avian β-defensins) reveal functional differences in microbial inhibition
(2010) In Journal of evolutionary biology 23(12). p.30-2726- Abstract
Allelic variation in immune genes might result from, and contribute to, host-pathogen evolution. Functional allelic variation in the innate immune system has received little attention. Here, we investigate whether naturally occurring allelic variation within the avian innate immune system (β-defensins) is associated with variation in antimicrobial activity. We tested differences in in vitro antimicrobial properties of the synthesized products of two alleles of avian β-defensin 7, both of which occur at high frequency in natural populations of the great tit (Parus major). Only one allele strongly inhibited the growth of the gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, but both alleles strongly inhibited growth of the gram-negative... (More)
Allelic variation in immune genes might result from, and contribute to, host-pathogen evolution. Functional allelic variation in the innate immune system has received little attention. Here, we investigate whether naturally occurring allelic variation within the avian innate immune system (β-defensins) is associated with variation in antimicrobial activity. We tested differences in in vitro antimicrobial properties of the synthesized products of two alleles of avian β-defensin 7, both of which occur at high frequency in natural populations of the great tit (Parus major). Only one allele strongly inhibited the growth of the gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, but both alleles strongly inhibited growth of the gram-negative bacterium Escherechia coli. Our data demonstrate functional allelic variation in natural defensin genes, and we discuss how differences in efficacy against microbial species might contribute to maintaining this variation.
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- author
- Hellgren, O LU ; Sheldon, Ben C. and Buckling, A
- publishing date
- 2010-12
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- keywords
- Alleles, Animals, Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry, Avian Proteins/chemistry, Escherichia coli/drug effects, Genetic Variation, Immunity, Innate/genetics, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Passeriformes/genetics, Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects, beta-Defensins/chemistry
- in
- Journal of evolutionary biology
- volume
- 23
- issue
- 12
- pages
- 30 - 2726
- publisher
- John Wiley & Sons Inc.
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:78449232520
- pmid:21121085
- ISSN
- 1420-9101
- DOI
- 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2010.02115.x
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- additional info
- © 2010 The Authors. Journal Compilation © 2010 European Society For Evolutionary Biology.
- id
- 1d45a367-ef5a-4d7b-9590-d85e693e92e6
- date added to LUP
- 2022-06-16 18:37:43
- date last changed
- 2024-04-04 10:07:59
@article{1d45a367-ef5a-4d7b-9590-d85e693e92e6,
abstract = {{<p>Allelic variation in immune genes might result from, and contribute to, host-pathogen evolution. Functional allelic variation in the innate immune system has received little attention. Here, we investigate whether naturally occurring allelic variation within the avian innate immune system (β-defensins) is associated with variation in antimicrobial activity. We tested differences in in vitro antimicrobial properties of the synthesized products of two alleles of avian β-defensin 7, both of which occur at high frequency in natural populations of the great tit (Parus major). Only one allele strongly inhibited the growth of the gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, but both alleles strongly inhibited growth of the gram-negative bacterium Escherechia coli. Our data demonstrate functional allelic variation in natural defensin genes, and we discuss how differences in efficacy against microbial species might contribute to maintaining this variation.</p>}},
author = {{Hellgren, O and Sheldon, Ben C. and Buckling, A}},
issn = {{1420-9101}},
keywords = {{Alleles; Animals; Anti-Infective Agents/chemistry; Avian Proteins/chemistry; Escherichia coli/drug effects; Genetic Variation; Immunity, Innate/genetics; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Passeriformes/genetics; Staphylococcus aureus/drug effects; beta-Defensins/chemistry}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{12}},
pages = {{30--2726}},
publisher = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
series = {{Journal of evolutionary biology}},
title = {{In vitro tests of natural allelic variation of innate immune genes (avian β-defensins) reveal functional differences in microbial inhibition}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1420-9101.2010.02115.x}},
doi = {{10.1111/j.1420-9101.2010.02115.x}},
volume = {{23}},
year = {{2010}},
}