International Mammalian Genome Society

The 15th International Mouse Genome Conference (2001)

Table of Contents * Complex Genetics * Developmental Genetics * Gene Annotation * Gene Discovery * Genome Sequencing * Functional Genomics * Mutagenesis * Presentations * Verne Chapman Memorial Lecture

POSTER 31 - GENETIC CONTROL OF SUSCEPTIBILITY TO TUBERCULOSIS

Catharina Lavebratt
Karolinska Institutet
CMM, Karolinska Hospital
L8:00
Stockholm
Sweden

Co-Authors: 1) Sánchez F, 1) Persson A, 1) Sengul S, 2) Apt A, 3) Schurr E, 1) Schalling M
Institutions: 1)Karolinska Institute, 3)McGill Center for the Study of Host Resistance, Montreal General Hospital

Genetic variability underlies the susceptibility to develop disease under numerous environmental conditions.  Infections have applied strong selective pressure on exposed populations throughout evolution. Malaria, tuberculosis and HIV, among many other infections, continue to claim millions of lives every year. Genetic factors play a role in susceptibility to infection as suggested by epidemiological and genetic data. Murine models of infection are one source of such evidence. They have the advantage that the phenotypic and genotypic characterization can be well controlled. Mice from the strains A/Sn and I/St develop disease after intravenous exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, I/St mice loose weight and dye twice as fast as compared to A/Sn. A wide genome screening in a backcross ((A/Sn x I/St) x I/St) releaved six chromosomal regions being involved in the expression of postinfection body weight loss. These candidate regions were then explored in the an intercross ((A/Sn x I/St) x (A/Sn x I/St)) for the traits body weight loss and survival time. Particularly strong signals of linkage were observed on chromosome 9. Congenic strains are being established in order to narrow down the size of the chromosome 9 region.