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NK gene complex haplotype variability and host resistance alleles to murine cytomegalovirus in wild mouse populations

Anthony A Scalzo1, Mitali Manzur, Catherine A Forbes

  • 1Immunology and Virology Program, Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia. scals@cyllene.uwa.edu.au

Immunology and Cell Biology
|March 8, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Wild mice exhibit significant genetic diversity in their NK gene complex (NKC), impacting their ability to fight viral infections like murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV). This NKC polymorphism suggests broad pathogen resistance in mouse populations.

Area of Science:

  • Immunogenetics
  • Virology
  • Population Genetics

Background:

  • The Natural Killer (NK) gene complex (NKC) on mouse chromosome 6 is crucial for NK cell function and host defense against viral infections.
  • Specific alleles within the NKC, such as Cmv1(r), are associated with resistance to murine cytomegalovirus (MCMV).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the extent of allelic heterogeneity within NKC loci in wild, outbred mouse populations.
  • To investigate the prevalence of NKC-mediated resistance to MCMV in these wild mouse populations.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of NKC loci in two distinct wild mouse populations.
  • Quantification of MCMV replication in specific pathogen-free outbred wild mice.

Main Results:

  • Extensive allelic heterogeneity was observed within the NKC of the studied wild mouse populations.
  • NKC-mediated resistance to MCMV, typically linked to the Cmv1(r) allele, was found to be rare in the analyzed population.
  • Low viral titers associated with Cmv1(r) were not prevalent.

Conclusions:

  • The NKC region is highly polymorphic in wild mouse populations.
  • This significant genetic variability likely provides mice with adaptive capacity to combat diverse pathogen challenges.
  • NKC-mediated resistance mechanisms may be less common or effective in these specific wild populations against MCMV.

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