3 RESULTS
3.1 Characterization of Alleles
We successfully and selectively amplified MHC class I exon 3 genes
across 80 individuals from four species of Turdidae family using
HN36 and HN46 primers. An average of 22.7 clones per individual was
sequenced. Sequences varied between
459 and 579 base pairs. The multiple sequence alignments of all sampled
species were 411 base pair long. The final aligned MHC class I dataset
included 285-291bp (Primers not include). Analysis of gDNA alignment
revealed a total of 77 distinct Haplotypes/alleles including 47 PFA.
Frequency, identity, distribution and the proposed name of haplotypes
recovered from the individual of Turdidae family are given in
(Supplementary Material Table S4). Each sequence was confirmed to
exhibit similarity (81%-93%) with earlier reported passerine MHC class
1 sequences based upon BLAST search. The numbers of PFA sequences found
in a single individual ranged from one to five, indicating that one to
three loci exist in three of the four species of Turdidae family.
However, the number of putative functional alleles found in a single
individual ranged from two to seven in Turdus atrogularisexhibiting two to four loci. Number of the individual tested, number of
PFA and pseudogene retrieved, the minimum number of functional loci
estimated is given in Table.1. Three alleles
(Tuna-MHCI*PFA 05=Tuen-MHCI*PFA 09,Tuna-MHCI*PFA 07=Tuen-MHCI*PFA 02 andTuen-MHCI*PFA 05=Tuna-MHCI*PFA 015) were shared amongTurdus naumanni and Turdus eunomus. Two alleles
(Turu-MHCI*PFA 05=Tuat-MHCI*PFA 02 andTuru-MHCI*PFA 09=Tuat-MHCI*PFA 08) were also detected among
individuals of Turdus ruficollis and Turdus atrogularis.Interestingly, genotypes comprising of one allele were by far the most
repeated (26.67%, 8/30), followed by genotypes comprising two (16.67%,
5/30) and four alleles (13.3%, 4/30) in the population of Turdus
naumanni . Almost pattern was consistent in population of Turdus
eunomus and Turdus rufficollis . Genotypes constituting one
allele (23.3%, 7/30) were the most repeated followed by three (16.67%,
5/30) in Turdus eunomus. Genotypes comprising one allele
(33.33%, 5/15) were repeated in the population of Turdus
rufficollis. Allelic repetition was absent in population of