title: Diversity in the Toll-like receptor genes of the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii).
abstract: The Tasmanian devil is an endangered marsupial species that has survived several historical bottlenecks and now has low genetic diversity. Here we characterize the Toll-like receptor (TLR) genes and their diversity in the Tasmanian devil. TLRs are a key innate immune gene family found in all animals. Ten TLR genes were identified in the Tasmanian devil genome. Unusually low levels of diversity were found in 25 devils from across Tasmania. We found two alleles at TLR2, TLR3 and TLR6. The other seven genes were monomorphic. The insurance population, which safeguards the species from extinction, has successfully managed to capture all of these TLR alleles, but concerns remain for the long-term survival of this species.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Rm 303, RMC Gunn Building B19, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Yuanyuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Belov
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D056727:Endangered Species; D005787:Gene Frequency; D014644:Genetic Variation; D016678:Genome; D006801:Humans; D008394:Marsupialia / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D010802:Phylogeny; D013648:Tasmania; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D051193:Toll-Like Receptors