Intermediate number of MHC class IIB length variants relates to enlarged perivisceral fat deposits in the blunt-head cichlid Tropheus moorii.

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Authors

HABLÜTZEL P.I. VANHOVE Maarten Pieterjan GRÉGOIR A. F. HELLEMANS B. VOLCKAERT FAM RAEYMAEKERS JAM

Year of publication 2014
Type Article in Periodical
Magazine / Source Journal of Evolutionary Biology
MU Faculty or unit

Faculty of Science

Citation
Doi http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jeb.12467
Field Zoology
Keywords MHC; Fish
Description Studying the genetic basis of host–parasite interactions represents an outstanding opportunity to observe eco-evolutionary processes. Established candidates for such studies in vertebrates are immunogenes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). The MHC has been reported to reach high intra- and interindividual diversity, and a diverse MHC might be advantageous when facing infections from multiple parasites. However, other studies indicated that individuals with an intermediate number of MHC alleles are less infected with parasites or have other fitness advantages. In this study, we assessed the optimal number of MHC alleles in the blunthead cichlid Tropheus moorii from Lake Tanganyika. We investigated the influence of the interindividual variation in number of MHC length variants on parasite infection and body condition, measured by the amount of perivisceral fat reserves. Surprisingly, there was no correlation between parasite infection and number of MHC length variants or perivisceral fat deposits. However, the individual number of MHC length variants significantly correlated with the amount of perivisceral fat deposits in males, suggesting that male individuals with an intermediate number of alleles might be able to use their fat reserves more efficiently.
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