title: Zygosity at the major histocompatibility class IIB locus predicts susceptibility to Renibacterium salmoninarum in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.).
abstract: Major histocompatibility (MH) class II genes play an important role in the vertebrate immune response. Here, we investigate the relationship between Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) MH class IIB zygosity and susceptibility to Renibacterium salmoninarum, the causal agent of bacterial kidney disease. By combining DNA sequences from the salmon MH class IIB gene with quantitative ELISA data on R. salmoninarum antigen levels, we found that MH class IIB homozygotes were significantly more susceptible to R. salmoninarum than heterozygotes. These findings are discussed in the context of current evolutionary theory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA. s.turner@uaf.edu
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faisal
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: DeWoody
mesh_terms: D000193:Actinomycetales Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D000818:Animals; D006580:Genetic Carrier Screening; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / Q000235:genetics*; D006720:Homozygote; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000235:genetics*; D008835:Micrococcaceae / Q000276:immunology*; D020317:Salmo salar / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000949:Histocompatibility Antigens Class II