engleski

Variability of major histocompatibility complex class II DRB1 gene in wild boar (Sus scrofa) from Medvednica

The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) contains genes that play a major role in immune system of vertebrates. This genomic region encodes cell-surface proteins that bind antigens derived from various pathogens and present them to T-cell lymphocytes which trigger the appropriate immune response. Some MHC genes are the most variable coding genes of the mammalian genomes and their variability reflects adaptive processes in a population, interactions with pathogens and the population ability to confront them. Wild boar is considered one of the most widespread species. As a host of many parasites, it is a suitable species for testing the correlation between MHC haplotypes and susceptibility to diseases. The goal of this study was to investigate immunogenic variability of MHC class II DRB1 gene in wild boar (n=49) from Medvednica NP. Extraction of DNA was performed from muscle samples using commercial kit. Polymerase chain reactions were used to amplify the exon 2 of DRB1 locus. This exon was used as an indicator of allelic diversity since it encodes the peptide-binding region of MHC receptor and is the major site of polymorphism. Successfully amplified DNA sequences were sent for sequencing service and analysed using bioinformatics programs (BioEdit, SeqScape). Seven different DRB1 alleles were identified, at least one of which was not previously identified. Results of this study will be used for further Research of the correlation between the MHC haplotypes and specific parasitic diseases of wild boars.

MHC; DRB1; wild boar; Medvednica

nije evidentirano