Mapping of novel chromosomal regions associated with atopy

Background A panel of recombinant congenic strains (RCS) of mice can be used to study an array of disease related phenotypes [1]. We have used a panel of 33 AcB/BcA RCS, derived from parental strains A/J and C57BL/6J (Figure 1), to study phenotypes of allergic asthma that are difficult to segregate in the human population, such as airway hyperresponsiveness [2]. Each recombinant strain is fully inbred and contains approximately 12.5% of the genome from one parental strain on the background of the other parental strain. Here we present our findings for mapping chromosomal regions associated with atopy, another phenotype of allergic asthma.