YAC/BAC contig spanning the MHC class III region of cattle.

A contig of the class III region of the bovine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) was established from bacterial and yeast artificial chromosomes using PCR and BAC-end sequencing. The marker content of individual clones was determined by gene and BAC-end specific PCR, and the location of genes and BAC-ends was confirmed analyzing somatic hybrid cells. A comparative analysis indicated that the content and order of MHC class III genes is strongly conserved between cattle and other mammalian species.

Mapping of quantitative trait loci controlling trypanotolerance in a cross of tolerant West African N'Dama and susceptible East African Boran cattle.

Trypanosomosis, or sleeping sickness, is a major disease constraint on livestock productivity in sub-Saharan Africa. To identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) controlling resistance to trypanosomosis in cattle, an experimental cross was made between trypanotolerant African N'Dama (Bos taurus) and trypanosusceptible improved Kenya Boran (Bos indicus) cattle. Sixteen phenotypic traits were defined describing anemia, body weight, and parasitemia.

Variability of the CD36 gene in West Africa.

Studying 12 selected individuals from a malaria-endemic area in West Africa, 24 variants of the CD36 gene were found, 21 of them novel ones. These included three single-nucleotide substitutions causing non-conservative amino acid exchanges E123K, T174A, and I271T as well as a three base pair (bp) insertion resulting in the addition of an asparagine residue (N232-233ins). The E123K variant was located within the putative ligand-binding domain for oxidized low density lipoprotein, while the other substitutions resided outside any of the binding sites for reaction partners mapped on CD36 so far.

Two novel mutations R653H and E230K in the Mediterranean fever gene associated with disease.

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the Mediterranean fever gene (MEFV). We describe two novel missense mutations in MEFV, R653H and E230K. Both were found in compound heterozygosity with the mutation M694V in single Turkish patients with clinical syndromes characteristic for FMF.