Jun Wang , Mengyue Chen

Animal Science Research Center, Cuixi Academy of Biotechnology, Zhuji, 311800, Zhejiang, China
Author    Correspondence author
Animal Molecular Breeding, 2024, Vol. 14, No. 6   doi: 10.5376/amb.2024.14.0037
Received: 05 Nov., 2024    Accepted: 08 Dec., 2024    Published: 20 Dec., 2024

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Wang J., and Chen M.Y., 2024, The role of TLR genes in canid immunity: insights from wolves, coyotes, and dogs, Animal Molecular Breeding, 14(6): 354-361 (doi: 10.5376/amb.2024.14.0037)

This study systematically reviews the critical role of Toll-like receptor (TLR) genes in canid immunity, focusing on the genetic polymorphisms, functional mechanisms, and evolutionary dynamics of TLR genes in wolves, coyotes, and domestic dogs. As an essential component of the innate immune system, TLRs recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and activate immune signaling pathways, playing a central role in combating bacterial, viral, and fungal pathogens. The diversity of TLR genes is closely linked to host immune competence and disease susceptibility, with African wild dogs exhibiting higher TLR polymorphism, potentially enhancing their resistance to canine distemper virus (CDV). This study reveals how specific variations in genes such as TLR2, TLR4, and TLR7 influence immune responses and highlights the importance of pathogen-mediated selection pressures in maintaining genetic diversity. It further explores the potential applications of TLR genes in conservation and breeding, including the use of genetic markers for marker-assisted selection to enhance disease resistance in domestic dogs and the management of genetic diversity to address regional pathogen pressures in wild canids. By synthesizing current research findings, this study identifies future research directions, emphasizing the application of genomic and transcriptomic technologies in elucidating the functions and evolution of TLR genes.

Toll-like receptor (TLR); Canid immunity; Genetic diversity; Pathogen resistance; Conservation and breeding