ABSTRACT The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a hypervariable gene family that plays an essential role in the recognition of pathogens and immune response. Research on the reptilian MHC has lagged behind other vertebrate groups. Here, we genotyped individuals of an Australian agamid lizard species at MHC class I loci using a recently developed clustering method and family group data. Our method allowed identification of low amplification efficiency alleles and estimation of both type I and II genotyping error rates. The number of MHC class I alleles per individual varied within populations and together with allele segregation patterns, suggests either natural copy number variation or allele dropout. Genotypes from individuals across five populations revealed shared alleles among populations and low allelic diversity in an island population. Finally, we identified sites under selection and designated them putative peptide binding regions. Our results provide a foundation for future work on the MHC class I region of agamid lizards.

中文翻译：

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澳大利亚龙蜥主要组织相容性复合体的从头基因分型，Ctenophorus decresii

摘要 主要组织相容性复合体 (MHC) 是一个高变基因家族，在病原体识别和免疫反应中起重要作用。对爬行动物 MHC 的研究落后于其他脊椎动物群体。在这里，我们使用最近开发的聚类方法和家族组数据对 MHC I 类位点的澳大利亚蜥蜴物种的个体进行基因分型。我们的方法允许识别低扩增效率等位基因并估计 I 型和 II 型基因分型错误率。每个个体的 MHC I 类等位基因的数量在种群内变化以及等位基因分离模式，表明自然拷贝数变异或等位基因丢失。来自五个种群的个体的基因型揭示了种群之间共享的等位基因和岛屿种群的低等位基因多样性。最后，我们确定了选择的位点并将它们指定为推定的肽结合区域。我们的研究结果为未来研究 agamid 蜥蜴的 MHC I 类区域提供了基础。