Role of BoLA-DRB3 genetic diversity against resistance to mastitis in cattle: Review

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is an organized cluster of tightly linked genes, present in all vertebrates, playing an important role in the immune system, except the jawless fish [1]. MHC was first identified during tissue transplantation studies in mice [2] and was first known for its role in histocompatibility. Consequently, the role of MHC was discovered in immune regulation [3] and several other functions [4,5]. The important function of the MHC is to code for specialized antigen-presenting receptor glycoproteins, also called as MHC molecules. The products of these genes are involved in the induction and regulation of immune response. These molecules bind processed peptide antigens and present them to T-lymphocytes, thereby triggering immune response.