Primers for amplifying major histocompatibility complex class II DQB and DRB exon 2 in the Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea)

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules have an essential role in the vertebrate adaptive immune response. These genes are widely studied to investigate evolutionary mechanisms, including pathogen-driven positive selection. The current gap in knowledge of the MHC in the Australian sea lion (Neophoca cinerea) is attributed to the absence of immunogenetic resources in the species, and is critical to understanding the consequences of small population sizes and association with hookworm infection, identified at high prevalence in pups. Here, we use conserved primers in exons 1 and 3 to obtain sequences for development of N. cinerea-specific primers to amplify multiple MHC class II DQB and DRB exon 2 loci, to facilitate study of MHC class II diversity and disease association.