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Genomic heterozygosity is associated with parasite abundance, but the effects are not mediated by host condition. Evol Ecol 2023; 37:75-96. [PMID: 36568713 PMCID: PMC9666582 DOI: 10.1007/s10682-022-10175-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Whether, when, and how genetic diversity buffers individuals and populations against infectious disease risk is a critical and open question for understanding wildlife disease and zoonotic disease risk. Several, but not all, studies have found negative relationships between infection and heterozygosity in wildlife. Since they can host multiple zoonotic infections, we sampled a population of wild deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), sequenced their genomes, and examined their fecal samples for coccidia and nematode eggs. We analyzed coccidia infection status, abundance, and coinfection status in relation to per-locus and per-individual measures of heterozygosity, as well as identified SNPs associated with infection status. Since heterozygosity might affect host condition, and condition is known to affect immunity, it was included as a co-variate in the per-individual analyses and as response variable in relation to heterozygosity. Not only did coccidia-infected individuals have lower levels of genome-wide per-locus diversity across all metrics, but we found an inverse relationship between genomic diversity and severity of coccidia infection. We also found weaker evidence that coinfected individuals had lower levels of private allelic variation than all other groups. In the per-individual analyses, relationships between heterozygosity and infection were marginal but followed the same negative trends. Condition was negatively correlated with infection, but was not associated with heterozygosity, suggesting that effects of heterozygosity on infection were not mediated by host condition in this system. Association tests identified multiple loci involved in the inflammatory response, with a particular role for NF-κB signaling, supporting previous work on the genetic basis of coccidia resistance. Taken together, we find that increased genome-wide neutral diversity, the presence of specific genetic variants, and improved condition positively impact infection status. Our results underscore the importance of considering host genomic variation as a buffer against infection, especially in systems that can harbor zoonotic diseases. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10682-022-10175-8.
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Huang W, Dicks KL, Hadfield JD, Johnston SE, Ballingall KT, Pemberton JM. Contemporary selection on MHC genes in a free-living ruminant population. Ecol Lett 2022; 25:828-838. [PMID: 35050541 PMCID: PMC9306867 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Genes within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are the most variable identified in vertebrates. Pathogen-mediated selection is believed to be the main force maintaining MHC diversity. However, relatively few studies have demonstrated contemporary selection on MHC genes. Here, we examine associations between MHC variation and several fitness measurements including total fitness and five fitness components, in 3400 wild Soay sheep (Ovis aries) monitored between 1989 and 2012. In terms of total fitness, measured as lifetime breeding success of all individuals born, we found haplotypes named C and D were associated with decreased and increased male total fitness respectively. In terms of fitness components, juvenile survival was associated with haplotype divergence while individual haplotypes (C, D and F) were associated with adult fitness components. Consistent with the increased male total fitness, the rarest haplotype D has increased in frequency throughout the study period more than expected under neutral expectations. Our results demonstrate contemporary natural selection is acting on MHC class II genes in Soay sheep and the mode of selection on specific fitness components can be different mode from selection on total fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Huang
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Kara L Dicks
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jarrod D Hadfield
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Susan E Johnston
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Josephine M Pemberton
- Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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3
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Scherman K, Råberg L, Westerdahl H. Borrelia Infection in Bank Voles Myodes glareolus Is Associated With Specific DQB Haplotypes Which Affect Allelic Divergence Within Individuals. Front Immunol 2021; 12:703025. [PMID: 34381454 PMCID: PMC8350566 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.703025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The high polymorphism of Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes is generally considered to be a result of pathogen-mediated balancing selection. Such selection may operate in the form of heterozygote advantage, and/or through specific MHC allele–pathogen interactions. Specific MHC allele–pathogen interactions may promote polymorphism via negative frequency-dependent selection (NFDS), or selection that varies in time and/or space because of variability in the composition of the pathogen community (fluctuating selection; FS). In addition, divergent allele advantage (DAA) may act on top of these forms of balancing selection, explaining the high sequence divergence between MHC alleles. DAA has primarily been thought of as an extension of heterozygote advantage. However, DAA could also work in concert with NFDS though this is yet to be tested explicitly. To evaluate the importance of DAA in pathogen-mediated balancing selection, we surveyed allelic polymorphism of MHC class II DQB genes in wild bank voles (Myodes glareolus) and tested for associations between DQB haplotypes and infection by Borrelia afzelii, a tick-transmitted bacterium causing Lyme disease in humans. We found two significant associations between DQB haplotypes and infection status: one haplotype was associated with lower risk of infection (resistance), while another was associated with higher risk of infection (susceptibility). Interestingly, allelic divergence within individuals was higher for voles with the resistance haplotype compared to other voles. In contrast, allelic divergence was lower for voles with the susceptibility haplotype than other voles. The pattern of higher allelic divergence in individuals with the resistance haplotype is consistent with NFDS favouring divergent alleles in a natural population, hence selection where DAA works in concert with NFDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin Scherman
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Lars Råberg
- Functional Zoology, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
| | - Helena Westerdahl
- Molecular Ecology and Evolution Lab, Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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4
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Rödel HG, Oppelt C, Starkloff A, Prager N, Long E, Rüdiger AT, Seltmann MW, Monclús R, Hudson R, Poteaux C. Within-litter covariance of allele-specific MHC heterozygosity, coccidian endoparasite load and growth is modulated by sibling differences in starting mass. Oecologia 2020; 194:345-357. [PMID: 32980896 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-020-04764-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Although littermates in altricial mammals usually experience highly similar environmental conditions during early life, considerable differences in growth and health can emerge among them. In a study on subadults of a European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) population with low MHC polymorphism, we tested whether litter-sibling differences in endoparasitic coccidia load and body mass at the end of the vegetation period were associated with within-litter differences in starting body mass (measured around 2 weeks prior to weaning) and in immune-genetic (MHC class II DRB) constitution. We hypothesized that siblings with a lighter starting mass might be more susceptible to endoparasite infections and thus, negative effects of a more unfavourable MHC constitution might be particularly pronounced in such individuals. Within-litter comparisons revealed that animals with a lighter starting mass reached a relatively lower body mass in autumn. Furthermore, there were indications for an allele-specific heterozygote advantage, as animals with heterozygous combinations of the allele Orcu-DRB*4 had relatively lower hepatic coccidia loads than their littermates with certain homozygous allele combinations. Consistent with our hypothesis, significantly higher hepatic coccidia loads and tendentially lower autumn body masses in homozygous compared to heterozygous individuals for the allele Orcu-DRB*4 were evident in initially lighter but not in heavier siblings, suggesting synergistic effects between an unfavourable MHC constitution and a light starting mass. Taken together, these effects might lead to notable differences in fitness among litter siblings, as a low body mass and a high endoparasite burden are key factors limiting young rabbits' survival during winter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko G Rödel
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, 93430, Villetaneuse, France. .,Department of Animal Physiology, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany.
| | - Claus Oppelt
- Department of Animal Physiology, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Anett Starkloff
- Department of Animal Physiology, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Nelly Prager
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, 93430, Villetaneuse, France
| | - Emilie Long
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, 93430, Villetaneuse, France
| | - Anna-Theresa Rüdiger
- Department of Animal Physiology, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany
| | - Martin W Seltmann
- Department of Animal Physiology, University of Bayreuth, 95440, Bayreuth, Germany.,Department of Biology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Raquel Monclús
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, 93430, Villetaneuse, France
| | - Robyn Hudson
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Chantal Poteaux
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée UR 4443, Université Sorbonne Paris Nord, 93430, Villetaneuse, France
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Vlček J, Štefka J. Association between louse abundance and MHC II supertypes in Galápagos mockingbirds. Parasitol Res 2020; 119:1597-1605. [PMID: 32006226 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-020-06617-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC II) is an essential molecule triggering the adaptive immune response by the presentation of pathogens to helper T cells. The association between individual MHC II variants and various parasites has become a frequent finding in studies of vertebrate populations. However, although bird ectoparasites have a significant effect on their host's fitness, and the host's immune system can regulate ectoparasitic infections, no study has yet investigated the association between MHC II polymorphism and ectoparasite infection in the populations of free-living birds. Here, we test whether an association exists between the abundance of a chewing louse (Myrsidea nesomimi) and MHC II polymorphism of its hosts, the Galápagos mockingbirds (Mimus). We have found that the presence of two MHC II supertypes (functionally differentiated clusters) was significantly associated with louse abundance. This pattern supports the theory that a co-evolutionary interaction stands behind the maintenance of MHC polymorphism. Moreover, we have found a positive correlation between louse abundance and heterophil/lymphocyte ratio (an indicator of immunological stress) that serves as an additional piece of evidence that ectoparasite burden is affected by immunological state of Galápagos mockingbirds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakub Vlček
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, Branišovská 1160/31, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic. .,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská, 1760, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.
| | - Jan Štefka
- Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre CAS, Branišovská 1160/31, 37005, České Budějovice, Czech Republic.,Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, Branišovská, 1760, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
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6
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Wei W, Ren Y, Shen N, Song H, Xu J, Hua R, Zhang H, Angel C, Gu X, Kuang L, Xie Y, Peng X, Xie X, Yang G. Comparative analysis of host resistance to Sarcoptes scabiei var. cuniculi in two different rabbit breeds. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:530. [PMID: 31703721 PMCID: PMC6842134 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3764-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Scabies, caused by infestation of the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, is one of the most severe ectoparasitic diseases in rabbits. Scabies seriously affects the commercial rabbit breeding, causing severe economic losses. Host resistance to S. scabiei is an important factor in further development of the rabbit industry. In the present study, we compared the host resistance to S. scabiei var. cuniculi of a new breed of domestic rabbit propagated by the Sichuan Animal Sciences Academy (QiXing rabbit, QX) compared with that of a traditional rabbit breed in the domestic rabbit industry (IRA rabbit, IRA). METHODS Both QX and IRA rabbits were experimentally infested with live S. scabiei var. cuniculi mites for 48 h. Then, during the course of four-week experimental infestation period, the body weight of rabbits was recorded every two weeks for calculating body-weight variations in comparison to the non-infested control rabbits. Skin lesions in the foot area were assessed on weekly basis and serum samples were tested weekly for the estimation of changes in the total antibody levels (IgG, IgE and IgM). Moreover, DNA extracted from the blood samples was amplified for analysis of the genetic diversity in the major histocompatibility complex, class II, DQ Alpha (MHC-DQA) gene. RESULTS Compared to the IRA rabbits, the QX rabbits showed a significantly higher (P < 0.05) relative body weight gain compared to the non-infested control rabbits and significantly lower (P < 0.05) scores for foot skin lesions and higher levels of IgG, IgE and IgM at weeks 1 to 4, week 2 and week 1 post-infestation, respectively. Furthermore, a polymorphism site at position 103 bp of exon two of MHC-DQA gene and a different gene frequency were found between two rabbit breeds, suggesting the genetic basis for the differential host resistance to the S. scabiei var. cuniculi between two rabbit breeds. CONCLUSIONS The QX rabbits showed higher host resistance to S. scabiei var. cuniculi compared to the IRA rabbits at the clinical, immunological and genetic levels. These results provide a reference for the breeding of rabbits with adequately improved and sustained host resistance to scabies in the domestic rabbit industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenrui Wei
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130 China
| | - Yongjun Ren
- Sichuan Animal Sciences Academy, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
| | - Nengxing Shen
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130 China
| | - Hongyu Song
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130 China
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130 China
| | - Ruiqi Hua
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130 China
| | - Haojie Zhang
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130 China
| | - Christiana Angel
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130 China
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Sakrand, 67210 Sindh Pakistan
| | - Xiaobin Gu
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130 China
| | - Liangde Kuang
- Sichuan Animal Sciences Academy, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
| | - Yue Xie
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130 China
| | - Xuerong Peng
- Department of Chemistry, College of Life and Basic Science, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130 China
| | - Xiaohong Xie
- Sichuan Animal Sciences Academy, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
| | - Guangyou Yang
- Department of Parasitology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Wenjiang, 611130 China
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7
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Schwensow N, Mazzoni CJ, Marmesat E, Fickel J, Peacock D, Kovaliski J, Sinclair R, Cassey P, Cooke B, Sommer S. High adaptive variability and virus-driven selection on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes in invasive wild rabbits in Australia. Biol Invasions 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s10530-016-1329-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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8
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Ferrandiz-Rovira M, Allainé D, Callait-Cardinal MP, Cohas A. Mate choice for neutral and MHC genetic characteristics in Alpine marmots: different targets in different contexts? Ecol Evol 2016; 6:4243-57. [PMID: 27386072 PMCID: PMC4930977 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.2189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2016] [Revised: 04/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Sexual selection through female mate choice for genetic characteristics has been suggested to be an important evolutionary force maintaining genetic variation in animal populations. However, the genetic targets of female mate choice are not clearly identified and whether female mate choice is based on neutral genetic characteristics or on particular functional loci remains an open question. Here, we investigated the genetic targets of female mate choice in Alpine marmots (Marmota marmota), a socially monogamous mammal where extra‐pair paternity (EPP) occurs. We used 16 microsatellites to describe neutral genetic characteristics and two MHC loci belonging to MHC class I and II as functional genetic characteristics. Our results reveal that (1) neutral and MHC genetic characteristics convey different information in this species, (2) social pairs show a higher MHC class II dissimilarity than expected under random mate choice, and (3) the occurrence of EPP increases when social pairs present a high neutral genetic similarity or dissimilarity but also when they present low MHC class II dissimilarity. Thus, female mate choice is based on both neutral and MHC genetic characteristics, and the genetic characteristics targeted seem to be context dependent (i.e., the genes involved in social mate choice and genetic mate choice differ). We emphasize the need for empirical studies of mate choice in the wild using both neutral and MHC genetic characteristics because whether neutral and functional genetic characteristics convey similar information is not universal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariona Ferrandiz-Rovira
- Laboratoire Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive Université de Lyon CNRS UMR 5558 Université Lyon 1 F-69622 Villeurbanne F-69000 Lyon France; Université of Lyon VetAgro Sup Campus Vet F-69280 Marcy-L'Étoile France; CREAF Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193 Catalonia Spain; Univ Autònoma de Barcelona Cerdanyola del Vallès 08193 Catalonia Spain
| | - Dominique Allainé
- Laboratoire Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive Université de Lyon CNRS UMR5558 Université Lyon 1 F-69622 Villeurbanne F-69000 Lyon France
| | - Marie-Pierre Callait-Cardinal
- Laboratoire Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive Université de Lyon CNRS UMR 5558 Université Lyon 1 F-69622 Villeurbanne F-69000 Lyon France; Université of Lyon VetAgro Sup Campus Vet F-69280 Marcy-L'Étoile France
| | - Aurélie Cohas
- Laboratoire Biométrie et Biologie Evolutive Université de Lyon CNRS UMR5558 Université Lyon 1 F-69622 Villeurbanne F-69000 Lyon France
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9
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Pinheiro A, Neves F, Lemos de Matos A, Abrantes J, van der Loo W, Mage R, Esteves PJ. An overview of the lagomorph immune system and its genetic diversity. Immunogenetics 2015; 68:83-107. [PMID: 26399242 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-015-0868-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Our knowledge of the lagomorph immune system remains largely based upon studies of the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus), a major model for studies of immunology. Two important and devastating viral diseases, rabbit hemorrhagic disease and myxomatosis, are affecting European rabbit populations. In this context, we discuss the genetic diversity of the European rabbit immune system and extend to available information about other lagomorphs. Regarding innate immunity, we review the most recent advances in identifying interleukins, chemokines and chemokine receptors, Toll-like receptors, antiviral proteins (RIG-I and Trim5), and the genes encoding fucosyltransferases that are utilized by rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus as a portal for invading host respiratory and gut epithelial cells. Evolutionary studies showed that several genes of innate immunity are evolving by strong natural selection. Studies of the leporid CCR5 gene revealed a very dramatic change unique in mammals at the second extracellular loop of CCR5 resulting from a gene conversion event with the paralogous CCR2. For the adaptive immune system, we review genetic diversity at the loci encoding antibody variable and constant regions, the major histocompatibility complex (RLA) and T cells. Studies of IGHV and IGKC genes expressed in leporids are two of the few examples of trans-species polymorphism observed outside of the major histocompatibility complex. In addition, we review some endogenous viruses of lagomorph genomes, the importance of the European rabbit as a model for human disease studies, and the anticipated role of next-generation sequencing in extending knowledge of lagomorph immune systems and their evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Pinheiro
- InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nr. 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal
- SaBio-IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Fabiana Neves
- InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nr. 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- UMIB/UP-Unidade Multidisciplinar de Investigação Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Lemos de Matos
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Joana Abrantes
- InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nr. 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Wessel van der Loo
- InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nr. 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Rose Mage
- NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Pedro José Esteves
- InBIO-Research Network in Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, CIBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, nr. 7, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal.
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4169-007, Porto, Portugal.
- CITS-Centro de Investigação em Tecnologias de Saúde, CESPU, Gandra, Portugal.
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Wenzel MA, Piertney SB. Digging for gold nuggets: uncovering novel candidate genes for variation in gastrointestinal nematode burden in a wild bird species. J Evol Biol 2015; 28:807-25. [DOI: 10.1111/jeb.12614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2014] [Revised: 02/13/2015] [Accepted: 02/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. A. Wenzel
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences; University of Aberdeen; Aberdeen UK
| | - S. B. Piertney
- Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences; University of Aberdeen; Aberdeen UK
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11
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Ruiz-López MJ, Monello RJ, Schuttler SG, Lance SL, Gompper ME, Eggert LS. Major Histocompatibility Complex, demographic, and environmental predictors of antibody presence in a free-ranging mammal. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2014; 28:317-27. [PMID: 25446941 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2014.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2014] [Revised: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 10/16/2014] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) variability plays a key role in pathogen resistance, but its relative importance compared to environmental and demographic factors that also influence resistance is unknown. We analyzed the MHC II DRB exon 2 for 165 raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Missouri (USA). For each animal we also determined the presence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) antibodies to two highly virulent pathogens, canine distemper virus (CDV) and parvovirus. We investigated the role of MHC polymorphism and other demographic and environmental factors previously associated with predicting seroconversion. In addition, using an experimental approach, we studied the relative importance of resource availability and contact rates. We found important associations between IgG antibody presence and several MHC alleles and supertypes but not between IgM antibody presence and MHC. No effect of individual MHC diversity was found. For CDV, supertype S8, one allele within S8 (Prlo-DRB(∗)222), and a second allele (Prlo-DRB(∗)204) were positively associated with being IgG+, while supertype S4 and one allele within the supertype (Prlo-DRB(∗)210) were negatively associated with being IgG+. Age, year, and increased food availability were also positively associated with being IgG+, but allele Prlo-DRB(∗)222 was a stronger predictor. For parvovirus, only one MHC allele was negatively associated with being IgG+ and age and site were stronger predictors of seroconversion. Our results show that negative-frequency dependent selection is likely acting on the raccoon MHC and that while the role of MHC in relation to other factors depends on the pathogen of interest, it may be one of the most important factors predicting successful immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- María José Ruiz-López
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
| | - Ryan J Monello
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Stephanie G Schuttler
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Stacey L Lance
- Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, P O Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29802, USA
| | - Matthew E Gompper
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
| | - Lori S Eggert
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA
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12
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Rödel HG, Starkloff A. Social environment and weather during early life influence gastro-intestinal parasite loads in a group-living mammal. Oecologia 2014; 176:389-98. [PMID: 25004871 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-014-3017-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2014] [Accepted: 06/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Conditions experienced during early life have been frequently shown to exert long-term consequences on an animal's fitness. In mammals and birds, the time around and shortly after weaning is one of the crucial periods early in life. However, little is known about how social and abiotic environmental conditions experienced around this time affect fitness-related traits such as endoparasite loads. We studied consequences of social interactions and rainy weather conditions around and after weaning on gastro-intestinal nematode loads in juvenile European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus. Infestations with the gastric nematode Graphidium strigosum and with the intestinal nematode Passalurus ambiguus were higher in animals experiencing more rain during early life. This might have been due to the higher persistence of nematodes' infective stages outside the host body together with the animals' lower energy allocation for immune defence under more humid and thus energetically challenging conditions. In contrast, infestations with P. ambiguus were lower in animals with more positive social interactions with mother and litter siblings. We propose that social support provided by familiar group members buffered negative stress effects on immune function, lowering endoparasite infestations. This is supported by the negative correlation between positive social behaviour and serum corticosterone concentrations, indicating lower stress in juveniles which integrated more successfully into the social network of their group. In conclusion, the findings offer a pathway showing how differences in the abiotic environment and social life conditions experienced early in life could translate into long-term fitness consequences via the effects on endoparasite loads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heiko G Rödel
- Laboratoire d'Ethologie Expérimentale et Comparée E.A. 4443 (LEEC), Université Paris 13, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 93430, Villetaneuse, France,
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Westerdahl H, Stjernman M, Råberg L, Lannefors M, Nilsson JÅ. MHC-I affects infection intensity but not infection status with a frequent avian malaria parasite in blue tits. PLoS One 2013; 8:e72647. [PMID: 24023631 PMCID: PMC3758318 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2013] [Accepted: 07/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Host resistance against parasites depends on three aspects: the ability to prevent, control and clear infections. In vertebrates the immune system consists of innate and adaptive immunity. Innate immunity is particularly important for preventing infection and eradicating established infections at an early stage while adaptive immunity is slow, but powerful, and essential for controlling infection intensities and eventually clearing infections. Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecules are central in adaptive immunity, and studies on parasite resistance and MHC in wild animals have found effects on both infection intensity (parasite load) and infection status (infected or not). It seems MHC can affect both the ability to control infection intensities and the ability to clear infections. However, these two aspects have rarely been considered simultaneously, and their relative importance in natural populations is therefore unclear. Here we investigate if MHC class I genotype affects infection intensity and infection status with a frequent avian malaria infection Haemoproteus majoris in a natural population of blue tits Cyanistes caeruleus. We found a significant negative association between a single MHC allele and infection intensity but no association with infection status. Blue tits that carry a specific MHC allele seem able to suppress H. majoris infection intensity, while we have no evidence that this allele also has an effect on clearance of the H. majoris infection, a result that is in contrast with some previous studies of MHC and avian malaria. A likely explanation could be that the clearance rate of avian malaria parasites differs between avian malaria lineages and/or between avian hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Lars Råberg
- Department of Biology, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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14
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Boag B, Hernandez AD, Cattadori IM. Observations on the epidemiology and interactions between myxomatosis, coccidiosis and helminth parasites in a wild rabbit population in Scotland. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-013-0704-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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15
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MacManes MD, Lacey EA. Is promiscuity associated with enhanced selection on MHC-DQα in mice (genus Peromyscus)? PLoS One 2012; 7:e37562. [PMID: 22649541 PMCID: PMC3359288 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0037562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2011] [Accepted: 04/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproductive behavior may play an important role in shaping selection on Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes. For example, the number of sexual partners that an individual has may affect exposure to sexually transmitted pathogens, with more partners leading to greater exposure and, hence, potentially greater selection for variation at MHC loci. To explore this hypothesis, we examined the strength of selection on exon 2 of the MHC-DQα locus in two species of Peromyscus. While the California mouse (P. californicus) is characterized by lifetime social and genetic monogamy, the deer mouse (P. maniculatus) is socially and genetically promiscuous; consistent with these differences in mating behavior, the diversity of bacteria present within the reproductive tracts of females is significantly greater for P. maniculatus. To test the prediction that more reproductive partners and exposure to a greater range of sexually transmitted pathogens are associated with enhanced diversifying selection on genes responsible for immune function, we compared patterns and levels of diversity at the Class II MHC-DQα locus in sympatric populations of P. maniculatus and P. californicus. Using likelihood based analyses, we show that selection is enhanced in the promiscuous P. maniculatus. This study is the first to compare the strength of selection in wild sympatric rodents with known differences in pathogen milieu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D MacManes
- Department of Integrative Biology, Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America.
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16
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Strand TM, Segelbacher G, Quintela M, Xiao L, Axelsson T, Höglund J. Can balancing selection on MHC loci counteract genetic drift in small fragmented populations of black grouse? Ecol Evol 2012; 2:341-53. [PMID: 22423328 PMCID: PMC3298947 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.86] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2011] [Accepted: 11/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The ability of natural populations to adapt to new environmental conditions is crucial for their survival and partly determined by the standing genetic variation in each population. Populations with higher genetic diversity are more likely to contain individuals that are better adapted to new circumstances than populations with lower genetic diversity. Here, we use both neutral and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) markers to test whether small and highly fragmented populations hold lower genetic diversity than large ones. We use black grouse as it is distributed across Europe and found in populations with varying degrees of isolation and size. We sampled 11 different populations; five continuous, three isolated, and three small and isolated. We tested patterns of genetic variation in these populations using three different types of genetic markers: nine microsatellites and 21 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) which both were found to be neutral, and two functional MHC genes that are presumably under selection. The small isolated populations displayed significantly lower neutral genetic diversity compared to continuous populations. A similar trend, but not as pronounced, was found for genotypes at MHC class II loci. Populations were less divergent at MHC genes compared to neutral markers. Measures of genetic diversity and population genetic structure were positively correlated among microsatellites and SNPs, but none of them were correlated to MHC when comparing all populations. Our results suggest that balancing selection at MHC loci does not counteract the power of genetic drift when populations get small and fragmented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja M Strand
- Population Biology and Conservation Biology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala UniversityNorbyvägen 18D, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Gernot Segelbacher
- Population Biology and Conservation Biology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala UniversityNorbyvägen 18D, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
- Department Wildlife Ecology and Management, University FreiburgTennenbacher Str. 4, D-79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - María Quintela
- Population Biology and Conservation Biology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala UniversityNorbyvägen 18D, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
- Faculty of Science, Department of Animal Biology, Plant Biology and Ecology, University of A CoruñaCampus da Zapateira, E-15171 A Coruña, Spain
| | - Lingyun Xiao
- Population Biology and Conservation Biology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala UniversityNorbyvägen 18D, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Tomas Axelsson
- Department of Medical Sciences, Molecular Medicine, Uppsala UniversityAkademiska sjukhuset ing. 70, SE-751 85 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jacob Höglund
- Population Biology and Conservation Biology, Department of Ecology and Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala UniversityNorbyvägen 18D, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
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Bordes F, Morand S. The impact of multiple infections on wild animal hosts: a review. Infect Ecol Epidemiol 2011; 1:IEE-1-7346. [PMID: 22957114 PMCID: PMC3426331 DOI: 10.3402/iee.v1i0.7346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2011] [Revised: 08/11/2011] [Accepted: 08/25/2011] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Field parasitological studies consistently demonstrate the reality of polyparasitism in natural systems. However, only recently, studies from ecological and evolutionary fields have emphasised a broad spectrum of potential multiple infections-related impacts. The main goal of our review is to reunify the different approaches on the impacts of polyparasitism, not only from laboratory or human medical studies but also from field or theoretical studies. We put forward that ecological and epidemiological determinants to explain the level of polyparasitism, which regularly affects not only host body condition, survival or reproduction but also host metabolism, genetics or immune investment. Despite inherent limitations of all these studies, multiple infections should be considered more systematically in wildlife to better appreciate the importance of parasite diversity in wildlife, cumulative effects of parasitism on the ecology and evolution of their hosts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédéric Bordes
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, CNRS-UM2, CC65, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Serge Morand
- Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, CNRS-UM2, CC65, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- UR22 AGIRs, CIRAD, Campus International de Baillarguet, 34398, Montpellier, France
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Strand TM, Höglund J. Genotyping of black grouse MHC class II B using reference Strand-Mediated Conformational Analysis (RSCA). BMC Res Notes 2011; 4:183. [PMID: 21672220 PMCID: PMC3141517 DOI: 10.1186/1756-0500-4-183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2011] [Accepted: 06/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) is a cluster of genes involved in the vertebrate immune system and includes loci with an extraordinary number of alleles. Due to the complex evolution of MHC genes, alleles from different loci within the same MHC class can be very similar and therefore difficult to assign to separate loci. Consequently, single locus amplification of MHC genes is hard to carry out in species with recently duplicated genes in the same MHC class, and multiple MHC loci have to be genotyped simultaneously. Since amplified alleles have the same length, accurate genotyping is difficult. Reference Strand-Mediated Conformational Analysis (RSCA), which is increasingly used in studies of natural populations with multiple MHC genes, is a genotyping method capable to provide high resolution and accuracy in such cases. FINDINGS We adapted the RSCA method to genotype multiple MHC class II B (BLB) genes in black grouse (Tetrao tetrix), a non-model galliform bird species, using a 96-Capillary Array Electrophoresis, the MegaBACE™ 1000 DNA Analysing System (GE Healthcare). In this study we used fluorescently labelled reference strands from both black grouse and hazel grouse and observed good agreement between RSCA and cloning/sequencing since 71 alleles were observed by cloning/sequencing and 76 alleles by RSCA among the 24 individuals included in the comparison. At the individual level however, there was a trend towards more alleles scored with RSCA (1-6 per individual) than cloning/sequencing (1-4 per individual). In 63% of the pair-wise comparison, the identical allele was scored in RSCA as in cloning/sequencing. Nine out of 24 individuals had the same number of alleles in RSCA as in cloning/sequencing. Our RSCA protocol allows a faster RSCA genotyping than presented in many other RSCA studies. CONCLUSIONS In this study, we have developed the RSCA typing method further to work on a 96-Capillary Array Electrophoresis (MegaBACE™ 1000). Our RSCA protocol can be applied to fast and reliable screening of MHC class II B diversity of black grouse populations. This will facilitate future large-scale population studies of black grouse and other galliformes species with multiple inseparable MHC loci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja M Strand
- Population Biology and Conservation Biology, Dept. of Ecology & Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-752 36, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Jacob Höglund
- Population Biology and Conservation Biology, Dept. of Ecology & Genetics, Evolutionary Biology Centre, Uppsala University, Norbyvägen 18D, SE-752 36, Uppsala, Sweden
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Cutrera AP, Zenuto RR, Lacey EA. MHC variation, multiple simultaneous infections and physiological condition in the subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2011; 11:1023-36. [PMID: 21497205 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2011.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2010] [Revised: 02/28/2011] [Accepted: 03/24/2011] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Parasites and pathogens can play a significant role in shaping the genetic diversity of host populations, particularly at genes associated with host immune response. To explore this relationship in a natural population of vertebrates, we characterized Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) variation in the subterranean rodent Ctenomys talarum (the talas tuco-tuco) as a function of parasite load and ability to mount an adaptive immune response against a novel antigen. Specifically, we quantified genotypic diversity at the MHC class II DRB locus in relation to (1) natural variation in infection by multiple genera of parasites (potential agents of selection on MHC genes) and (2) antibody production in response to injection with sheep red blood cells (a measure of immunocompetence). Data were analyzed using co-inertia multivariate statistics, with epidemiological proxies for individual condition (hematocrit, leukocyte profile, body weight) and risk of parasite exposure (season of capture, sex). A significant excess of DRB heterozygotes was evident in the study population. Co-inertia analyses revealed significant associations between specific DRB alleles and both parasite load and intensity of humoral immune response against sheep red blood cells. The presence of specific DRB aminoacid sequences appeared to be more strongly associated with parasite load and response to a novel antigen than was heterozygosity at the DRB locus. These data suggest a role for parasite-driven balancing selection in maintaining MHC variation in natural populations of C. talarum. At the same time, these findings underscore the importance of using diverse parameters to study interactions among physiological conditions, immunocompetence, and MHC diversity in free-living animals that are confronted with multiple simultaneous immune challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Cutrera
- Laboratorio de Ecofisiología, Departamento de Biología, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, CONICET, CC 1245, Mar del Plata, Argentina.
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Oliver M, Piertney S. Beyond splitting hares and rabbiting on about major histocompatibility complex complexity. Mol Ecol 2010; 19:4099-101. [PMID: 25241405 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2010.04812.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) have become the target of choice for studies wishing to examine adaptively important genetic diversity in natural populations. Within Molecular Ecology alone, there have been 71 papers on aspects of MHC evolution over the past few years, with an increasing year on year trend. This focus on the MHC is partly driven by the hypothesized links between MHC gene dynamics and ecologically interesting and relevant traits, such as mate choice and host–parasite interactions. However, an ability to pin down the evolutionary causes and ecological consequences of MHC variation in natural populations has proven challenging and has been hampered by the very issue that is attractive about MHC genes – their high levels of diversity. Linking high levels of MHC diversity to ecological factors in inherently complex natural populations requires a level of experimental design and analytical rigour that is extremely difficult to achieve owing to a plethora of potentially confounding and interacting variables. In this issue of Molecular Ecology, Smith et al. (2010) elegantly overcome the challenge of detecting complex interactions in complex systems by using an intricate analytical approach to demonstrate a role for MHC in the reproductive ability of a natural population of the European hare Lepus europaeus (Fig. 1). Also in this issue, Oppelt et al. (2010) demonstrate a role for MHC variation in determining levels of hepatic coccidian infection in the European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus (Fig. 2).
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Characterisation of MHC class II DRB genes in the northern tree shrew (Tupaia belangeri). Immunogenetics 2010; 62:613-22. [PMID: 20661731 DOI: 10.1007/s00251-010-0466-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2010] [Accepted: 07/08/2010] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) mainly code for proteins of the immune system of jawed vertebrates. In particular, MHC class I and II cell surface proteins are crucial for the self/non-self discrimination of the adaptive immune system and are the most polymorphic genes in vertebrates. Positive selection, gene duplications and pseudogenes shape the face of the MHC and reflect a highly dynamic evolution. Here, we present for the first time data of the highly polymorphic MHC class II DRB exon 2 of a representative of the mammalian order scandentia, the northern tree shrew Tupaia belangeri. We found up to eight different alleles per individual and determined haplotype constitution by intensively studying their inheritance. The alleles were assigned to four putative loci, all of which were polymorphic. Only the most polymorphic locus was subject to positive selection within the antigen binding sites and only alleles of this locus were transcribed.
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