University Library
  • Login
A gateway to Melbourne's research publications
Minerva Access is the University's Institutional Repository. It aims to collect, preserve, and showcase the intellectual output of staff and students of the University of Melbourne for a global audience.
View Item 
  • Minerva Access
  • Science
  • School of BioSciences
  • School of BioSciences - Research Publications
  • View Item
  • Minerva Access
  • Science
  • School of BioSciences
  • School of BioSciences - Research Publications
  • View Item
JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    New data from basal Australian songbird lineages show that complex structure of MHC class II beta genes has early evolutionary origins within passerines

    Thumbnail
    Download
    Published version (1.015Mb)

    Citations
    Scopus
    Altmetric
    9
    Author
    Balasubramaniam, S; Bray, RD; Mulder, RA; Sunnucks, P; Pavlova, A; Melville, J
    Date
    2016-05-21
    Source Title
    BMC Evolutionary Biology
    Publisher
    BMC
    University of Melbourne Author/s
    Mulder, Raoul
    Affiliation
    School of BioSciences
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Document Type
    Journal Article
    Citations
    Balasubramaniam, S., Bray, R. D., Mulder, R. A., Sunnucks, P., Pavlova, A. & Melville, J. (2016). New data from basal Australian songbird lineages show that complex structure of MHC class II beta genes has early evolutionary origins within passerines. BMC EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY, 16 (1), https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-016-0681-5.
    Access Status
    Open Access
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/11343/259315
    DOI
    10.1186/s12862-016-0681-5
    Abstract
    BACKGROUND: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays a crucial role in the adaptive immune system and has been extensively studied across vertebrate taxa. Although the function of MHC genes appears to be conserved across taxa, there is great variation in the number and organisation of these genes. Among avian species, for instance, there are notable differences in MHC structure between passerine and non-passerine lineages: passerines typically have a high number of highly polymorphic MHC paralogs whereas non-passerines have fewer loci and lower levels of polymorphism. Although the occurrence of highly polymorphic MHC paralogs in passerines is well documented, their evolutionary origins are relatively unexplored. The majority of studies have focussed on the more derived passerine lineages and there is very little empirical information on the diversity of the MHC in basal passerine lineages. We undertook a study of MHC diversity and evolutionary relationships across seven species from four families (Climacteridae, Maluridae, Pardalotidae, Meliphagidae) that comprise a prominent component of the basal passerine lineages. We aimed to determine if highly polymorphic MHC paralogs have an early evolutionary origin within passerines or are a more derived feature of the infraorder Passerida. RESULTS: We identified 177 alleles of the MHC class II β exon 2 in seven basal passerine species, with variation in numbers of alleles across individuals and species. Overall, we found evidence of multiple gene loci, pseudoalleles, trans-species polymorphism and high allelic diversity in these basal lineages. Phylogenetic reconstruction of avian lineages based on MHC class II β exon 2 sequences strongly supported the monophyletic grouping of basal and derived passerine species. CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides evidence of a large number of highly polymorphic MHC paralogs in seven basal passerine species, with strong similarities to the MHC described in more derived passerine lineages rather than the simpler MHC in non-passerine lineages. These findings indicate an early evolutionary origin of highly polymorphic MHC paralogs in passerines and shed light on the evolutionary forces shaping the avian MHC.

    Export Reference in RIS Format     

    Endnote

    • Click on "Export Reference in RIS Format" and choose "open with... Endnote".

    Refworks

    • Click on "Export Reference in RIS Format". Login to Refworks, go to References => Import References


    Collections
    • Minerva Elements Records [52609]
    • School of BioSciences - Research Publications [1505]
    Minerva AccessDepositing Your Work (for University of Melbourne Staff and Students)NewsFAQs

    BrowseCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects
    My AccountLoginRegister
    StatisticsMost Popular ItemsStatistics by CountryMost Popular Authors