Long term patterns of association between MHC and helminth burdens in the bank vole support Red Queen dynamics

• DOI: 10.1111/mec.16486
• Publication Date: 2022-05-05T11:47:40Z
• Authors: Magdalena Migalska; Karolina Przesmycka; Mohammed Alsarraf; Anna Bajer; Jolanta Behnke‐Bo...; Maciej Grzybek; Jerzy M. Behnke; Jacek Radwan
• Keywords: 0303 health sciences; Polymorphism, Genetic; Arvicolinae; Histocompatibility Antigens Class II; major histocompatibility complex; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; Helminths; Myodes glareolus; Animals; Poland; 14. Life underwater; ORIGINAL ARTICLES; Selection, Genetic; negative frequency-dependent selection; Red Queen

Abstract Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes encode proteins crucial for adaptive immunity of vertebrates. Negative frequency‐dependent selection (NFDS), resulting from adaptation parasites to common MHC types, has been hypothesized maintain high, functionally relevant polymorphism MHC, but demonstration this relationship remained elusive. In particular, differentiation NFDS fluctuating selection, changes in parasite communities time and space (FS), proved difficult short‐term studies. Here, we used temporal data, accumulated through long‐term monitoring helminths infecting bank voles ( Myodes glareolus ), test specific predictions on class II. Data were collected three, moderately genetically differentiated subpopulations Poland, which characterized by some stable spatiotemporal helminth also events indicating introduction new species loss others. We found a association between individual diversity richness, where intermediate numbers DRB supertypes correlated with lowest the opposite was true DQB supertypes—arguing against universal immunogenetic optimality. showed that particular explain portion variance prevalence abundance helminths, effect subpopulation‐specific, is consistent both FS. Finally, line NFDS, certain have recently colonized or spread given subpopulation, more frequently intensely infected recent past. Overall, our results highlight spatial patterns MHC‐parasite associations, latter being Red Queen coevolutionary dynamics.