The chicken major histocompatibility complex and disease.
The chicken major histocompatibility complex (MHC), or B complex, consists of several clusters of highly polymorphic genes, some of which are associated with disease resistance. The class I and class II antigens resemble their mammalian counterparts in the encoded protein structure. The class IV region encodes the B blood group antigens, which are readily identified by serological blood-typing. The class III region appears to be divided in chickens, with some elements that are MHC-linked and others that map elsewhere. In addition the Rfp-Y system, which bears a strong similarity to the MHC, maps to the opposite side of the nucleolar organiser region on the same microchromosome as the MHC. Each class of MHC genes is a potential candidate for a role in disease resistance. The MHC genes show associations with response to diseases as diverse as virally induced neoplasia, bacterial, parasitic and auto-immune diseases.
Lamont
S J
SJ
Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames 50011-3150, USA.
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000235:genetics; D005810:Multigene Family; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000276:immunology*