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House sparrows do not exhibit a preference for the scent of potential partners with different MHC-I diversity and genetic distances

Amo, Luisa ; de Paz, Guillermo Amo ; Kabbert, Johanna LU and Machordom, Annie (2022) In PLoS ONE 17(12 December).
Abstract

MHC genes play a fundamental role in immune recognition of pathogens and parasites. Therefore, females may increase offspring heterozygosity and genetic diversity by selecting males with genetically compatible or heterozygous MHC. In birds, several studies suggest that MHC genes play a role in mate choice, and recent evidence suggests that olfaction may play a role in the MHC-II discrimination. However, whether olfaction is involved in MHC-I discrimination in birds remains unknown. Previous studies indicate that house sparrow females with low allelic diversity prefer males with higher diversity in MHC-I alleles. Here, we directly explored whether female and male house sparrows (Passer domesticus) could estimate by scent MHC-I diversity... (More)

MHC genes play a fundamental role in immune recognition of pathogens and parasites. Therefore, females may increase offspring heterozygosity and genetic diversity by selecting males with genetically compatible or heterozygous MHC. In birds, several studies suggest that MHC genes play a role in mate choice, and recent evidence suggests that olfaction may play a role in the MHC-II discrimination. However, whether olfaction is involved in MHC-I discrimination in birds remains unknown. Previous studies indicate that house sparrow females with low allelic diversity prefer males with higher diversity in MHC-I alleles. Here, we directly explored whether female and male house sparrows (Passer domesticus) could estimate by scent MHC-I diversity and/or dissimilarity of potential partners. Our results show that neither females nor males exhibit a preference related to MHC-I diversity or dissimilarity of potential partners, suggesting that MHC-I is not detected through olfaction. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms responsible for mate discrimination based on MHC-I in birds.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
PLoS ONE
volume
17
issue
12 December
article number
e0278892
publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
external identifiers
  • pmid:36542616
  • scopus:85144597060
ISSN
1932-6203
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0278892
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
58a29ae7-8e34-405f-ab0c-42254763972b
date added to LUP
2023-01-09 12:16:27
date last changed
2024-04-18 07:41:00
@article{58a29ae7-8e34-405f-ab0c-42254763972b,
  abstract     = {{<p>MHC genes play a fundamental role in immune recognition of pathogens and parasites. Therefore, females may increase offspring heterozygosity and genetic diversity by selecting males with genetically compatible or heterozygous MHC. In birds, several studies suggest that MHC genes play a role in mate choice, and recent evidence suggests that olfaction may play a role in the MHC-II discrimination. However, whether olfaction is involved in MHC-I discrimination in birds remains unknown. Previous studies indicate that house sparrow females with low allelic diversity prefer males with higher diversity in MHC-I alleles. Here, we directly explored whether female and male house sparrows (Passer domesticus) could estimate by scent MHC-I diversity and/or dissimilarity of potential partners. Our results show that neither females nor males exhibit a preference related to MHC-I diversity or dissimilarity of potential partners, suggesting that MHC-I is not detected through olfaction. Further studies are needed to understand the mechanisms responsible for mate discrimination based on MHC-I in birds.</p>}},
  author       = {{Amo, Luisa and de Paz, Guillermo Amo and Kabbert, Johanna and Machordom, Annie}},
  issn         = {{1932-6203}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{12 December}},
  publisher    = {{Public Library of Science (PLoS)}},
  series       = {{PLoS ONE}},
  title        = {{House sparrows do not exhibit a preference for the scent of potential partners with different MHC-I diversity and genetic distances}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0278892}},
  doi          = {{10.1371/journal.pone.0278892}},
  volume       = {{17}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}