Abstract: In order to find the relationship between immune traits and the Major Histocompatibility Complex B-F (MHC B-F) gene, an immune traits model was established in Wenshang Barred Chicken (LH), Laiwu Black Chicken (LWH) and Jining Bairi Chicken (BR). PCR-SSCP and sequencing methods were used to identified haplotypes in these three Shandong indigenous chickens. As a result, 53 (LH), 52 (LWH) and 54 (BR) Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) were found in the 264 bp of exon 2 in chicken MHC B-F gene. The least square analysis showed that 2, 2, 3 SNPs were respectively found significant associations with antibody responses to H5, H9 and ND in LH chickens; 1, 3 and 3 SNPs were respectively found significant associations with antibody responses to H5, H9 and ND in LWH chickens but none with SRBC. In BR chickens, there was association with responses to H5 (2 SNPs), H9 (3 SNPs), ND (3 SNPs) and SRBC (3 SNPs). These results indicate that the genomic region bearing exon 2 of the MHC B-F gene has significant effects on antibody responses to SRBC and vaccination against AI and ND.
F.W. Li, Y. Lu, Q.X. Lei, Y. Zhou, H.X. Han, G.M. Li, B. Wu, D.G. Cao and S.B. Wang, 2012. Associations between Immune Traits and MHC B-F Gene in Shandong Indigenous Chickens. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 11: 3481-3485.