A quantitative review of <scp>MHC</scp>‐based mating preference: the role of diversity and dissimilarity

Kamiya, Tsukushi; O’Dwyer, Katie; Westerdahl, Helena; Senior, Alistair M.; Nakagawa, Shinichi

doi:10.1111/mec.12934

Cited by 156 publications

(203 citation statements)

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“…A similar Y-maze study carried out during the blue petrel mate choice period should help unravelling this unexpected finding. Although MHC-dependent mate choice has been shown in several bird species including great frigatebirds (Fregata minor), red junglefowls (Gallus gallus), ring-necked pheasants (Phasianus colchicus), savannah sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) and blue petrels ( [9,42 -45], but see [46]), the phenotypic cues used by birds to assess MHC similarity have never been determined. Our results strongly suggest that olfactory cues are involved in this process.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Odour-based discrimination of similarity at the major histocompatibility complex in birds

et al. 2017

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Many animals are known to preferentially mate with partners that are dissimilar at the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) in order to maximize the antigen binding repertoire (or disease resistance) in their offspring. Although several mammals, fish or lizards use odour cues to assess MHC similarity with potential partners, the ability of birds to assess MHC similarity using olfactory cues has not yet been explored. Here we used a behavioural binary choice test and high-throughput-sequencing of MHC class IIB to determine whether blue petrels can discriminate MHC similarity based on odour cues alone. Blue petrels are seabirds with particularly good sense of smell, they have a reciprocal mate choice and are known to preferentially mate with MHC-dissimilar partners. Incubating males preferentially approached the odour of the more MHC-dissimilar female, whereas incubating females showed opposite preferences. Given their mating pattern, females were, however, expected to show preference for the odour of the more MHC-dissimilar male. Further studies are needed to determine whether, as in women and female mice, the preference varies with the reproductive cycle in blue petrel females. Our results provide the first evidence that birds can use odour cues only to assess MHC dissimilarity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Odour-based discrimination of similarity at the major histocompatibility complex in birds

et al. 2017

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“…However, although female choice for male MHC genotype has been widely tested (Kamiya et al 2014), male choice for female MHC genotype has been relatively overlooked. Moreover, few studies of MHCassociated mate choice by either sex test for the fitness effects that such choice is predicated on (Setchell and Huchard 2010).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent quantitative review of 48 empirical studies of 27 animal species including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals found support for female choice for MHCdiversity, choice for dissimilarity at multiple loci regardless of which sex chooses, and preliminary support for choice for an optimal level of MHC-diversity in offspring (Kamiya et al 2014). Choice for specific loci in a mate has also received support in empirical studies (e.g., Eizaguirre et al, 2009;Ekblom et al, 2004).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies of MHC-associated mate choice are based on preference experiments, examine the mating outcomes of naturally paired animals in the wild or under controlled settings, or relate reproductive success to MHC variability (Kamiya et al 2014). They focus overwhelmingly on either female choice behaviour, or on parentage, which results from a combination of male and female strategies.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Mate-guarding by male mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) is associated with female MHC genotype

Setchell

Richards

Abbott

et al. 2016

BEHECO

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This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Behavioral Ecology following peer review. The version of record Setchell, J. M., Richards, S., Abbott, K. M. Knapp, L. A. (2016) Use policyThe full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-prot purposes provided that:• a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in DRO • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.Please consult the full DRO policy for further details. LAY SUMMARYWe examined whether male mate-guarding in mandrills varies with female genotype. Males were less likely to mate-guard females with specific genotypes which may be disadvantageous to offspring, and more likely to mate-guard females with genes that were different to their own, which would result in genetically diverse offspring. ABSTRACTFemale choice for male major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genotype has been widely tested, but the relationship between male mating strategies and female MHC genotype has received far less attention. Moreover, few studies of MHC-associated mate choice test for the fitness effects underlying such choice. We examined mate-guarding by male mandrills, a species with intense male-male competition and female offspring care. We developed a statistical model based on 10 years of observations to describe how the probability a female is mate-guarded varies across her sexual cycle, among cycles and among females. We accounted for female rank, parity and maternal relatedness. We then tested whether the occurrence of mate-guarding is influenced by (i) MHC-dissimilarity, (ii) female MHCdiversity, and (iii) specific female MHC genotypes. Finally, we tested for associations between MHC variables and the ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes in blood samples taken during routine captures. The best-fit models included either MHC-dissimilarity (males were more likely to mate-guard more dissimilar females, and there was some evidence of preference for intermediate MHC-dissimilarity), or a specific MHC supertype. Four of 11 supertypes investigated were influential and one had a strong negative influence on mateguarding. We found some evidence that the MHC genotype that attracted the least mateguarding was disadvantageous in terms of immune function. However, we did not find evidence that MHC-diversity was related to immune function. These results suggest that highly competitive males modify their mating behaviour based on female MHC genotype, and a possible fitness benefit to mate choice for specific genotypes.

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“…Females are known to choose males based on traits indicating their quality such as the amount and quality of resources (territory, food, care) provided by them and their health status3. Over the past decades, evidence has accumulated that females of many species consider a male’s genetic constitution as an additional indicator of his quality and choose males according to alleles from specific loci of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC)45. Little is known, however, about the mechanisms that females use to assess male alleles and compare them to their own genetic repertoire.…”

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confidence: 99%

MHC-dependent mate choice is linked to a trace-amine-associated receptor gene in a mammal

Santos

Courtiol

Heidel

et al. 2016

Sci Rep

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Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes play a pivotal role in vertebrate self/nonself recognition, parasite resistance and life history decisions. In evolutionary terms, the MHC’s exceptional diversity is likely maintained by sexual and pathogen-driven selection. Even though MHC-dependent mating preferences have been confirmed for many species, the sensory and genetic mechanisms underlying mate recognition remain cryptic. Since olfaction is crucial for social communication in vertebrates, variation in chemosensory receptor genes could explain MHC-dependent mating patterns. Here, we investigated whether female mate choice is based on MHC alleles and linked to variation in chemosensory trace amine-associated receptors (TAARs) in the greater sac-winged bat (Saccopteryx bilineata). We sequenced several MHC and TAAR genes and related their variation to mating and paternity data. We found strong evidence for MHC class I-dependent female choice for genetically diverse and dissimilar males. We also detected a significant interaction between mate choice and the female TAAR3 genotype, with TAAR3-heterozygous females being more likely to choose MHC-diverse males. These results suggest that TAARs and olfactory cues may be key mediators in mammalian MHC-dependent mate choice. Our study may help identify the ligands involved in the chemical communication between potential mates.

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A quantitative review of MHC‐based mating preference: the role of diversity and dissimilarity

Cited by 156 publications

References 91 publications

Odour-based discrimination of similarity at the major histocompatibility complex in birds

Odour-based discrimination of similarity at the major histocompatibility complex in birds

Mate-guarding by male mandrills (Mandrillus sphinx) is associated with female MHC genotype

MHC-dependent mate choice is linked to a trace-amine-associated receptor gene in a mammal

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