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

这个子项目是利用资源的许多研究子项目之一。 由NIH/NCRR资助的中心拨款提供。对子项目的主要支持 子项目的首席调查员可能是由其他来源提供的， 包括美国国立卫生研究院的其他来源。为子项目列出的总成本可能 表示该子项目使用的中心基础设施的估计数量， 不是由NCRR赠款提供给次级项目或次级项目工作人员的直接资金。 比较基因组分析被用来研究免疫系统基因的进化，以响应生活史策略的差异，特别是内陆鱼和海鱼所经历的寄生虫组合的差异。大西洋鲑鱼在两个栖息地遇到寄生虫，而内陆鱼类只在一个栖息地遇到寄生虫。人们假设，在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。该项目将评估海产和内陆大西洋鲑鱼种群中主要组织相容性复合体(MHC)第二类B基因的遗传变异。它将评估作用于MHC Class II B基因的选择类型，并确定MHC Class II B基因的抗原结合位点(ABS)中相应的氨基酸变化。这将提供每个种群中功能多样性的数量的信息，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和与抗原处理相关的转运蛋白(TAP)。这将允许对鱼类进行多位点基因分型，并确定存在独特的免疫系统基因组合。目的是确定接触不同数量的寄生虫是否与MHC多态水平相关。这项对MHC多样性的研究将有助于理解如何利用有机体的免疫系统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. Primary support for the subproject and the subproject's principal investigator may have been provided by other sources, including other NIH sources. The Total Cost listed for the subproject likely represents the estimated amount of Center infrastructure utilized by the subproject, not direct funding provided by the NCRR grant to the subproject or subproject staff. 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.