MHC Gene Analysis and Immune Variation in Lepidodactylus lugubris (the Mourning Gecko)

Authors

Helen T. Vu, University of Texas at ArlingtonFollow

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Abstract

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays a central role in vertebrate immune defense by enabling pathogen recognition and initiating adaptive immune responses. While MHC diversity has been extensively studied in sexually reproducing species, comparatively little is known about its evolution in asexual lineages. The parthenogenetic gecko Lepidodactylus lugubris provides a unique opportunity to investigate how clonality and hybrid origins influence immune gene diversity. By leveraging whole-genome data, this study overcomes the limitations of previous transcriptome-based analyses and provides a more comprehensive view of MHC diversity in a clonal vertebrate. As the first step towards understanding MHC evolution in parthenogenetic lizards, I analyzed the L. lugubris genome to identify candidate MHC sequences. NCBI BLAST searches against known lizard MHC sequences revealed five v highly probable MHC genes, including two putative MHC class II β loci. Sequence comparison and phylogenetic analysis indicated that the genes are more variable at terminal regions, consistent with expectations for functional peptide-binding domains. These findings demonstrate that clonal species can maintain functional immune gene diversity despite the absence of sexual reproduction, providing new insights into the evolutionary resilience of asexual vertebrates. Collectively, this work establishes a genomic foundation for studying MHC evolution in non-model organisms and highlights the interplay between reproductive mode, hybridization, and immune function.

Disciplines

Evolution | Genetics and Genomics | Immunity | Other Animal Sciences

Publication Date

Fall 2025

Language

English

Faculty Mentor of Honors Project

Matthew Fujita

License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Recommended Citation

Vu, Helen T., "MHC Gene Analysis and Immune Variation in Lepidodactylus lugubris (the Mourning Gecko)" (2025). 2025 Fall Honors Capstones Projects. 21.
https://mavmatrix.uta.edu/honors_fall2025/21