MHC composition and variation in turkeys of the Americas (P6066)

Abstract

Abstract Variation in the MHC is associated with disease susceptibility/resistance in avian species of agricultural importance. Variation includes individual sequence differences, but also structural differences (gene rearrangement) and copy number variation. The directionality of structural changes can be determined through comparison of closely related species in a phylogenetic context. The MHC has now been described for multiple galliform species including the chicken and the domestic turkey (Meleagris gallopavo). Analysis of the turkey MHC is limited primarily to broad taxonomic contrasts with chicken. This study applies high-throughput sequencing approaches to investigate MHC structure of turkeys of the Americas. Sequence assemblies of the Eastern wild turkey (M. g. silvestris) and the Ocellated turkey (M. ocellata; native to the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, Guatemala and Belize) were constructed from whole genome sequencing efforts. Assemblies were compared with the MHC of the domestic turkey. In addition, an MHC-specific SureSelect capture array was developed for sequencing multiple birds from different genetic backgrounds. Sequence libraries were created for 14 turkeys (domestic, heritage and wild birds), a second Ocellated turkey, and a chicken. Libraries were hybridized to over 12K baits (120 bp) and the resulting pools were sequenced producing an average of 439K paired reads per library. Results of the sequence analysis and variant discovery are presented.