Understanding manatee immunogenetics and the implications for conservation (VET1P.1121)

The completion of the genome draft of the Florida manatee ( Trichechus manatus latirostris ) in 2012 made immunogenetic exploration of the Sirenia order more feasible. The endangered manatees are sentinel species for coastal ecosystems and their evolutionary origins are complex. It is believed that they evolved from a wading terrestrial mammal that became fully aquatic, which suggests distinctive adaptations for transitioning to a new environment. Discovering the genetic details of their immune system will help understand manatee evolution and allow species-specific diagnostic tools to be developed. Due to bottleneck signatures at other loci, the genetic diversity of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is expected to be low. This could pose problems for conservation efforts because low diversity can increase the chance of extirpation. The primary focus of this project is to determine the immune robustness of manatees by looking at their antibody repertoire and MHC polymorphism. Two species will be compared: the West Indian manatee ( T. manatus ) and the Amazonian manatee ( T. inunguis ). Using next generation sequencing, we will robustly sample the IgH and IgL rearrangements contributing to the antibody repertoire, and identify dominant MHC alleles and estimate their frequencies. The allelic distribution between the species could reveal clues to their evolutionary relationship and aid conservation efforts to help this species become more stable in their environment.