Characterization of the class I Major Histocompatibility Complex of the Macaca fascicularis

In an attempt to establish Macaca fascicularis as a viable animal model for disease studies, characterization of the MHC class I genes is necessary. The necessity arises because the MHC class I molecules have a functional role in immune response. Pig-tailed macaques Macaca nemestrina) and rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), two species closely related to Macaca fascicularis have been commonly used to model HIV infection and are well characterized in regards to their MHC class I molecules. As an initial step in establishing M. fascicularis as an animal model, we have cloned and characterized both classical and nonclassical MHC class I genes and have identified 21 MHC class I alleles orthologous to rhesus and pig-tailed macaque MHC-B, -E, and -F genes. No MHC-C locus was detected in the M. fascicularis. The MHC-B alleles from M. fascicularis, M. mulatta and M. nemestrina form a single highly polymorphic group