The immune response as a determinant of female reproductive investment

目的：该项目将定义“隐性女性选择”如何通过胚胎组织相容性基因的免疫识别来影响生殖结果，以调节母体营养供应和胎儿生长。 重要性：该研究将解决动物生殖科学中的一个重要知识空白，即对雄性-雌性相容性效应的理解不足导致育种效率的变化，并产生重大的经济和环境影响。 预期成果：我们希望对解释相容性效应的基因、免疫反应元件和血管变化产生新的理解。 益处：研究结果将为提高牲畜以及稀有和受威胁物种的生育力提供信息。

Aims: This project will define how ‘cryptic female choice’ affects reproductive outcomes through immune recognition of embryo histocompatibility genes, to modulate maternal nutrient provision and fetal growth. Significance: The research will tackle an important knowledge gap in animal reproduction science, where poorly-understood male-female compatibility effects cause variation in breeding efficiency with major economic and environmental impact. Expected outcomes: We expect to generate new understanding of the genes, immune response elements, and vascular changes that explain compatibility effects. Benefits: The results will inform strategies to improve fertility in livestock animals, and in rare and threatened species.