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Plumage microbiota covaries with the major histocompatibility complex in blue petrels

Leclaire, Sarah ; Strandh, Maria LU ; Dell’Ariccia, Gaia ; Gabirot, Marianne ; Westerdahl, Helena LU and Bonadonna, Francesco (2018) In Molecular Ecology
Abstract

To increase fitness, a wide range of vertebrates preferentially mate with partners that are dissimilar at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) or that have high MHC diversity. Although MHC often can be assessed through olfactory cues, the mechanism by which MHC genes influence odour remains largely unclear. MHC class IIB molecules, which enable recognition and elimination of extracellular bacteria, have been suggested to influence odour indirectly by shaping odour-producing microbiota, i.e. bacterial communities. However, there is little evidence of the predicted covariation between an animal's MHC genotype and its bacterial communities in scent-producing body surfaces. Here, using high-throughput sequencing, we tested the... (More)

To increase fitness, a wide range of vertebrates preferentially mate with partners that are dissimilar at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) or that have high MHC diversity. Although MHC often can be assessed through olfactory cues, the mechanism by which MHC genes influence odour remains largely unclear. MHC class IIB molecules, which enable recognition and elimination of extracellular bacteria, have been suggested to influence odour indirectly by shaping odour-producing microbiota, i.e. bacterial communities. However, there is little evidence of the predicted covariation between an animal's MHC genotype and its bacterial communities in scent-producing body surfaces. Here, using high-throughput sequencing, we tested the covariation between MHC class IIB genotypes and feather microbiota in the blue petrel (Halobaena caerulea), a seabird with highly developed olfaction that has been suggested to rely on oduor cues during an MHC-based mate choice. First, we show that individuals with similar MHC class IIB profiles also have similar bacterial assemblages in their feathers. Then, we show that individuals with high MHC diversity have less diverse feather microbiota and also a reduced abundance of a bacterium of the genus Arsenophonus, a genus in which some species are symbionts of avian ectoparasites. Our results, showing that feather microbiota covary with MHC, are consistent with the hypothesis that individual MHC genotype may shape the semiochemical-producing microbiota in birds.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
bacteria, feathers, MHC, microbiome,seabirds, uropygial gland
in
Molecular Ecology
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:85061054982
  • pmid:30582649
ISSN
0962-1083
DOI
10.1111/mec.14993
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
1fd60dc7-4f13-4d87-930e-dbbbd3fa9e63
date added to LUP
2019-02-13 09:05:09
date last changed
2024-04-30 00:54:51
@article{1fd60dc7-4f13-4d87-930e-dbbbd3fa9e63,
  abstract     = {{<p>To increase fitness, a wide range of vertebrates preferentially mate with partners that are dissimilar at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) or that have high MHC diversity. Although MHC often can be assessed through olfactory cues, the mechanism by which MHC genes influence odour remains largely unclear. MHC class IIB molecules, which enable recognition and elimination of extracellular bacteria, have been suggested to influence odour indirectly by shaping odour-producing microbiota, i.e. bacterial communities. However, there is little evidence of the predicted covariation between an animal's MHC genotype and its bacterial communities in scent-producing body surfaces. Here, using high-throughput sequencing, we tested the covariation between MHC class IIB genotypes and feather microbiota in the blue petrel (Halobaena caerulea), a seabird with highly developed olfaction that has been suggested to rely on oduor cues during an MHC-based mate choice. First, we show that individuals with similar MHC class IIB profiles also have similar bacterial assemblages in their feathers. Then, we show that individuals with high MHC diversity have less diverse feather microbiota and also a reduced abundance of a bacterium of the genus Arsenophonus, a genus in which some species are symbionts of avian ectoparasites. Our results, showing that feather microbiota covary with MHC, are consistent with the hypothesis that individual MHC genotype may shape the semiochemical-producing microbiota in birds.</p>}},
  author       = {{Leclaire, Sarah and Strandh, Maria and Dell’Ariccia, Gaia and Gabirot, Marianne and Westerdahl, Helena and Bonadonna, Francesco}},
  issn         = {{0962-1083}},
  keywords     = {{bacteria; feathers; MHC; microbiome,seabirds; uropygial gland}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Molecular Ecology}},
  title        = {{Plumage microbiota covaries with the major histocompatibility complex in blue petrels}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/mec.14993}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/mec.14993}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}