title: Population biology of antigen presentation by MHC class I molecules.
abstract: In principle, the function of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules is simple: to bind a peptide and engage a T cell. In practice, placing this function within the context of the immune response begs questions of population biology; How does the immune response emerge from the interactions among populations of peptides, T cells and MHC molecules? Within a population of vertebrates, how does MHC polymorphism stamp individuality on the response? Does polymorphism confer differential advantages in responding to parasites? How are the pressures on the MHC reflected in turnover of alleles? The role of mutation, recombination, selection, and drift in the generation and maintenance of MHC class 1 polymorphism are considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University, CA 94305 USA.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parham
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ohta
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D017951:Antigen Presentation; D000941:Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005828:Genetics, Population; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000235:genetics; D007199:Indians, South American / Q000235:genetics; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011995:Recombination, Genetic; D012641:Selection, Genetic
chemical_list: D000941:Antigens; D015395:Histocompatibility Antigens Class I