Detection of a common BOLA-DRB3 deletion by sequence-specific oligonucleotide typing

The bovine MHC class II BoLA-DRB3*2A has an amino acid deletion of unknown function at codon 65 in the second exon, which codes for the antigen-binding site. Sequence-specific oligonucleotides were designed based on published nucleotide sequences on BoLA-DRB3 alleles, and used to detect this deletion in 51 Hereford cattle. Probes 65+ and 65- detect the presence or absence of codon 65 respectively. Oligonucleotide probes were labelled with Digoxigenin (DIG), hybridized to dot blots of BOLA-DRB3 exon 2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) product, and detected by chemiluminescence. Of the 51 animals screened, two were homozygous and 11 were heterozygous for the deletion at codon 65. The methodology described here provides the necessary tools to screen rapidly for this deletion in a large number of animals in order to study its effect on antigen binding and immune response.