The bovine class II major histocompatibility complex : serological definition and further characterization of class II haplotypes

In this thesis an analysis of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II in cattle is reported, with emphasis on the development of class II serology. First, the production of class II alloantisera, and the serological definition of bovine MHC class II polymorphism is described. Subsequently, the alloantisera were analyzed for the presence of distinct antibody populations specific for the products of the two class II genes DR and DQ, using absorptions, and the MAILA assay. Furthermore, serological defined class II polymorphism was compared with typing data obtained with biochemical techniques (1D-IEF for DRB3, DQA and DQB), and DNA based typing methods (DRB3-PCR RFLP, and DQA and DQB RFLP). The extensive typing for BoLA class II enabled detailed characterization of the class II polymorphism present in Holstein Friesians.