Intermediate number of major histocompatibility complex class IIB length variants relates to enlarged perivisceral fat deposits in the blunt‐head cichlid Tropheus moorii |
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Authors: | P I Hablützel M P M Vanhove A F Grégoir B Hellemans F A M Volckaert J A M Raeymaekers |
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Institution: | 1. Laboratory of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Genomics, University of Leuven, , Leuven, Belgium;2. Department of Botany and Zoology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, , Brno, Czech Republic;3. Biology Department, Royal Museum for Central Africa, , Tervuren, Belgium;4. Institute of Marine Biological Resources and Inland Waters, Hellenic Centre for Marine Research, , Anavyssos, Greece;5. Laboratory of Aquatic Ecology, Evolution and Conservation, University of Leuven, , Leuven, Belgium;6. Zoological Institute, University of Basel, , Basel, Switzerland |
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Abstract: | 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 blunt‐head 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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Keywords: | cichlids diversity evolution fish major histocompatibility complex parasites perivisceral fat
Tropheus moorii
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