The long-term goal of this laboratory is to understand the mechanisms that regulate the immune response of broiler chickens to avian pathogens. Our research emphasizes the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), a gene complex whose products restrict T-lymphocyte recognition of foreign antigens. The genetics of the MHC are characterized by Southern blot analysis, as well as direct cloning and sequencing of MHC genes. Current projects focus on development of typing methods for identifying MHC genotypes and/or phenotypes in broiler chickens. Future experiments will examine the role of the MHC in genetic resistance of broiler chickens to such diseases as Marek's disease and coccidiosis.
Bliss, T. W., J. E. Dohms, M. G. Emara, and C. L. Keeler, Jr. 2005. Gene expression profiling of avian macrophage activation. Vet Immunol Immunopathol. 105:289-99.
Kim, H., C. J. Schmidt, K. S. Decker, and M. G. Emara. 2003. A double-screening method to identify reliable candidate non-synonymous SNPs from chicken EST data. Anim Genet. 34:249-54.
Emara, M. G., and H. Kim. 2003 Genetic markers and their application in poultry breeding. Poult Sci. 82:952-7.
Zhu, J. J., H. S. Lillehoj, P. C. Allen, C. P. Van Tassell, T. S. Sonstegard, H. H. Cheng, D. Pollock, M. Sadjadi, W. Min, and M. G. Emara. 2003. Mapping quantitative trait loci associated with resistance to coccidiosis and growth. Poult Sci. 82:9-16.
Emara, M. G., H. Kim, J. Zhu, R. R. Lapierre, N. Lakshmanan, and H. S. Lillehoj. 2002. Genetic diversity at the major histocompatibility complex (B) and microsatellite loci in three commercial broiler pure lines. Poult Sci. 81:1609-17.
Emara, M. G., R. R. Lapierre, G. M. Greene, M. Knieriem, J. K. Rosenberger, D. L. Pollock, M. Sadjadi, C. D. Kim, and H. S. Lillehoj. 2002. Phenotypic variation among three broiler pure lines for Marek's disease, coccidiosis, and antibody response to sheep red blood cells. Poult Sci. 81:642-8.
