RESUMO
The spotted wolffish Anarhichas minor Olafsen is a promising new species in aquaculture in the cold waters of northern Norway. In this paper, some basic immunological studies of this marine species are reported. Of comparative interest are the cDNA sequences of the immunoglobulin transcript and the antibody responses to model antigens. Of more practical importance are the humoral immune responses and antibody specificities to potentially pathogenic bacteria. Full length cDNA clones encoding the immunoglobulin heavy and light chains in the spotted wolffish were sequenced demonstrating variable degrees of similarity to other teleost fish species. Also in the spotted wolffish the CH4 domain was deleted in the transmembrane form of the immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) as a receptor on B cells, with the transmembrane exon spliced directly to the CH3 domain. The antibody responses to various antigens like hapten-carrier molecules, protein antigens and bacterial pathogens were relatively high, but with some interesting exceptions. Anti-hapten responses to NIP and FITC were high while anti-DNS responses were low, but more surprisingly, there was hardly any B-cell response to the carrier molecule LPH. On the other hand, protein antigens like CGG and BSA were highly immunogenic in the spotted wolffish as were the bacterial antigens Vibrio anguillarum, V. salmonicida and Aeromonas salmonicida.
Assuntos
Genes de Imunoglobulinas/genética , Perciformes/genética , Perciformes/imunologia , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Formação de Anticorpos , Antígenos/imunologia , Aquicultura , Sequência de Bases , Western Blotting/veterinária , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática/veterinária , Genes de Imunoglobulinas/imunologia , Cadeias Pesadas de Imunoglobulinas/química , Cadeias Pesadas de Imunoglobulinas/genética , Cadeias Leves de Imunoglobulina/química , Cadeias Leves de Imunoglobulina/genética , Dados de Sequência MolecularRESUMO
Immunoglobulin heavy chain (IgH) variable (V) region cDNAs from the Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., have been isolated and analysed with respect to diversity and transcription of the two parallel IgH isoloci in this species. A total of nine V(H) families were defined according to the 80% identity criterion, of which seven were highly related (>80% identity) to the V(H) families defined in rainbow trout and arctic charr. The variability of the CDR1 and 2 was low, although mutational hot-spot consensus sequences were accumulated in these regions. The CDR3 showed largest variability, expressing at least eight different groups of D motifs diversified by fusion of the D motifs, possible N and P nucleotide insertions and exonuclease activity. Presumably functional transcripts expressing D motifs in all three reading frames were identified for two of the motifs. The cDNAs were mapped to either of the two parallel loci, and sequence analysis revealed that the repertoire of V(H) segments was contributed by transcription of genes from both of the IgH isoloci. Transcription of genes from both isoloci generated no obvious effects on variability in the CDR3 of the Atlantic salmon IgH chains, although one additional J(H)-segment with altered N-terminal was generated by the process of duplication and divergence. Thus, the issue of biological significance of the two IgH isoloci remains unclear.
Assuntos
Variação Genética , Cadeias Pesadas de Imunoglobulinas/genética , Região Variável de Imunoglobulina/genética , Salmão/genética , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Sequência de Bases , Mapeamento Cromossômico , DNA Complementar , Evolução Molecular , Genes de Imunoglobulinas , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Salmão/imunologia , Especificidade da EspécieRESUMO
The immune response of cod (Gadus morhua L.) is unusual in that specific antibody response is limited or absent. In the present study cod was immunised with haptenated and non-haptenated protein antigen at two different temperatures and the antibody response monitored over a period of 18 months. Other humoral parameters of immunological importance were also analysed, namely total immunoglobulin concentration, anti-protease and spontaneous haemolytic activity. No specific antibody response was detected but increased activity of non-specific anti-TNP antibodies was observed 10-12 weeks after immunisation, irrespective of the antigen used. This antibody activity was attributed to the adjuvant used (FCA) and did not cross react with other antigens tested. Other parameters were probably not influenced by the immunisation but seasonal fluctuations were indicated. The immunoglobulin level appeared to peak in August-September and the anti-protease activity and the haemolytic activity in October-January.
