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

这个子项目是许多研究子项目中的一个 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心赠款提供的资源。子项目和 研究者（PI）可能从另一个NIH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 中心，不一定是研究者的机构。 比较基因组分析是用来研究免疫系统基因的进化，以应对生活史策略的差异，特别是在套房的寄生虫所经历的内陆与海运行的鱼的差异。 海运行大西洋鲑鱼遇到寄生虫在两个栖息地，而内陆鱼类只遇到寄生虫在一个栖息地。 据推测，在经历更多寄生虫的人群中，免疫系统基因的遗传多样性应该更大。 该项目将评估主要组织相容性复合体（MHC）II类B基因在海运行和内陆大西洋鲑鱼种群的遗传变异。 它将评估作用于MHC II类B基因的选择类型，并鉴定MHC II类B基因的抗原结合位点（ABS）中相应的氨基酸变化。 这将提供关于每个种群的功能多样性数量的信息，使功能多样性和寄生虫暴露之间的相关性成为可能。 这项研究将扩展到其他免疫系统基因：MHC Class-II A，MHC Class-I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的存在。 目的是确定暴露于不同数量的寄生虫是否与MHC多态性水平相关。 这项对MHC多样性的研究将有助于了解生物体的免疫系统如何被利用来更好地抵御寄生虫。

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.