Genotype Analysis of the Major Histocompatibility Complex Region in Korean Native Chicken

The Graduate School of Bio & Information Technology, Hankyong National University, Ansung 456-749, KoreaABSTRACT The chicken major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is known to be associated with disease resistance and susceptibility to several pathogens. The microsatellite marker LEI0258 is physically located between the BG and BF of MHC region and variations near this marker have been well documented. In this report, the LEI0258 marker was used to find specific alleles for the Korean native chicken. The MHC haplotype was analyzed by PCR screening and sequencing of LEI0258 region in four different breeds including black Korean native chicken, brown Korean native chicken, Cornish and Rhode island red. The serologi-cally same MHC haplotypes showed the differences in repeat numbers, a few indels or single nucleotide polymorphisms by sequencing analysis. Even though we could not identify specific alleles for Korean native chickens, the genotypes analyzed in these breeds can give valuable information for the relationships with disease resistance and establishment of breeding strategies for the Korean native chicken. (Key words : genotype, marker, MHC, Korean native chicken)To whom correspondence should be addressed : junheon@cnu.ac.kr