Neutral and Selective Processes Shape MHC Diversity in Roe Deer in Slovenia
Disease control and containment in free-ranging populations is one of the greatest challenges in wildlife management. Despite the importance of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes for immune response, an assessment of the diversity and occurrence of these genes is still rare in European roe...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-03-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/6/723 |
| _version_ | 1797447295543803904 |
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| author | Elena Buzan Sandra Potušek Luka Duniš Boštjan Pokorny |
| author_facet | Elena Buzan Sandra Potušek Luka Duniš Boštjan Pokorny |
| author_sort | Elena Buzan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Disease control and containment in free-ranging populations is one of the greatest challenges in wildlife management. Despite the importance of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes for immune response, an assessment of the diversity and occurrence of these genes is still rare in European roe deer, the most abundant and widespread large mammal in Europe. Therefore, we examined immunogenetic variation in roe deer in Slovenia to identify species adaptation by comparing the genetic diversity of the MHC genes with the data on neutral microsatellites. We found ten MHC DRB alleles, three of which are novel. Evidence for historical positive selection on the MHC was found using the maximum likelihood codon method. Patterns of MHC allelic distribution were not congruent with neutral population genetic findings. The lack of population genetic differentiation in MHC genes compared to existing structure in neutral markers suggests that MHC polymorphism was influenced primarily by balancing selection and, to a lesser extent, by neutral processes such as genetic drift, with no clear evidence of local adaptation. Selection analyses indicated that approx. 10% of amino acids encoded under episodic positive selection. This study represents one of the first steps towards establishing an immunogenetic map of roe deer populations across Europe, aiming to better support science-based management of this important game species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:53:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-335e4847a2284003a15a7af389328174 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T13:53:51Z |
| publishDate | 2022-03-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-335e4847a2284003a15a7af3893281742023-11-30T20:45:59ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152022-03-0112672310.3390/ani12060723Neutral and Selective Processes Shape MHC Diversity in Roe Deer in SloveniaElena Buzan0Sandra Potušek1Luka Duniš2Boštjan Pokorny3Faculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, 6000 Koper, SloveniaFaculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, 6000 Koper, SloveniaFaculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Information Technologies, University of Primorska, Glagoljaška 8, 6000 Koper, SloveniaEnvironmental Protection College, Trg Mladosti 7, 3320 Velenje, SloveniaDisease control and containment in free-ranging populations is one of the greatest challenges in wildlife management. Despite the importance of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes for immune response, an assessment of the diversity and occurrence of these genes is still rare in European roe deer, the most abundant and widespread large mammal in Europe. Therefore, we examined immunogenetic variation in roe deer in Slovenia to identify species adaptation by comparing the genetic diversity of the MHC genes with the data on neutral microsatellites. We found ten MHC DRB alleles, three of which are novel. Evidence for historical positive selection on the MHC was found using the maximum likelihood codon method. Patterns of MHC allelic distribution were not congruent with neutral population genetic findings. The lack of population genetic differentiation in MHC genes compared to existing structure in neutral markers suggests that MHC polymorphism was influenced primarily by balancing selection and, to a lesser extent, by neutral processes such as genetic drift, with no clear evidence of local adaptation. Selection analyses indicated that approx. 10% of amino acids encoded under episodic positive selection. This study represents one of the first steps towards establishing an immunogenetic map of roe deer populations across Europe, aiming to better support science-based management of this important game species.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/6/723major histocompatibility complexMHC genesimmunogenetics<i>Capreolus capreolus</i> |
| spellingShingle | Elena Buzan Sandra Potušek Luka Duniš Boštjan Pokorny Neutral and Selective Processes Shape MHC Diversity in Roe Deer in Slovenia Animals major histocompatibility complex MHC genes immunogenetics <i>Capreolus capreolus</i> |
| title | Neutral and Selective Processes Shape MHC Diversity in Roe Deer in Slovenia |
| title_full | Neutral and Selective Processes Shape MHC Diversity in Roe Deer in Slovenia |
| title_fullStr | Neutral and Selective Processes Shape MHC Diversity in Roe Deer in Slovenia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neutral and Selective Processes Shape MHC Diversity in Roe Deer in Slovenia |
| title_short | Neutral and Selective Processes Shape MHC Diversity in Roe Deer in Slovenia |
| title_sort | neutral and selective processes shape mhc diversity in roe deer in slovenia |
| topic | major histocompatibility complex MHC genes immunogenetics <i>Capreolus capreolus</i> |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/12/6/723 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT elenabuzan neutralandselectiveprocessesshapemhcdiversityinroedeerinslovenia AT sandrapotusek neutralandselectiveprocessesshapemhcdiversityinroedeerinslovenia AT lukadunis neutralandselectiveprocessesshapemhcdiversityinroedeerinslovenia AT bostjanpokorny neutralandselectiveprocessesshapemhcdiversityinroedeerinslovenia |