Characterization and evolution of MHC class II B genes in Ardeid birds

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a multi-gene family that is very suitable to investigate a wide range of open questions in evolutionary ecology. In this study, we characterized two expressed MHC class II B genes (DAB1 and DAB2) in the Grey Heron (Aves: Ardea cinerea). We further developed the primer pairs to amplify and sequence two MHC class II B loci in ten ardeid birds. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that different parts of the genes showed different evolutionary patterns. The exon 2 sequences tended to cluster two gene-specific lineages. In each lineage, exon 2 sequences from several species showed closer relationships than sequences within species, and two shared identical alleles were found between species (Egretta sacra and Nycticorax nycticorax; Egretta garzetta and Bubulcus ibis), supporting the hypothesis of trans-species polymorphism. In contrast, the species-specific intron 2 plus partial exon 3 tree suggested that DAB1 and DAB2 were subject to concerted evolution. GENECONV analyses showed the gene exchange played an important role in the ardeid MHC evolution.