Collaborative research: Molecular mechanisms of scent mediated self / non-self recognition in a pelagic seabird

个人气味可受主要组织相容性复合体（Mhc）基因的影响，Mhc是免疫功能所必需的一组基因。这些气味会影响哺乳动物、蜥蜴和鱼类的识别和偏好，但mhc相关的气味是否会在鸟类中发挥类似的作用目前尚不清楚。管鼻海鸟（目：海燕和信天翁）是研究这种可能性的理想群体。这些鸟终生交配。它们也有非凡的嗅觉，有些物种仅凭气味就能区分彼此。这一最新发现表明，个人气味可能在鸟类的社会行为中发挥作用，到目前为止，人们还没有认真考虑过这一点。为了进一步研究这种可能性，专门研究鸟类嗅觉的感官生态学家加布里埃尔·内维特教授与进化生物学家、鸟类Mhc领域的专家斯科特·爱德华兹教授合作。他们将使用利奇风暴海燕（Oceanodroma leucorhoa）作为模型系统来研究这个问题。本项目的主要目标是：1)首次对一种前体海鸟的Mhc II类基因以及其他与嗅觉和免疫功能相关的基因进行多基因表征；2)探讨Mhc在个体气味识别中的作用；3)探讨Mhc在终身伴侣选择中的作用。结果表明，鸟类既可以检测Mhc气味，也可以利用它们来选择配偶，这代表了生物学家通常如何看待鸟类的择偶决定的范式转变。同样重要的是，许多种类的海燕和信天翁正面临灭绝，了解驱动配偶选择的因素将对濒危物种的综合管理计划做出有价值的贡献。最后，该项目将为本科生、研究生和博士后提供跨学科培训，特别是为少数民族和妇女提供培训，她们将成为这些职位的目标。

Personal odors can be influenced by genes of the major histocompatibility complex (Mhc), which is a cluster of genes essential for immune function. These odors impact recognition and preference in mammals, lizards and fish, but whether Mhc-associated odors could play a similar role in birds is currently not known. The tube-nosed seabirds (Order: Procellariiformes: petrels and albatrosses) are an ideal group for investigating this possibility. These birds mate for life. They also have a remarkable sense of smell, and some species can tell each other apart using only odors. This latest finding suggests that personal scent may play a role in social behaviors, which, until now, has not been seriously considered in birds. To investigate this possibility further, Professor Gabrielle Nevitt, a sensory ecologist specializing in bird olfaction, has teamed up with Professor Scott Edwards, an evolutionary biologist and expert in the field of Mhc in birds. They will investigate this problem using the Leach's storm-petrel (Oceanodroma leucorhoa) as a model system. The primary objectives of this project are: 1) To perform the first multigene characterization of Mhc class II genes, and other genes related to olfactory and immune function, in a procellariiform seabird; 2) To investigate the role of Mhc in individual scent recognition; and 3) To investigate whether Mhc is involved in life-long partner choice. Results showing that birds can either detect Mhc odors or use them to choose mates would represent a paradigm shift in how biologists typically view mate choice decisions in birds. Just as importantly, many species of petrels and albatrosses are facing extinction, and understanding the factors driving mate choice will make a valuable contribution to comprehensive management plans for endangered species. Finally, the project will provide interdisciplinary training at the undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral levels, particularly for minorities and women, who will be targeted for these positions.