Diversity in the Toll-Like Receptor Genes of the African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus).
The African penguin, Spheniscus demersus, is listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to the drastic reduction in population numbers over the last 20 years. To date, the only studies on immunogenetic variation in penguins have been conducted on the major histocompatibility...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2016-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5070850?pdf=render |
| _version_ | 1811338427468087296 |
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| author | Desiré Lee Dalton Elaine Vermaak Marli Roelofse Antoinette Kotze |
| author_facet | Desiré Lee Dalton Elaine Vermaak Marli Roelofse Antoinette Kotze |
| author_sort | Desiré Lee Dalton |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The African penguin, Spheniscus demersus, is listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to the drastic reduction in population numbers over the last 20 years. To date, the only studies on immunogenetic variation in penguins have been conducted on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. It was shown in humans that up to half of the genetic variability in immune responses to pathogens are located in non-MHC genes. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are now increasingly being studied in a variety of taxa as a broader approach to determine functional genetic diversity. In this study, we confirm low genetic diversity in the innate immune region of African penguins similar to that observed in New Zealand robin that has undergone several severe population bottlenecks. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) diversity across TLRs varied between ex situ and in situ penguins with the number of non-synonymous alterations in ex situ populations (n = 14) being reduced in comparison to in situ populations (n = 16). Maintaining adaptive diversity is of vital importance in the assurance populations as these animals may potentially be used in the future for re-introductions. Therefore, this study provides essential data on immune gene diversity in penguins and will assist in providing an additional monitoring tool for African penguin in the wild, as well as to monitor diversity in ex situ populations and to ensure that diversity found in the in situ populations are captured in the assurance populations. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-13T18:10:37Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c7a0c34e727649289608af6c6b8a25f4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-13T18:10:37Z |
| publishDate | 2016-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-c7a0c34e727649289608af6c6b8a25f42022-12-22T02:35:54ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032016-01-011110e016333110.1371/journal.pone.0163331Diversity in the Toll-Like Receptor Genes of the African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus).Desiré Lee DaltonElaine VermaakMarli RoelofseAntoinette KotzeThe African penguin, Spheniscus demersus, is listed as Endangered by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species due to the drastic reduction in population numbers over the last 20 years. To date, the only studies on immunogenetic variation in penguins have been conducted on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes. It was shown in humans that up to half of the genetic variability in immune responses to pathogens are located in non-MHC genes. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are now increasingly being studied in a variety of taxa as a broader approach to determine functional genetic diversity. In this study, we confirm low genetic diversity in the innate immune region of African penguins similar to that observed in New Zealand robin that has undergone several severe population bottlenecks. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) diversity across TLRs varied between ex situ and in situ penguins with the number of non-synonymous alterations in ex situ populations (n = 14) being reduced in comparison to in situ populations (n = 16). Maintaining adaptive diversity is of vital importance in the assurance populations as these animals may potentially be used in the future for re-introductions. Therefore, this study provides essential data on immune gene diversity in penguins and will assist in providing an additional monitoring tool for African penguin in the wild, as well as to monitor diversity in ex situ populations and to ensure that diversity found in the in situ populations are captured in the assurance populations.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5070850?pdf=render |
| spellingShingle | Desiré Lee Dalton Elaine Vermaak Marli Roelofse Antoinette Kotze Diversity in the Toll-Like Receptor Genes of the African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus). PLoS ONE |
| title | Diversity in the Toll-Like Receptor Genes of the African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus). |
| title_full | Diversity in the Toll-Like Receptor Genes of the African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus). |
| title_fullStr | Diversity in the Toll-Like Receptor Genes of the African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus). |
| title_full_unstemmed | Diversity in the Toll-Like Receptor Genes of the African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus). |
| title_short | Diversity in the Toll-Like Receptor Genes of the African Penguin (Spheniscus demersus). |
| title_sort | diversity in the toll like receptor genes of the african penguin spheniscus demersus |
| url | http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC5070850?pdf=render |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT desireleedalton diversityinthetolllikereceptorgenesoftheafricanpenguinspheniscusdemersus AT elainevermaak diversityinthetolllikereceptorgenesoftheafricanpenguinspheniscusdemersus AT marliroelofse diversityinthetolllikereceptorgenesoftheafricanpenguinspheniscusdemersus AT antoinettekotze diversityinthetolllikereceptorgenesoftheafricanpenguinspheniscusdemersus |