Data from: Development of MHC-linked microsatellite markers in the domestic cat and their use to evaluate MHC diversity in domestic cats, cheetahs and Gir lions.

Diversity within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) reflects the immunological fitness of a population. MHC-linked microsatellite markers provide a simple and inexpensive method for studying MHC diversity in large scale studies. We have developed six MHC-linked microsatellite markers in the domestic cat and used these, in conjunction with five neutral microsatellites, to assess MHC diversity in domestic mixed breed (n = 129) and purebred Burmese (n = 61) cat populations in Australia. The MHC of outbred Australian cats is polymorphic (average allelic richness = 8.52) while the Burmese population has much significantly lower MHC diversity (average allelic richness = 6.81; P<0.01). The MHC-linked microsatellites along with MHC cloning and sequencing demonstrated moderate MHC diversity in cheetahs (n = 13) and extremely low diversity in Gir lions (n = 13). Our MHC-linked microsatellite markers have potential future use in diversity and disease studies in other populations and breeds of cats as well as in wild felid species.

主要组织相容性复合体（major histocompatibility complex, MHC）内的多样性反映了种群的免疫适应性。与MHC连锁的微卫星标记（microsatellite markers）为大规模研究MHC多样性提供了一种简便且经济的技术手段。我们在家猫中开发了6个与MHC连锁的微卫星标记，并结合5个中性微卫星标记，对澳大利亚的家猫混种种群（n = 129）与纯种缅甸猫种群（n = 61）的MHC多样性进行了评估。研究结果显示，远交型澳大利亚家猫的MHC具有多态性（平均等位基因丰富度=8.52），而缅甸猫种群的MHC多样性则显著更低（平均等位基因丰富度=6.81；P<0.01）。通过与MHC连锁的微卫星标记结合MHC克隆与测序技术，我们发现猎豹（n = 13）的MHC多样性处于中等水平，而吉尔狮（n = 13）的MHC多样性极低。我们开发的与MHC连锁的微卫星标记，未来有望应用于其他猫种群、品种以及野生猫科动物的多样性与疾病相关研究。