Avian Myxovirus resistant (Mx) gene: A review

Disease resistance traits are highly compromised in the present era of globalization and Indian poultry industry is struggling for its survival as profitable business because of high input cost in treatment of diseases and vaccination. The resolution of genes controlling disease resistance in chickens is somewhat daunting task in most breeding schemes and disease resistance is not a high priority trait possibly because of low heritability. The continued increase in virulence and drug resistance in pathogens and growing concern over use of drugs and vaccines for livestock and poultry production have led the recently re-developing interest in “breeding for disease resistance” instead of higher production state only. Myxovirus (Mx) resistant gene is one of the important genes influencing the immune system as it has got an antiviral action against the single stranded RNA viruses including influenza virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, measles virus etc. Identification and characterization of this gene in different species (bovine, murine, fish, human and poultry) is being documented and scientific communities are trying to explore its relative importance constantly. The present review highlights the important aspects of Mx 1 gene, specially in poultry.