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New insights into the role of MHC diversity in devil facial tumour disease
Citation
Lane, A and Cheng, Y and Wright, B and Hamede, R and Levan, L and Jones, M and Ujvari, B and Belov, K, New insights into the role of MHC diversity in devil facial tumour disease, PLoS One, 7, (6) Article e36955. ISSN 1932-6203 (2012) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Generic (CC BY 2.5) http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.5/
DOI: doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0036955
Abstract
Background: Devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) is a fatal contagious cancer that has decimated Tasmanian devil
populations. The tumour has spread without invoking immune responses, possibly due to low levels of Major
Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) diversity in Tasmanian devils. Animals from a region in north-western Tasmania have
lower infection rates than those in the east of the state. This area is a genetic transition zone between sub-populations, with
individuals from north-western Tasmania displaying greater diversity than eastern devils at MHC genes, primarily through
MHC class I gene copy number variation. Here we test the hypothesis that animals that remain healthy and tumour free
show predictable differences at MHC loci compared to animals that develop the disease.
Methodology/Principal Findings: We compared MHC class I sequences in 29 healthy and 22 diseased Tasmanian devils
from West Pencil Pine, a population in north-western Tasmania exhibiting reduced disease impacts of DFTD. Amplified
alleles were assigned to four loci, Saha-UA, Saha-UB, Saha-UC and Saha-UD based on recently obtained genomic sequence
data. Copy number variation (caused by a deletion) at Saha-UA was confirmed using a PCR assay. No association between
the frequency of this deletion and disease status was identified. All individuals had alleles at Saha-UD, disproving theories of
disease susceptibility relating to copy number variation at this locus. Genetic variation between the two sub-groups
(healthy and diseased) was also compared using eight MHC-linked microsatellite markers. No significant differences were
identified in allele frequency, however differences were noted in the genotype frequencies of two microsatellites located
near non-antigen presenting genes within the MHC.
Conclusions/Significance: We did not find predictable differences in MHC class I copy number variation to account for
differences in susceptibility to DFTD. Genotypic data was equivocal but indentified genomic areas for further study.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Genetics |
Research Field: | Gene mapping |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Terrestrial systems and management |
Objective Field: | Control of pests, diseases and exotic species in terrestrial environments |
UTAS Author: | Hamede, R (Dr Rodrigo Hamede Ross) |
UTAS Author: | Jones, M (Professor Menna Jones) |
ID Code: | 78893 |
Year Published: | 2012 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 26 |
Deposited By: | Zoology |
Deposited On: | 2012-08-01 |
Last Modified: | 2021-01-19 |
Downloads: | 515 View Download Statistics |
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