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Signatures of selection acting on the innate immunity gene Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) during the evolutionary history of rodents.

Tschirren, Barbara LU ; Råberg, Lars LU and Westerdahl, Helena LU (2011) In Journal of evolutionary biology 24. p.1232-1240
Abstract
Patterns of selection acting on immune defence genes have recently been the focus of considerable interest. Yet, when it comes to vertebrates, studies have mainly focused on the acquired branch of the immune system. Consequently, the direction and strength of selection acting on genes of the vertebrate innate immune defence remain poorly understood. Here, we present a molecular analysis of selection on an important receptor of the innate immune system of vertebrates, the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), across 17 rodent species. Although purifying selection was the prevalent evolutionary force acting on most parts of the rodent TLR2, we found that codons in close proximity to pathogen-binding and TLR2-TLR1 heterodimerization sites have been... (More)
Patterns of selection acting on immune defence genes have recently been the focus of considerable interest. Yet, when it comes to vertebrates, studies have mainly focused on the acquired branch of the immune system. Consequently, the direction and strength of selection acting on genes of the vertebrate innate immune defence remain poorly understood. Here, we present a molecular analysis of selection on an important receptor of the innate immune system of vertebrates, the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), across 17 rodent species. Although purifying selection was the prevalent evolutionary force acting on most parts of the rodent TLR2, we found that codons in close proximity to pathogen-binding and TLR2-TLR1 heterodimerization sites have been subject to positive selection. This indicates that parasite-mediated selection is not restricted to acquired immune system genes like the major histocompatibility complex, but also affects innate defence genes. To obtain a comprehensive understanding of evolutionary processes in host-parasite systems, both innate and acquired immunity thus need to be considered. (Less)
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author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
arms race, coevolution, disease ecology, host–parasite interactions, innate immunity, parasite-mediated selection, rodents, Toll-like receptor 2
in
Journal of evolutionary biology
volume
24
pages
1232 - 1240
publisher
John Wiley & Sons Inc.
external identifiers
  • wos:000290313500008
  • scopus:79955673903
  • pmid:21418116
ISSN
1420-9101
DOI
10.1111/j.1420-9101.2011.02254.x
project
Borrelia in rodents
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7c1947ea-fde7-4936-871a-1cbc6150d50d (old id 1883772)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 10:54:01
date last changed
2024-05-06 22:48:32
@article{7c1947ea-fde7-4936-871a-1cbc6150d50d,
  abstract     = {{Patterns of selection acting on immune defence genes have recently been the focus of considerable interest. Yet, when it comes to vertebrates, studies have mainly focused on the acquired branch of the immune system. Consequently, the direction and strength of selection acting on genes of the vertebrate innate immune defence remain poorly understood. Here, we present a molecular analysis of selection on an important receptor of the innate immune system of vertebrates, the Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), across 17 rodent species. Although purifying selection was the prevalent evolutionary force acting on most parts of the rodent TLR2, we found that codons in close proximity to pathogen-binding and TLR2-TLR1 heterodimerization sites have been subject to positive selection. This indicates that parasite-mediated selection is not restricted to acquired immune system genes like the major histocompatibility complex, but also affects innate defence genes. To obtain a comprehensive understanding of evolutionary processes in host-parasite systems, both innate and acquired immunity thus need to be considered.}},
  author       = {{Tschirren, Barbara and Råberg, Lars and Westerdahl, Helena}},
  issn         = {{1420-9101}},
  keywords     = {{arms race; coevolution; disease ecology; host–parasite interactions; innate immunity; parasite-mediated selection; rodents; Toll-like receptor 2}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{1232--1240}},
  publisher    = {{John Wiley & Sons Inc.}},
  series       = {{Journal of evolutionary biology}},
  title        = {{Signatures of selection acting on the innate immunity gene Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) during the evolutionary history of rodents.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1420-9101.2011.02254.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1420-9101.2011.02254.x}},
  volume       = {{24}},
  year         = {{2011}},
}