title: MHC haplotype frequencies in a UK breeding colony of Mauritian cynomolgus macaques mirror those found in a distinct population from the same geographic origin.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Mauritian cynomolgus macaques have greatly restricted genetic diversity in the MHC region compared to other non-human primates; however, the frequency of common MHC haplotypes among captive-bred populations has not been reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microsatellite PCR was used to determine MHC haplotype frequencies among captive macaques at a UK breeding facility. Allele-specific PCR and reference strand conformational analysis were used to determine the allele expression profile of a subset of animals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Haplotypes H3 (21%) and H1 (19%) were most common in the captive population of Mauritian cynomolgus macaques. Predicted alleles were detected by allele-specific PCR-SSP in 98% of animals. Allele expression profiles were similar in animals with identical haplotypes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mauritian cynomolgus macaques in the UK breeding facility have restricted MHC diversity comparable to a previously described population. Microsatellite-derived haplotypes are highly predictive of allele expression. A selective breeding program has been established to produce MHC-identical animals for biomedical research.
authors.affiliation: Division of Retrovirology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Hertfordshire, UK. emee@nibsc.ac.uk
authors.forename: Edward T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Mee
authors.forename: Anjna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Badhan
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Karl
authors.forename: Roger W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Wiseman
authors.forename: Keith
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cutler
authors.forename: Leslie A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Knapp
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Almond
authors.forename: David H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Nicola J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Rose
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001947:Breeding; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005828:Genetics, Population; D006239:Haplotypes; D008252:Macaca fascicularis / Q000235:genetics*; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000235:genetics*; D008436:Mauritius; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA