VARIATION IN MHC CLASS II ANTIGEN BINDING SITE OF ATLANTIC SALMON, SALMO SALAR

该子项目是利用该技术的众多研究子项目之一 资源由 NIH/NCRR 资助的中心拨款提供。子项目和 研究者 (PI) 可能已从 NIH 的另一个来源获得主要资金， 因此可以在其他 CRISP 条目中表示。列出的机构是 对于中心来说，它不一定是研究者的机构。 比较基因组分析用于研究免疫系统基因的进化，以响应生活史策略的差异，特别是内陆鱼与海游鱼所经历的寄生虫组的差异。 海游大西洋鲑鱼会在两个栖息地遇到寄生虫，而内陆鱼类只会在一个栖息地遇到寄生虫。 据推测，经历更多寄生虫的人群中应该存在更大的免疫系统基因遗传多样性。 该项目将评估海上游动和内陆大西洋鲑鱼种群中主要组织相容性复合物 (MHC) II B 类基因的遗传变异。 它将评估作用于 MHC II B 类基因的选择类型，并识别 MHC II B 类基因的抗原结合位点 (ABS) 中相应的氨基酸变化。 这将提供有关每个种群功能多样性数量的信息，从而实现功能多样性与寄生虫暴露之间的相关性。 这项研究将扩展到其他免疫系统基因：MHC II 类 A、MHC I 类和抗原加工相关转运蛋白 (TAP)。 这将允许对鱼类进行多位点基因分型，并确定免疫系统基因的独特组合是否存在。 目标是确定接触不同数量的寄生虫是否与 MHC 多态性水平相关。 对 MHC 多样性的研究将有助于了解如何利用生物体的免疫系统更好地防御寄生虫。

This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing the resources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject and investigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source, and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed is for the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator. Comparative genomic analysis is used to study the evolution of immune system genes in response to differences in life history strategies, specifically differences in suites of parasites experienced by landlocked versus sea run fish. Sea run Atlantic salmon encounter parasites in two habitats, while landlocked fish only encounter parasites in one habitat. It has been hypothesized that greater genetic diversity of immune system genes should exist in populations experiencing more parasites. This project will assess genetic variation in the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Class II B gene in populations of sea run and landlocked Atlantic salmon. It will assess the type of selection acting on the MHC Class II B gene and identify corresponding amino acid changes in the Antigen Binding Site (ABS) of the MHC Class II B gene. This will provide information on the amount of functional diversity in each population, enabling a correlation between functional diversity and parasite exposure. This study will be expanded to other immune system genes: MHC Class-II A, MHC Class-I, and Transporter Associated with Antigen Processing (TAP). This will allow multilocus genotyping of fish, and determination of the existence of unique combinations of immune system genes. The goal is to determine if exposure to different numbers of parasites correlates with levels of MHC polymorphism. This investigation of MHC diversity will help understand how an organism's immune system can be exploited for better protection against parasites.