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Coevolutionary relationship between helminth diversity and MHC class II polymorphism in rodents
Author(s) -
GOÜY DE BELLOCQ J.,
CHARBONNEL N.,
MORAND S.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of evolutionary biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.289
H-Index - 128
eISSN - 1420-9101
pISSN - 1010-061X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1420-9101.2008.01538.x
Subject(s) - biology , major histocompatibility complex , intraspecific competition , evolutionary biology , balancing selection , interspecific competition , genetics , zoology , gene , ecology
Parasite‐mediated selection on major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes has mainly been explored at the intraspecific level, although many molecular studies have revealed trans‐species polymorphism. Interspecific patterns of MHC diversity might reveal factors responsible for the long‐term evolution of MHC polymorphism. We hypothesize that host taxa harbouring high parasite diversity should exhibit high levels of MHC genetic diversity. We test this assumption using data on rodent species and their helminth parasites compiled from the literature. Controlling for similarity due to common descent, we present evidence indicating that high helminth species richness in rodent species is associated with increased MHC class II polymorphism. Our results are consistent with the idea that parasites sharing a long‐term coevolutionary history with their hosts are the agents of selection explaining MHC polymorphism.