International Mammalian Genome Society

17th International Mouse Genome Conference

9-12 November 2003, Braunschweig, Germany

Plenary Presentations * Oral Presentations *
Poster Presentations: Behavioural Genetics and Genomics * Development and Stem Cells * Functional Genome Analysis * Mouse Models of Human Disease * Mouse System Biology Bioinformatics * Multigenic and Multifactorial Trait Analysis * Nutrition and Metabolic Disease * Phenotyping Methods Imaging * The Genetics and Genomics of Infectious Disease *
Verne Chapman Memorial Lecture * Table of Contents * Sponsor/Exhibitor List * Awards * Photographs

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POSTER 204 - HOST DEFENCE AGAINST CYTOMEGALOVIRUS INFECTION IN WILD-DERIVED MOUSE STRAINS: IS THERE ALLELIC OR GENETIC HETEROGENEITY WITHIN THE Ly49 GENE FAMILY?

Girard A S
University of Ottawa

Co-Authors: 2) Guénet J L, 3)Colucci F, 4) Vidal S
Institutions: 2) Pasteur Institute, 3) Pasteur Institute, 4) University of Ottawa

Ly49 genes encode for inhibitory and activating natural killer cell receptors. Recently, we have shown that Ly49h is the mediator of viral resistance in the C57BL/6 mouse strain. All additional inbred strains tested to date lack Ly49h and are susceptible to MCMV. Since wild-derived strains are separated by many years of evolution from common inbred strains, they represent an important source of novel genetic polymorphisms. Interestingly, clustered in two groups: MCMV-resistant or MCMV-susceptible despite lacking Ly49h. As a pre-requisite to study the possible role of alternative Ly49 genes in viral resistance in these groups of mice, we decided to characterize their Ly49 repertoire. We have identified new members of the Ly49 gene family. Although the degree of genetic diversity in the Ly49 family precludes to determine the respective orthologous or paralogous genes of these new members, these results suggest that pathogen resistance is a common theme for distinct Ly49 receptors. This hypothesis will be studied in a functional in vitro assay.