The MHC complex of cattle called as bovine leukocyte antigen (BoLA), is located on Bos taurus autosome (BTA) 23. BoLA is a complex of several genes acting together to play a vital role in antigen presentation and processing for eliciting immune response against invading pathogens. This region of the genome is fairly studied due to its importance and prospects of using in the breeding programs. Basic structure of the BoLA is similar to MHC in other mammals, comprising class I, II and III genes.

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... dvent in the molecular genomic tools has helped to find out numerous variants of BoLA genes, out of which many have significant association with the disease resistance and susceptibility. The BoLA class I and II genes are involved in presentation of processed peptide antigens to T lymphocytes by holding them in the peptide binding groove. Conformation of the groove dependent on presence of particular amino acid(s) has a predictive and determinant role in deciding the fate of antigen and thus immune response in the animal. MHC of cattle function similar to the MHC of human, and therefore several genes of BoLA which are not studied and has importance in HLA should be investigated thoroughly for generating detailed knowledge regarding antigen presentation in cattle. Research on BoLA has yielded a few markers for disease, which can be used in the breeding programs, however more efforts on allele mining in this part of the bovine genome is required.