Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of exon 2 of the MhcBibo-DRB3 gene in European bison: Bison bonasus

Abstract

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers specific to exon 2 of the bovine Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) class II gene BoLA-DRB3 were used to amplify the homologous region (284bp) in 21 European bison Bison bonasus (Linnaeus, 1758). Generally, variation in patterns of restriction fragments was low and the patterns found in earlier studies on cattle were present also in this species. Restricted polymorphism of DRB3 genes of MhcBibo (European bison) and the earlier studied MhcBibi (American bison) is most probably due to the genetic bottlenecks having occurred in the respective herds of both species. This suggests that possibilities of recognizing foreign antigens and providing a successful immune response are reduced.