<span style="font-size:13.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt" lang="EN-GB">Molecular characterization of MHC-DRB gene exon 2 in riverine buffalo (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Bubalus bubalis</i>) </span>

Abstract

In the present study, expressed DRB gene of buffalo major histocompatibility complex (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Bubu</i>) was characterized. Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Bubu</i>-DRB second exon region using <i>Taq</i>I<i> </i>and <i>Hae</i>III restriction enzymes revealed one and three restriction patterns, respectively. Comparative analysis of two different <i>Hae</i>III variants revealed large number of amino acids substitutions at peptide binding site (PBS) of the molecule. The variants showed low divergence with cattle (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">BoLA</i>) DRB3 alleles in general. Phylogenetically, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Bubu</i>-DRB clone b and e were found to be closer to <i>Bubu</i>-DRB*0501 and DRB*0401 alleles, respectively. High genetic variation at PBS region of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">Bubu</i>-DRB exon 2 might contribute positively to antigen repertoire properties during infection.