title: Development of MHC-Linked Microsatellite Markers in the Domestic Cat and Their Use to Evaluate MHC Diversity in Domestic Cats, Cheetahs, and Gir Lions.
abstract: Diversity within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) reflects the immunological fitness of a population. MHC-linked microsatellite markers provide a simple and an inexpensive method for studying MHC diversity in large-scale studies. We have developed 6 MHC-linked microsatellite markers in the domestic cat and used these, in conjunction with 5 neutral microsatellites, to assess MHC diversity in domestic mixed breed (n = 129) and purebred Burmese (n = 61) cat populations in Australia. The MHC of outbred Australian cats is polymorphic (average allelic richness = 8.52), whereas the Burmese population has significantly lower MHC diversity (average allelic richness = 6.81; P < 0.01). The MHC-linked microsatellites along with MHC cloning and sequencing demonstrated moderate MHC diversity in cheetahs (n = 13) and extremely low diversity in Gir lions (n = 13). Our MHC-linked microsatellite markers have potential future use in diversity and disease studies in other populations and breeds of cats as well as in wild felid species.
authors.affiliation: From the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia (Morris, Kirby, Beatty, Barrs, and Belov); the ANGIS, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia (Cattley); the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702-1201 (David and Menotti-Raymond); the Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia (O'Brien); and the Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33314-7796 (O'Brien).
authors.forename: Katrina M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: From the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia (Morris, Kirby, Beatty, Barrs, and Belov); the ANGIS, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia (Cattley); the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702-1201 (David and Menotti-Raymond); the Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia (O'Brien); and the Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33314-7796 (O'Brien).
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kirby
authors.affiliation: From the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia (Morris, Kirby, Beatty, Barrs, and Belov); the ANGIS, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia (Cattley); the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702-1201 (David and Menotti-Raymond); the Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia (O'Brien); and the Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33314-7796 (O'Brien).
authors.forename: Julia A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Beatty
authors.affiliation: From the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia (Morris, Kirby, Beatty, Barrs, and Belov); the ANGIS, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia (Cattley); the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702-1201 (David and Menotti-Raymond); the Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia (O'Brien); and the Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33314-7796 (O'Brien).
authors.forename: Vanessa R
authors.initials: VR
authors.lastname: Barrs
authors.affiliation: From the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia (Morris, Kirby, Beatty, Barrs, and Belov); the ANGIS, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia (Cattley); the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702-1201 (David and Menotti-Raymond); the Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia (O'Brien); and the Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33314-7796 (O'Brien).
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cattley
authors.affiliation: From the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia (Morris, Kirby, Beatty, Barrs, and Belov); the ANGIS, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia (Cattley); the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702-1201 (David and Menotti-Raymond); the Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia (O'Brien); and the Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33314-7796 (O'Brien).
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: David
authors.affiliation: From the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia (Morris, Kirby, Beatty, Barrs, and Belov); the ANGIS, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia (Cattley); the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702-1201 (David and Menotti-Raymond); the Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia (O'Brien); and the Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33314-7796 (O'Brien).
authors.forename: Stephen J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.affiliation: From the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia (Morris, Kirby, Beatty, Barrs, and Belov); the ANGIS, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia (Cattley); the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702-1201 (David and Menotti-Raymond); the Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia (O'Brien); and the Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33314-7796 (O'Brien).
authors.forename: Marilyn
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Menotti-Raymond
authors.affiliation: From the Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia (Morris, Kirby, Beatty, Barrs, and Belov); the ANGIS, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia (Cattley); the Laboratory of Genomic Diversity, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702-1201 (David and Menotti-Raymond); the Theodosius Dobzhansky Center for Genome Bioinformatics, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia (O'Brien); and the Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University, Ft Lauderdale, FL 33314-7796 (O'Brien). kathy.belov@sydney.edu.au.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Belov
mesh_terms: D002612:Acinonyx / Q000235:genetics*; D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D001315:Australia; D001947:Breeding; D002415:Cats / Q000235:genetics*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D014644:Genetic Variation; D008045:Lions / Q000235:genetics*; D008285:Major Histocompatibility Complex / Q000235:genetics*; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers
keywords: 
  major histocompatibility complex
  ; Acinonyx jubatus; Felis catus; Panthera leo