Molecular cloning and tissue expression analysis on genes of the major histocompatibility complex MHCI, MHCIIa and MHCIIb in lambaris (Astyanax altiparanae)

Abstract

Aquaculture has been recognized as the fastest growing modality, with increasingly higher relevance in animal protein production in Brazil. Among the most important species is the lambari-do-rabo-amarelo (Astyanax altiparanae), a small characiform which, due to its physical and physiological characteristics, as well as its easy handling and reproduction, is a highly attractive species for rearing and commercialization and to be used as experimental model in scientific researches. However, this potential is not fully exploited, given that the development of effective strategies to prevent and control the occurrence of diseases in these animals is impaired by the lack of knowledge regarding the behavior of its immune system. The development of vaccines and several other strategies for the control of diseases depend on understanding the mechanisms involved in the activation of the adaptive immune response, which ultimately leads to antibody production, and some of the main molecules involved in this process are the ones from the Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC). Currently there are no studies regarding the characterization and expression profile of these proteins in any South American fish species. Thus, the aim of the present project is to characterize the cDNA sequence of the MHCI, MHCIIa and MHCIIb from A. altiparanae and analyze their expression levels in many tissues and organs by qPCR.