TLR1 variation in Sciurus carolinensis from the British Isles

SNPs in TLR1 were associated with leprosy in humans and armadillos. While red squirrels (Sciurus vulgaris) from the British Isles were found to be infected with Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis, showing leprosy-like clinical signs, no such case was reported in grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis). The aim of this project is to analyse TLR1 sequences of grey squirrels from the British Isles.