Is MHC enough for understanding wildlife immunogenetics?

Along with reproductive success and predation, infectious disease is a major demographic and evolutionary driver of natural populations. To understand the evolutionary impacts of disease, research has focussed on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), a genetic region involved in antigen presen...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Trends in ecology & evolution (Amsterdam) 2006-08, Vol.21 (8), p.433-438
Main Authors: Acevedo-Whitehouse, Karina, Cunningham, Andrew A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Animals, Wild - genetics
Animals, Wild - immunology
Biological and medical sciences
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
Genetic Markers
Major Histocompatibility Complex - immunology
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Summary:Along with reproductive success and predation, infectious disease is a major demographic and evolutionary driver of natural populations. To understand the evolutionary impacts of disease, research has focussed on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), a genetic region involved in antigen presentation. There is a pressing need for the broader research currently conducted on traditional vertebrate models to be transferred to wildlife. Incorporating such knowledge will enable a broader understanding of the levels at which natural selection can act on immunity. We propose two new approaches to wildlife immunogenetics and discuss the challenges of conducting such studies. At a time when novel pathogens are increasingly emerging in natural populations, these new approaches are integral to understanding disease dynamics and assessing epidemic risks.
ISSN:0169-5347
1872-8383
DOI:10.1016/j.tree.2006.05.010