title: Major histocompatibility complex class I genes in primates: co-evolution with pathogens.
abstract: The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is the most polymorphic genetic system known, playing a central role in the cellular immune response to pathogens. The relationship between the MHC of humans and non-human primates has increased our understanding of MHC evolution and how polymorphism of this gene family may have been generated. We will review MHC class I evolution in great apes and Old World and New World primates and discuss new data from the simian immunodeficiency virus/rhesus monkey animal model that demonstrate the role of MHC class I alleles in selecting for new populations of viruses. This suggests that certain pathogens co-evolve with the MHC class I molecules they encounter in a population.
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005658:Fungi / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005805:Genes, MHC Class I; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010271:Parasites / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D011323:Primates; D014780:Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*