High-Resolution Genotyping of Expressed Equine MHC Reveals a Highly Complex MHC Structure

The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) genes play a key role in number of biological processes, most notably immunological responses. MHCI and MHCII incorporate complex set highly polymorphic polygenic series genes, which, due to the technical limitations previously available technologies, have only been partially characterized non-model but economically important species such as horse. advent high-throughput sequencing platforms has provided new opportunities develop methods generate high-resolution data on large scale apply them analysis gene sets MHC. In this study, we developed applied MiSeq-based approach for combined expressed repertoires cohorts Thoroughbred, Icelandic, Norwegian Fjord Horses. enabled us comprehensive MHCI/II all individuals (n = 168) included identifying 152 117 novel sequences, respectively. There was limited overlap haplotypes between Thoroughbred Icelandic/Norwegian horses, showcasing variation MHC repertoire genetically divergent breeds, it can be inferred that there is much more diversity global horse population. This study insights into structure equine highlighted unique features horses.