Comparative genomics of the poultry major histocompatibility complex

Abstract

ABSTRACT This review summarizes the latest findings regarding the avian major histocompatibility complex (MHC), focusing particularly on the genomics of MHC in the Japanese quail ( Cotrnix japonica ) and other birds, as well as haplotype, genomics, function and disease resistance in the chicken ( Gallus gallus ). This information provides important insight into the breeding of disease resistance in poultry, natural selection of disease resistance in wild birds, and the effects of recombination and hitchhiking on the evolution of multiple MHC gene families.