Journal
BMC GENOMICS
Volume 16, Issue -, Pages -Publisher
BMC
DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-2254-1
Keywords
Transcriptome; Non-model organism; Common buzzard Buteo buteo; Plasmodium; Melanin pathway; Molecular markers
Funding
- Marie Curie FP7-International Outgoing Grant within the 7th European Community Framework Programme [PIOF-GA-2010-275049]
- Volkswagen Foundation [I/84 196]
- Heisenberg Professorship of the German Science Foundation (DFG) [KR 2089/2-1]
- Marie Curie FP7-Reintegration-Grant within the 7th European Community Framework Programme [PCIG-GA-2011-303618]
Ask authors/readers for more resources
Background: Studies of non-model species are important for understanding the molecular processes underpinning phenotypic variation under natural ecological conditions. The common buzzard (Buteo buteo; Aves: Accipitriformes) is a widespread and common Eurasian raptor with three distinct plumage morphs that differ in several fitness-related traits, including parasite infestation. To provide a genomic resource for plumage polymorphic birds in general and to search for candidate genes relating to fitness, we generated a transcriptome from a single dead buzzard specimen plus easily accessible, minimally invasive samples from live chicks. Results: We not only de novo assembled a near-complete buzzard transcriptome, but also obtained a significant fraction of the transcriptome of its malaria-like parasite, Leucocytozoon buteonis. By identifying melanogenesis-related transcripts that are differentially expressed in light ventral and dark dorsal feathers, but which are also expressed in other regions of the body, we also identified a suite of candidate genes that could be associated with fitness differences among the morphs. These include several immune-related genes, providing a plausible link between melanisation and parasite load. qPCR analysis of a subset of these genes revealed significant differences between ventral and dorsal feathers and an additional effect of morph. Conclusion: This new resource provides preliminary insights into genes that could be involved in fitness differences between the buzzard colour morphs, and should facilitate future studies of raptors and their malaria-like parasites.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available