4.2 Article

In vitro tests of natural allelic variation of innate immune genes (avian β-defensins) reveal functional differences in microbial inhibition

Journal

JOURNAL OF EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY
Volume 23, Issue 12, Pages 2726-2730

Publisher

WILEY
DOI: 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2010.02115.x

Keywords

allelic variation; antimicrobial activity; beta-defensin; great tit; innate immunity

Funding

  1. European Research Council

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Allelic variation in immune genes might result from, and contribute to, host-pathogen evolution. Functional allelic variation in the innate immune system has received little attention. Here, we investigate whether naturally occurring allelic variation within the avian innate immune system (beta-defensins) is associated with variation in antimicrobial activity. We tested differences in in vitro antimicrobial properties of the synthesized products of two alleles of avian beta-defensin 7, both of which occur at high frequency in natural populations of the great tit (Parus major). Only one allele strongly inhibited the growth of the gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, but both alleles strongly inhibited growth of the gram-negative bacterium Escherechia coli. Our data demonstrate functional allelic variation in natural defensin genes, and we discuss how differences in efficacy against microbial species might contribute to maintaining this variation.

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