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The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) includes many genes that are essential for the adaptive immune system, and variation in the antigen binding site (ABS) is related to resistance against pathogens. In the present study, quantitative real-time PCR indicated a larger number of MHC gene copies in the endangered population of Blakiston's fish owl (Bubo blakistoni) than in five other owl species, and massively parallel pyrosequencing detected more MHC class IIβ per individual alleles in B. blakistoni than in the other species. A chromosomal fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis showed that the MHC class I and class IIβ loci are closely linked on a single pair of microchromosomes, indicating that the MHC genes were tandemly duplicated in a limited chromosomal region. Because B. blakistoni has twice as many MHC genes as its sister species, the tawny fish owl (Bubo flavipes), the duplication of MHC genes occurred after these species diverged by speciation. A Bayesian molecular phylogenetic analysis showed that the DAB1 and DAB2 lineages of MHC class IIβ alleles from various strigid species each formed a separate clade, indicating that the two allelic lineages preceded the radiation of Strigidae and evolved as paralogs. By contrast, the ABS sequences did not form distinct clades between DAB1 and DAB2 alleles but were intermixed, presumably due to gene conversion. Despite the low diversity of alleles per locus, B. blakistoni had many lineages of MHC class IIβ alleles. Gene duplication increases variation in the MHC genes in this species, and could have facilitated adaptation in small populations.

Duplication and Variation in the Major Histocompatibility Complex Genes in Blakiston's Fish Owl, Bubo blakistoni