DEVELOPING A CHICKEN MHC TYPING TEST USING DNA AMPLIFICATION AND OLIGONUCLEOTIDE PROBES

THE UNDERLAYING HEREDITARY NATURE OF THE CHICKEN'S IMMUNOLOGICAL STATUS IS OF GREAT IMPORTANCE FOR FURTHERING THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE RESPONSE OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM AS WELL AS FOR MAXIMIZING THE EFFICIENCY OF POULTRY PRODUCTION. FOR THESE REASONS THERE IS A STRONG SCIENTIFIC AND COMMERCIAL INTEREST IN TYPING THE MAJOR HISTROCOMPATIBILITY COMPLEX (MHC OR B COMPLEX). THUS FAR MOST MHC TYPING HAS BEEN BASED ON BLOOD TYPING USING SEROLOGICAL REAGENTS. ALTHOUGH THIS METHOD IS SIMPLE, IT HAS SEVERAL DRAWBACKS INCLUDING THE FORMIDABLE TASK OF PRODUCING ANTISERA FOR 27 DIFFERENT B ALLELES AND THE PROBLEMS OF CROSS REACTIVITY. CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CHICKEN MHC AT THE MOLECULAR LEVEL HAS PROVIDED NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPING TYPING REAGENTS. WE PROPOSE TO TEST THE FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING AN ALTERNATIVE METHOD FOR MHC TYPING USING DNA AMPLIFICATION AND ALLELE- SPECIFIC OLIGONUCLEOTIDE PROBES.