Molecular analysis of chicken immune response genes.

Abstract We have recently isolated immune response genes of the major histocompatibility B complex of the chicken (the B-Lβ genes) by cross-hybridization in low stringency with an HLA class II β chain probe [1]. After reviewing the main results obtained, we present a detailed analysis of the region flanking the first gene characterized, B-LβIII. By Southern blot analysis with exon-specific probes, we demonstrate the presence of another related B-Lβ gene 10 kb on the 3′ side of B-LβIII, the B-LβV gene. Moreover, retrospective analysis of the phage clones initially isolated with the HLA-DQβ probe, using a chicken class I probe that we isolated by chromosome walking from the B-Lβ genes [2], indicates that the B-LβIII gene is closely linked on its 5′ side to a class I gene, B-FVI.