Major histocompatibility complex B variability in Korean native chicken breeds

Area of Science:

• Animal Genetics
• Immunogenetics
• Poultry Science

Background:

• Adaptive genetic variations significantly impact animal fitness traits.
• The Major Histocompatibility Complex-B (MHC-B) region is crucial for chicken immune responses.
• Limited information exists on serologically defined B haplotypes in native Korean chicken breeds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the MHC-B diversity in restored lines of Korean native chicken and Ogye chicken breeds.
• To compare the efficacy of a novel MHC-B single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel with the MHC-linked LEI0258 variable number of tandem repeat marker.
• To identify novel and common MHC-B haplotypes within these native chicken populations.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a recently described MHC-B single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel.
• Employed the MHC-linked LEI0258 variable number of tandem repeat marker.
• Analyzed genetic diversity and haplotype frequencies in 5 restored lines of Korean native chicken and Ogye chicken breeds.

Main Results:

• Observed high MHC-B SNP haplotype diversity with an average of 9.7 haplotypes per line.
• Identified a total of 41 BSNP haplotypes, including 26 novel population-specific ones.
• The MHC-B SNP panel demonstrated enhanced identification of MHC diversity compared to the LEI0258 marker alone.

Conclusions:

• Korean native chicken breeds exhibit substantial MHC-B diversity, with several population-specific haplotypes.
• The MHC-B SNP panel is a powerful tool for characterizing MHC diversity in native chicken populations.
• Findings provide a foundation for understanding immune variation and for conservation efforts in Korean native chickens.