The importance of immune gene variability (MHC) in evolutionary ecology and conservation

Sommer, Simone

doi:10.1186/1742-9994-2-16

Cited by 913Genetic diversity and population structureEvolution and Genetic DynamicsAnimal Behavior and Reproduction

The importance of immune gene variability (MHC) in evolutionary ecology and conservation

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Sommer, Simone·2005·Frontiers in Zoology

DOI 10.1186/1742-9994-2-16PMC PMC1282567

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Abstract

Genetic studies have typically inferred the effects of human impact by documenting patterns of genetic differentiation and levels of genetic diversity among potentially isolated populations using selective neutral markers such as mitochondrial control region sequences, microsatellites or single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs). However, evolutionary relevant and adaptive processes within and between populations can only be reflected by coding genes. In vertebrates, growing evidence suggests that genetic diversity is particularly important at the level of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). MHC variants influence many important biological traits, including immune recognition, susceptibility to infectious and autoimmune diseases, individual odours, mating preferences, kin recognition, cooperation and pregnancy outcome. These diverse functions and characteristics place genes of the MHC among the best candidates for studies of mechanisms and significance of molecular adaptation in vertebrates. MHC variability is believed to be maintained by pathogen-driven selection, mediated either through heterozygote advantage or frequency-dependent selection. Up to now, most of our knowledge has derived from studies in humans or from model organisms under experimental, laboratory conditions. Empirical support for selective mechanisms in free-ranging animal populations in their natural environment is rare. In this review, I first introduce general information about the structure and function of MHC genes, as well as current hypotheses and concepts concerning the role of selection in the maintenance of MHC polymorphism. The evolutionary forces acting on the genetic diversity in coding and non-coding markers are compared. Then, I summarise empirical support for the functional importance of MHC variability in parasite resistance with emphasis on the evidence derived from free-ranging animal populations investigated in their natural habitat. Finally, I discuss the importance of adaptive genetic variability with respect to human impact and conservation, and implications for future studies.

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From Chromosomal-level reference genome assembly of muskox (Ovibos moschatus) from Banks Island in the Canadian Arctic, a resource for conservation genomics (2024) · cites this paper as [128]

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Nevo, E., & Beiles, A. (1992) · Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences · doi:10.1007/bf01928177 · Cited by 29 · see citing works

Flagged first, then by citations

Research works printed but not linked: 5

Klein J Horejsi V Immunology 1997 Oxford, Blackwell Science
Marsh SGE Parham P Barber LD The HLA Facts Book 2000 London, Academic Press
Janeway CA Travers P Immunologie 2002 Heidelberg, Berlin, Oxford, Spektrum Akademischer Verlag GmbH
Hapke A Population genetics and differentiation of species of the genus of mouse lemurs, Microcebus (E. Geoffroy St. Hilaire, 1828) and dwarf lemurs, Cheirogaleus (E. Geoffrey St. Hilaire, 1812) in southeastern Madagascar PhD Thesis 2004 University Hamburg, Germany
Rüdel N Consequences of degradation and fragmentation of Malagasy littoral rain forests on gray mouse lemur populations (Microcebus murinus) Diploma Thesis 2004 University Hamburg, Germany

Sorted by citations

The MHC locus and genetic susceptibility to autoimmune and infectious diseases
Matzaraki, V., Kumar, V., Wijmenga, C., & Zhernakova, A. (2017) · Genome biology · doi:10.1186/s13059-017-1207-1 · Cited by 566 · see citing works
Transgenerational epigenetic imprints on mate preference
Crews, D., Gore, A. C., Hsu, T. S., Dangleben, N. L., Spinetta, M., Schallert, T., Anway, M. D., & Skinner, M. K. (2007) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.0610410104 · Cited by 418 · see citing works
Does reduced MHC diversity decrease viability of vertebrate populations?
Radwan, J., Biedrzycka, A., & Babik, W. (2010) · Biological Conservation · doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2009.07.026 · Cited by 259 · see citing works
Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) Markers in Conservation Biology
Ujvari, B., & Belov, K. (2011) · International Journal of Molecular Sciences · doi:10.3390/ijms12085168 · Cited by 154 · see citing works
Characterization of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) DRB Exon 2 and DRA Exon 3 Fragments in a Primary Terrestrial Rabies Vector (Procyon lotor)
Castillo, S., Srithayakumar, V., Meunier, V., & Kyle, C. J. (2010) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0012066 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Chromosomal-level reference genome assembly of muskox (Ovibos moschatus) from Banks Island in the Canadian Arctic, a resource for conservation genomics
Lok, S., Lau, T. N. H., Trost, B., Tong, A. H. Y., Paton, T., Wintle, R. F., Engstrom, M. D., Gunn, A., & Scherer, S. W. (2024) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-024-67270-9 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
“Genetic diversity in the MHC is believed to impact wildlife health and conservation 128–131 .”
Background

Authors: Sommer, S.
Affiliations: Universität Hamburg (DE)
Corresponding author: Sommer, Simone
ORCID: Sommer, Simone
Venue: Frontiers in Zoology
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published: 2005-10-20
Volume: 2
Issue: 1
Pages: 16-16
ISSN: 1742-9994 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1186/1742-9994-2-16
PMC: PMC1282567
OpenAlex: W2098073190
Cited by: 913
References: 215
Citations by year: 2026: 21 · 2025: 41 · 2024: 44 · 2023: 36 · 2022: 30 · 2021: 46 · 2020: 64 · 2019: 44 · 2018: 59 · 2017: 72 · 2016: 64 · 2015: 60 · 2014: 50 · 2013: 46 · 2012: 53
FWCI: 13.35
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: gold
doi.org
Licence: cc-by
Locations: Frontiers in Zoology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
Topics: Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Genetic diversity and population structure
Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Genetics › Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Animal Behavior and Reproduction
Keywords: major histocompatibility complex, MHC polymorphism, pathogen-driven selection, overdominance, frequency-dependent selection, parasite resistance, adaptive genetic diversity, human impact on wildlife, conservation genetics, free-ranging populations

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The importance of immune gene variability (MHC) in evolutionary ecology and conservation

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