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Diversity of the MHC class II DRB gene in the wolverine (Carnivora: Mustelidae: Gulo gulo) in Finland.
Sugiyama, Yuri; Nishita, Yoshinori; Lansink, Gerhardus M J; Holmala, Katja; Aspi, Jouni; Masuda, Ryuichi.
Affiliation
  • Sugiyama Y; Department of Natural History Sciences, Graduate School of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
  • Nishita Y; Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
  • Lansink GMJ; Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
  • Holmala K; Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke), Helsinki, Finland.
  • Aspi J; Department of Ecology and Genetics, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
  • Masuda R; Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan.
PLoS One ; 17(5): e0267609, 2022.
Article in En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35536786
ABSTRACT
The wolverine (Gulo gulo) in Finland has undergone significant population declines in the past. Since major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes encode proteins involved in pathogen recognition, the diversity of these genes provides insights into the immunological fitness of regional populations. We sequenced 862 amplicons (242 bp) of MHC class II DRB exon 2 from 32 Finnish wolverines and identified 11 functional alleles and three pseudogenes. A molecular phylogenetic analysis indicated trans-species polymorphism, and PAML and MEME analyses indicated positive selection, suggesting that the Finnish wolverine DRB genes have evolved under balancing and positive selection. In contrast to DRB gene analyses in other species, allele frequencies in the Finnish wolverines clearly indicated the existence of two regional subpopulations, congruent with previous studies based on neutral genetic markers. In the Finnish wolverine, rapid population declines in the past have promoted genetic drift, resulting in a lower genetic diversity of DRB loci, including fewer alleles and positively selected sites, than other mustelid species analyzed previously. Our data suggest that the MHC region in the Finnish wolverine population was likely affected by a recent bottleneck.
Subject(s)

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Carnivora / Mustelidae Limits: Animals Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: En Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: CIENCIA / MEDICINA Year: 2022 Type: Article Affiliation country: Japan

Full text: 1 Collection: 01-internacional Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Carnivora / Mustelidae Limits: Animals Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: En Journal: PLoS One Journal subject: CIENCIA / MEDICINA Year: 2022 Type: Article Affiliation country: Japan