Developmental and Comparative ImmunologyThis is an RSS file. You can use it to subscribe to this data in your favourite RSS reader, such as GoogleReader, or to display this data on your own website or blog. Subscribe to this data using MyMedWorm.Subscribe to this data using GoogleReader.Subscribe to this data using Bloglines.Subscribe to this data using MyYahoo.

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255 records returned

Caenopore-5: The tHREE-DIMENSIONAL structure of an antimicrobial protein from Caenorhabditis elegans.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The caenopore-5 protein encoded by the spp-5 gene is one of 33 caenopores identified in Caenorhabditis elegans and is a pore-forming peptide which plays an important role in the elimination of Escherichia coli ingested by the worm. Thus, caenopore-5 appears to contribute to the nutrition of the worm while simultaneously protecting the organism against pathogens. Here, three-dimensional heteronuclear NMR spectroscopy was used to solve the solution structure of caenopore-5. The NMR data revealed that two conformers of caenopore-5 exist in solution which differ by the isomerisation of the peptide bond of Pro-81. The overa...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - November 13, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Mysliwy J, Dingley AJ, Stanisak M, Jung S, Lorenzen I, Roeder T, Leippe M, Grötzinger J Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Variation in the ovine C-type lectin dectin-1 gene (CLEC7A).Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, variation in exons 4-6 of the ovine dectin-1 gene (CLEC7A) was investigated. These exons encode the putative domain for beta-glucan recognition. Three, three and four unique PCR-single strand conformational polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) patterns were detected in exons 4, 5 and 6, respectively. DNA sequencing also revealed three, three and four different nucleotide sequences for the respective exons. All of these sequences were unique, but shared high sequence homology with the CLEC7A cDNA sequences from sheep, cattle and pigs. Either one, or a combination of two sequences was found for each exon in each sheep. Thi...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - November 12, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Zhou H, Hu J, Luo Y, Hickford JG Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Detection of antimicrobial peptides related to piscidin 4 in important aquacultured fish.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, we detected the presence of the recently discovered piscidin 4 via bug blot, Western blot, ELISA and/or immunohistochemistry in striped bass (Morone saxatilis), white bass (M. chrysops), European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax), gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata), red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), and barramundi (Lates calcarifer). Via bug blot, gill extracts from all species had antibacterial activity corresponding to the migration rate of piscidin 4. Western blotting showed that piscidin 4 immunoreactivity was greatest in striped bass gill extract. The concentrations of piscidin 4 detected by the ELISA in stri...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - November 10, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Corrales J, Mulero I, Mulero V, Noga EJ Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Trypanosoma carassii calreticulin binds host complement component C1q and inhibits classical complement pathway-mediated lysis.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Trypanosoma carassii is an extracellular parasite of economically important fish species that has evolved several strategies to circumvent host immune responses. Proteomic analysis of the excreted/secreted (ES) and surface molecules of the parasite has revealed a number of proteins that may be involved in host-parasite interactions. Among the parasite molecules identified in the ES of T. carassii was calreticulin. We cloned and produced T. carassii calreticulin (rTcaCRT), and generated a rabbit polyclonal antibody to the recombinant protein. The incubation of parasites with rabbit anti-rTcaCRT affinity purified IgG ant...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - November 10, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Oladiran A, Belosevic M Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Binding properties of the regulatory domains in Manduca sexta hemolymph proteinase-14, an initiation enzyme of the prophenoloxidase activation system.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Pathogen recognition and rapid initiation of defense responses are essential for the survival of host insects. In Manduca sexta, hemolymph proteinase-14 precursor (proHP14) senses non-self presence and triggers a branched serine proteinase pathway which leads to prophenoloxidase activation and melanin formation around the invading organisms. To understand functions of individual domains in HP14, we have produced a series of HP14 domains and truncation mutants and studied their interactions with microbial polysaccharides and beta-1,3-glucan recognition protein-1 (betaGRP1)-a biosensor for fungal and bacterial infection....
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - November 6, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Wang Y, Jiang H Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

The amphibians Xenopuslaevis and Silurana tropicalis possess a family of activating KIR-related Immunoglobulin-like receptors.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, we searched the amphibian species Xenopus laevis and Silurana (Xenopus) tropicalis for the presence of genes homologous to mammalian KIRs and avian CHIRs (KRIR family). By experimental and computational procedures, we identified four related ILR (Ig-like receptors) genes in S. tropicalis and three in X. laevis. ILRs encode type I transmembrane receptors with 3-4 Ig-like extracellular domains. All predicted ILR proteins appear to be activating receptors. ILRs have a broad expression pattern, the gene transcripts were found in both lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues. Phylogenetic analysis shows that the amphibi...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - November 5, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Guselnikov SV, Reshetnikova ES, Najakshin AM, Mechetina LV, Robert J, Taranin AV Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of caspase 9 in large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea).Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The genomic and cDNA sequences of a caspase-9 homologue were cloned from large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea). The large yellow croaker caspase 9 gene (Lyccasp9) consists of ten exons and nine introns, spanning 3836 nucleotides. The full- length cDNA of Lyccasp9 is 2595bp with an open reading frame of 1314bp encoding a polypeptide of 437 amino acids (aa), which includes a 90-aa caspase recruitment domain (CARD, residues 1-90), a 133-aa p20 domain (residues 171-303) with two putative caspase family histidine and cysteine active sites, as well as an 87-aa p10 domain (residues 348-435). Recombinant Lyccasp9 (rLycca...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - October 31, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Mu Y, Xiao X, Zhang J, Ao J, Chen X Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Sp185/333: A novel family of genes and proteins involved in the purple sea urchin immune response.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The Sp185/333 system of genes, messages and proteins are expressed in the coelomocytes of the purple sea urchin, Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, and is an extraordinary example of diversification of a putative innate immune response system in an invertebrate. Reviewed here, is the current understanding of this complex system as illustrated by sequence comparisons of the genes, message and deduced proteins with descriptions of diversity, including preliminary results on genomic organization and descriptions of 185/333 in other echinoids. Sp185/333 gene expression in adults and embryos occurs in response to immune challen...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - October 31, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Ghosh J, Buckley KM, Nair SV, Raftos DA, Miller C, Majeske AJ, Hibino T, Rast JP, Roth M, Smith LC Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Two recombinant peptides, SpStrongylocin 1 and 2, from Strongylocentrotus purpuratus, show antimicrobial activity against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The cysteine-rich strongylocins were the first antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) discovered from the sea urchin species, Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis. Homologous putative proteins (called SpStrongylocin) were found in the sister species, S. purpuratus. To demonstrate that they exhibit the same antibacterial activity as strongylocins, cDNAs encoding the 'mature' peptides (SpStrongylocin 1 and 2) were cloned into a direct expression system fusing a protease cleavage site and two purification tags to the recombinant peptide. Both recombinant fusion peptides were expressed in a soluble form in an Escherichia coli strain t...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - October 20, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Li C, Blencke HM, Smith LC, Karp MT, Stensvåg K Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of porcine DNA-dependent activator of IFN-regulatory factors (DAI).Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The DNA-dependent activator of IFN-regulatory factors (DAI) is a recently identified DNA sensor for intracellular DNA that triggers a signal for the production of type I IFN. Here we report the cloning and characterization of porcine DAI (poDAI). The full-length of poDAI encodes 439 amino acids, contains two N-terminal DNA-binding domains and shows similarity to mouse, rat, dog, monkey, human, horse and cattle counterparts ranging from 44% to 67%. poDAI mRNA expression was mainly detected in spleen, lung, kidney and small intestine. Over-expression of poDAI activated transcription factors IRF3 and NF-kappaB and induced...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - October 19, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Xie L, Fang L, Wang D, Luo R, Cai K, Chen H, Xiao S Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Hovering between death and life: natural apoptosis and phagocytes in the blastogenetic cycle of the colonial ascidian Botryllus schlosseri.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Colonies of the compound ascidian Botryllus schlosseri undergo recurrent generation changes during which massive, natural apoptosis occurs in zooid tissues: for this reason the species is emerging as an interesting model of invertebrate chordate, phylogenetically related to vertebrates, for studies of apoptosis during development. In the present work, we carried out a series of morphological, cytofluorimetrical and biochemical analyses, useful for a better characterization of Botryllus apoptosis. Results are consistent with the following vewpoints: i) both intrinsic and extrinsic pathways, probably connected by the BH3...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - October 14, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Cima F, Manni L, Menin A, Basso G, Fortunato E, Accordi B, Schiavon F, Ballarin L Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

The Role of Lysozyme in the Prophenoloxidase Activation System of Manduca sexta: An in vitro approach.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, we used in vitro assays to investigate the role of lysozyme in proPO activation in the tobacco hornworm Manduca sexta. We showed that lysozymes from M. sexta, human milk and hen egg white did not inhibit PO activity in the pre-activated naïve plasma of M. sexta larvae, but significantly inhibited proPO activation in the naïve plasma. Western blot analysis showed that direct incubation of M. sexta lysozyme with the naïve plasma prevented conversion of proPO to PO, but stimulated degradation of precursor proteins for serine proteinase homolog-2 (SPH2) and proPO-activating proteinase-1 (PAP1), tw...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - October 12, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Rao XJ, Ling E, Yu XQ Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Identification, characterization and genetic mapping of TLR7, TLR8a1 and TLR8a2 genes in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Induction of the innate immune pathways is critical for early antiviral defense but there is limited understanding of how teleost fish recognize viral molecules and activate these pathways. In mammals, Toll-like receptors (TLR) 7 and 8 bind single-stranded RNA of viral origin and are activated by synthetic antiviral imidazoquinoline compounds. Herein, we identify and describe the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) TLR7 and TLR8 gene orthologs and their mRNA expression. Two TLR7/8 loci were identified from a rainbow trout bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library using DNA fingerprinting and genetic linkage analyse...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - October 9, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Palti Y, Gahr SA, Purcell MK, Hadidi S, Rexroad CE, Wiens GD Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

INFLUENCE OF BREAST MILK polyamines on suckling rat IMMUNE SYSTEM MATURATION.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The aim of this study was to ascertain whether the supplementation of polyamines present in breast milk, i.e. spermine (SPM) and spermidine (SPD), influenced the post-natal maturation of the systemic and intestinal immune system in rats. From birth, pups daily received SPM or SPD. At 5, 11 and 18 days old, small intestine intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL), lamina propria lymphocytes (LPL) and splenocytes were phenotypically characterized. SPM and, less evidently, SPD accelerated the maturation of CD8+ IEL, and enhanced the presence of intraepithelial NK cells and IEL related with specific immune responses on the proxim...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - October 9, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Pérez-Cano FJ, González-Castro A, Castellote C, Franch A, Castell M Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Identification of the functional Interleukin-2 binding domain of the chicken common cytokine receptor gamma chain.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CD132 is the common gamma chain to a number of cytokine receptor complexes including that for IL-2. To identify the functional domain of chicken CD132 (chCD132), the cDNA of chCD132 was cloned, and a neutralizing monoclonal antibody, raised against a recombinant chCD132 protein, was identified by inhibition of IL-2-dependent proliferation of T cells. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that chCD132 molecules are expressed on the surface of splenic mononuclear cells. The functional domain of chCD132 that binds to chicken interleukin 2, Q(84)E(94)L(95)Q(96)N(97)L(98), was found through phage display and peptide-competitive ...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - October 8, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Gu J, Teng Q, Huang Z, Ruan X, Zhou J Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Caenopores are antimicrobial peptides in the nematode caenorhabditis elegans instrumental in nutrition and immunity.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
For the soil nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, microbes are both food source and potential pathogens. Intrinsic antibiotic agents such as antimicrobial peptides (AMP) are important to protect the worm against infection. Here, we show that among potential antimicrobial peptides of C. elegans, with respect to gene number, the majority belongs to the SPP-protein family which we named caenopores as they resemble structurally and functionally amoebapores. SPP-5 kills bacteria by permeabilizing their cytoplasmic membrane and displays pore-forming activity as judged by liposome depolarization. The antimicrobial polypeptide is ...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - October 6, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Roeder T, Stanisak M, Gelhaus C, Bruchhaus I, Grötzinger J, Leippe M Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Role of CRTAM during mouse early T lymphocytes development.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CRTAM was reported as a novel receptor expressed in activated NKT and CD8 T lymphocytes. However, we have recently shown that is also expressed in several non-immune tissues. In opposition to what has been stated for lymphoid cells, CRTAM expression is constitutive in epithelia, suggesting a role in cell-cell interactions. Given the importance of cell interactions during T lymphocyte development, we evaluated CRTAM during T lymphocyte ontogeny. Here we show that CRTAM has an unexpected constitutive expression in adult thymocytes and, remarkably, it is sustained during all stages of thymocyte development. CRTAM expressi...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - September 28, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Medina-Contreras O, Soldevila G, Patiño-Lopez G, Canche-Pool E, Valle-Rios R, Ortiz-Navarrete V Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Swine leukocyte antigen (SLA) diversity in Sinclair and Hanford swine.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study furthers our understanding of the allelic architecture and polymorphism of the SLA system and will facilitate the mapping of loci associated with the expression of SSCM. PMID: 19782700 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology)
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - September 23, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Ho CS, Martens GW, Amoss MS, Gomez-Raya L, Beattie CW, Smith DM Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Cloning and characterisation of the chicken orthologue of dendritic cell-lysosomal associated membrane protein (DC-LAMP).Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A cDNA encoding the chicken orthologue of dendritic cell-lysosomal associated membrane protein (DC-LAMP)/CD208 was cloned by RT-PCR from RNA isolated from mature chicken bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (chBM-DC). The cloned chicken DC-LAMP (chDC-LAMP) cDNA consists of 1281 nucleotides encoding an open reading frame of 426 amino acids (aa). Comparison of the deduced aa sequence of DC-LAMP with orthologous proteins from human and mouse revealed 27% and 24% identity, respectively. The predicted chDC-LAMP protein shares the characteristic features of LAMP family members. ChDC-LAMP mRNA, unlike its mammalian orthologues...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - September 23, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Wu Z, Hu T, Butter C, Kaiser P Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Characterization of arrangement and expression of the beta-2 microglobulin locus in the sandbar and nurse shark.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this report, beta2m cDNAs were identified and sequenced from sandbar shark spleen cDNA library. Sandbar shark beta2m gene encodes one amino acid less than most teleost beta2m genes, and 3 amino acids less than mammal beta2m genes. Although sandbar shark beta2m protein contains one beta sheet less than that of human in the predicted protein structure, the overall structure of beta2m proteins is conserved during evolution. Germline gene for the beta2m in sandbar and nurse shark is present as a single locus. It contains 3 three exons and two introns. CpG sites are evenly distributed in the shark beta2m loci. Several DNA re...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - September 22, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Chen H, Kshirsagar S, Jensen I, Lau K, Simonson C, Schluter SF Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

CD62L defines a subset of pathogen-specific bovine CD4 with central memory cell characteristics.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Central memory T cells (Tcm) have not previously been characterized in cattle and any other ruminant species. Here we described two phenotypically and functionally different subsets of pathogen-specific memory CD4(+) T cells in cattle that survived infection with Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides small colony (MmmSC). The first subset is CD45RO(+)CD45R(-)CD62L(-) and comprises two thirds of IFN-gamma producing CD4(+) T cells after MmmSC recall stimulation. The second is CD45RO(+)CD45R(-)CD62L(+) and represents the majority of proliferating CD4(+) T cells after 7 days of stimulation. Cell sorting experiments confirmed...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - September 16, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Totté P, Duperray C, Dedieu L Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Cloning of a novel interleukin (IL)-20 like gene in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss gives an insight into the evolution of the IL-10 family.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
A novel IL-20-like (IL-20L) gene has been analyzed in rainbow trout. It has a six exon/five intron gene organisation and is translated into 181 amino acids (aa) with a signal peptide of 25 aa and a mature peptide of 156 aa. The trout IL-20L translation shares highest identities to other IL-20L molecules from fish and to IL-20 in mammals. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the fish IL-20L molecules form an independent clade but cluster with the group containing the IL-19, IL-20 and IL-24 molecules from higher vertebrates with a high bootstrap value (89%). The fish IL-20L genes are syntenically in the same location as mam...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - September 11, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Wang T, Díaz-Rosales P, Martin SA, Secombes CJ Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

A clip domain serine proteinase plays a role in antibacterial defense but is not required for prophenoloxidase activation in shrimp.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The clip domain serine proteinases (clip-SPs) play critical roles in the signaling processes during embryonic development and in the innate immunity of invertebrates. In the present study, we identified a homolog of the clip-SP, designated as PmClipSP1, by searching the Penaeus monodon EST database (http://pmonodon.biotec.or.th), and using RACE-PCR to obtain the complete gene which contained a 1095bp open reading frame encoding 364 amino acids with a 25 amino acid signal peptide. The deduced PmClipSP1 protein sequence, which shares a predicted structural similarity to the clip-SPs of other arthropod species, appears to...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - September 10, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Amparyup P, Wiriyaukaradecha K, Charoensapsri W, Tassanakajon A Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Differences in transcriptomic profile and IgA repertoire between jejunal and ileal Peyer's patches.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We examined, by quantitative real-time PCR, the expression of 36 transcripts of antimicrobial peptides, chemokines, cytokines, toll-like receptors and transcription factors from both PP and we highlighted the differences by a principal component analysis. Ileal PP was characterized by a higher mRNA expression of CCL28, IL5, IL10, TLR2 and TLR4 while jejunal PP showed higher mRNA expression of antimicrobial peptides, CCL25, FOXP3, IL4, T-Bet, TSLP and SOCS2. Then, we analyzed some VDJ rearrangements to assess immunoglobulin repertoire diversity in jejunal and ileal PP from weaned piglets. The IgA and IgM repertoires were mo...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - September 8, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Levast B, De Monte M, Melo S, Chevaleyre C, Berri M, Salmon H, Meurens F Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Identification and characterization of the first reptilian CD9, and its expression analysis in response to bacterial infection.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, a CD9 homologue in a reptile, Chinese soft-shelled turtle, has been cloned and identified for the first time. The full-length cDNA of turtle CD9 was 1146bp and contained a 672bp open reading frame (ORF) coding for a protein of 224 amino acids. Four transmembrane domains (TMs) divided the turtle CD9 into several parts: short N, C-termini, an intracellular loop and two (small and large) extracellular loops (SEL and LEL). A CCG motif, a potential N-linked glycosylation site and ten cysteine residues were well conserved. The deduced amino acid sequence analysis showed that the turtle CD9 shared 82% identity to d...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - September 8, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Zhou X, Feng H, Guo Q, Dai H Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Conservation of CD1 protein expression patterns in the chicken.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The CD1 molecules are cell surface proteins that bind and present foreign lipids and glycolipids to T cells in a manner similar to the MHC system. While the mammalian CD1 antigen presentation pathway is well characterized, little is known about CD1 in non-mammalian vertebrates. Previous studies have identified two CD1 homologues in the chicken. We developed a monoclonal antibody designated NL1-1.A1 specific for the chCD1-1 isoform and have used this to characterize CD1 expression in tissues and cells of normal adult and embryonic chickens. The chCD1-1 isoform is expressed on a high proportion of cells in the spleen and...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - September 3, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Ly N, Danzl NM, Wang J, Zajonc DM, Dascher CC Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Mutations in an Avian IgY-Fc Fragment Reveal the Locations of Monocyte Fc Receptor Binding Sites.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The avian IgY antibody isotype shares a common ancestor with both mammalian IgG and IgE and so provides a means to study the evolution of their structural and functional specialisations. Although both IgG and IgE bind to their leukocyte Fc receptors with 1:1 stoichiometry, IgY binds to CHIR-AB1, a receptor expressed in avian monocytes, with 2:1 stoichiometry. The mutagenesis data reported here explain the structural basis for this difference, mapping the CHIR-AB1 binding site to the Cupsilon3/Cupsilon4 interface and not the N-terminal region of Cupsilon3 where, at equivalent locations, the IgG and IgE leukocyte Fc rece...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - September 2, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Taylor AI, Sutton BJ, Calvert RA Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

BCG vaccine confers adaptive immunity against Mycobacterium sp. infection in fish.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, the effects of two vaccine candidates, Bacillus Calmette and Guèrin (BCG, an attenuated strain of Mycobacterium bovis) and formalin-killed cells of Mycobacterium sp. were evaluated in Japanese flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus. In the immediate response and tuberculin response, BCG vaccinated fish showed higher gene expression levels of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1beta, IL-6, IFN-gamma and TNFalpha. Furthermore, BCG vaccination conferred protective efficacy against Mycobacterium sp. infection in Japanese flounder. Transcriptome analysis using a Japanese flounder cDNA microarray revealed that BCG v...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - September 2, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Kato G, Kondo H, Aoki T, Hirono I Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Presence of an unique IgT on the IGH locus in G. aculeatus and the very recent generation of a repertoire of VH genes.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study describes the IGH locus in Gasterosteus aculeatus, with 10 genes encoding three immunoglobulin classes: IgT, IgM and IgD. These genes are organized into a structure with three repeats of IGHT-IGHM-IGHD separated by segments including the VH segments. There was also a fourth IGHT gene. IGHT encodes an antibody with three immunoglobulin domains. Comparative studies indicate it is related to IgT and IgZ and other antibodies located upstream of the IGHM in teleost fish. The IGHM and IGHD are similar to the ones described in teleost. The IGHM has four immunoglobulin domains while the IGHD seven and none is duplicated...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - September 2, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Deza FG, Espinel CS, Mompó SM Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Nitric oxide is an essential component of the hemocyte-mediated mosquito immune response against bacteria.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Nitric oxide is a signaling and immune effector molecule synthesized by the enzyme nitric oxide synthase. In mosquitoes, nitric oxide functions as a parasite antagonist in the midgut but little is known about its function in the hemocoel. Here, we characterized the temporal and spatial expression of the Anopheles gambiae nitric oxide synthase gene and explored the role nitric oxide plays in the antibacterial response in the mosquito hemocoel. Quantitative PCR and Western blot analyses showed that nitric oxide synthase is expressed in hemocytes and fat body, and is upregulated in response to systemic infection with Esch...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - September 2, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Hillyer JF, Estévez-Lao TY Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Influence of temperature, salinity and E. coli tissue content on immune gene expression in mussel: results from a 2005-2008 survey.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Several bivalves, including mussels, suffered from mortalities particularly in summer. To look for the possible effect of environmental parameters on immune capacities, Mytilus galloprovincialis were collected monthly from August 2005 to July 2008 from the Palavas Laguna, French Mediterranean coast. Q-PCR was used to quantify the expression of three antimicrobial peptide genes (defensin, mytilin B and myticin B), in addition to lysozyme and HSP70. House keeping gene was 28S rRNA. Defensin, myticin B and lysozyme appeared more expressed in spring-summer than in winter. In contrast, HSP70 expression was higher in winter....
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - June 27, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Li H, Toubiana M, Monfort P, Roch P Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Gene cloning of a sigma class glutathione S-transferase from abalone (Haliotis diversicolor) and expression analysis upon bacterial challenge.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, a full-length cDNA of a sigma class GST (abGSTsigma) (GenBank accession number EF546619) from variously colored abalone (Haliotis diversicolor) was identified. It was 1328bp containing an open reading frame of 624bp, encoding 208 amino acid residues with a predicted protein molecular weight of 23.67kDa and an estimated pI of 5.67. Sequence analysis showed that the predicted protein sequence of abGSTsigma cDNA contained the conserved domain of the GST_N_Sigma_like (PSSM: cd03039) and GST_C_Sigma_like (PSSM: cd03192). Alignment analysis demonstrated that the abGSTsigma of H. diversicolor was in a branch positi...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - June 27, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Ren HL, Xu DD, Gopalakrishnan S, Qiao K, Huang WB, Wang KJ Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

NOD-like subfamily of the nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat containing family receptors and their expression in channel catfish.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The NLRs (nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat containing family receptors) are a recently identified family of pattern recognition receptors in vertebrates. Several subfamilies of NLRs have been characterized in human, mouse, and zebrafish, but studies of NLRs in other species, especially teleost species, have been lacking. Here we report characterization of five NLRs from channel catfish: NOD1, NOD2, NLRC3, NLRC5, and NLRX1. Structural analysis indicated that the genes were organized in a similar fashion as in the mammals and in zebrafish. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that they were orthologous to the...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - June 27, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Sha Z, Abernathy JW, Wang S, Li P, Kucuktas H, Liu H, Peatman E, Liu Z Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

An ancient immunity gene duplication in Daphnia magna: RNA expression and sequence analysis of two nitric oxide synthase genes.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
NO (nitric oxide) is a highly reactive free radical gas thought to play a major role in the invertebrate immune response by harming pathogens and limiting their growth. Here we report on studies of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) genes in the crustacean Daphnia, one of the few non-insect arthropod models used to study host-pathogen interactions. While the NOS gene is found as a single copy in other invertebrates, we found two copies (NOS1 and NOS2), which a phylogenetic reconstruction showed to be the result of an ancient duplication event. Both genes bear features commonly found in invertebrate NOS, however, the two genes...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - June 27, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Labbé P, McTaggart SJ, Little TJ Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Identification and characterization of TLR8 and MyD88 homologs in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Toll-like receptor 8 (TLR 8) belongs to a subgroup of the TLR family that recognizes nucleic acids and that is involved in the protection against viruses. In mammals, TLR7 and 8 have been characterized as receptors for viral and synthetic single-stranded RNA. Here we describe the cloning of a TLR8 homolog in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and its proximal adaptor protein MyD88. The mRNA expression of SsTLR8 was tissue-restricted and its highest level was detected in the spleen while SsMyD88 was expressed in all of the tested organs. SsTLR8 and SsMyD88 mRNAs were up-regulated in TO cells treated with recombinant IFN alph...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - June 27, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Skjaeveland I, Iliev DB, Strandskog G, Jørgensen JB Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Characterisation of a carp cell line for analysis of apoptosis.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study was designed as a first step towards a better knowledge of fish macrophages and their fate after different types of apoptotic insults. PMID: 19428480 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology)
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - June 27, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Vidal MC, Williams G, Hoole D Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Lack of evidence for Litopenaeus vannamei Toll receptor (lToll) involvement in activation of sequence-independent antiviral immunity in shrimp.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Injection of non-specific dsRNA initiates a broad-spectrum innate antiviral immune response in the Pacific white shrimp, Litopenaeus vannamei, however, the receptor involved in recognition of this by-product of viral infections remains unknown. In vertebrates, dsRNA sensing is mediated by a class of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and results in activation of the interferon system. Because a TLR (lToll) was recently characterized in L. vannamei, we investigated its potential role in dsRNA recognition. We showed that injection of non-specific RNA duplexes did not modify lToll gene expression. A reverse genetic approach was t...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - June 27, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Labreuche Y, O'Leary NA, de la Vega E, Veloso A, Gross PS, Chapman RW, Browdy CL, Warr GW Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Gene silencing of a prophenoloxidase activating enzyme in the shrimp, Penaeus monodon, increases susceptibility to Vibrio harveyi infection.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, a cDNA encoding a proPO activating enzyme (PPAE) from the black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, designated as PmPPAE1, was cloned and characterized. The full-length cDNA contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 1392bp encoding a predicted protein of 463 amino acids including an 18 amino acid signal peptide. The PmPPAE1 protein exhibits a characteristic sequence structure of clip-SPs consisting of the clip domain at the N-terminus and a SP domain at the C-terminus. Sequence analysis showed that PmPPAE1 exhibited the highest amino acid sequence similarity (70%) to a PPAE of the crayfish, Pacifastacus leniusculus...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - June 27, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Charoensapsri W, Amparyup P, Hirono I, Aoki T, Tassanakajon A Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Isolation and expression profile of a gene encoding for the Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription STAT2 in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar).Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT)-2 is a molecule involved in the type I interferon (IFN) signalling pathway. The full length cDNA sequence of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) ssSTAT2 was determined and phylogenetic analysis of the amino acid sequence grouped this novel salmon gene to the STAT2 clade. This represents the first fish STAT2 report. The gene encodes for a 802 aa polypeptide that has 38% identity to the human or murine STAT2. The expression was monitored by qPCR in the kidney of animals over the time of infection with the Infectious Salmon Anaemia Virus (ISAV) and in TO cells infected wit...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - June 27, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Collet B, Ganne G, Bird S, Collins CM Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Identification of a kazal-type serine protease inhibitor with potent anti-staphylococcal activity as part of Hydra's innate immune system.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study we demonstrate that not only epithelial cells but also gland cells are critically involved in Hydra's innate host defense by producing a kazal-type serine protease inhibitor, kazal2, that has potent in vitro bactericidal activity against Staphylococcus aureus. The discovery of an antimicrobial serine protease inhibitor in Hydra may shed new light on the mechanisms of host defense early in metazoan evolution, and promises to open new avenues for the development of potent anti-staphylococcal compounds. PMID: 19428484 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology)
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - June 27, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Augustin R, Siebert S, Bosch TC Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Molecular characterization and expression profiles in response to bacterial infection of Chinese soft-shelled turtle interleukin-8 (IL-8), the first reptilian chemokine gene.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, an IL-8 homologue has been cloned and identified from a reptile, Chinese soft-shelled turtle for the first time. The full-length cDNA of turtle IL-8 was 1188bp and contained a 312bp open reading frame (ORF) coding for a protein of 104 amino acids. The chemokine CXC domain, which contained Glu-Leu-Arg (ELR) motif and four cysteine residues, was well conserved in turtle IL-8. The 4924bp genomic DNA of turtle IL-8 contained four exons and three introns. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the amino acid sequence of turtle IL-8 clustered together with birds. RT-PCR analysis showed that turtle IL-8 mRNA was constit...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - June 27, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Zhou X, Guo Q, Dai H Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Transferrin and ferritin response to bacterial infection: the role of the liver and brain in fish.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Iron is essential for growth and survival, but it is also toxic when in excess. Thus, there is a tight regulation of iron that is accomplished by the interaction of several genes including the iron transporter transferrin and iron storage protein ferritin. These genes are also known to be involved in response to infection. The aim of this study was to understand the role of transferrin and ferritin in infection and iron metabolism in fish. Thus, sea bass transferrin and ferritin H cDNAs were isolated from liver, cloned and characterized. Transferrin constitutive expression was found to be highest in the liver, but also...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - June 27, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Neves JV, Wilson JM, Rodrigues PN Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

A beta integrin subunit regulates bacterial phagocytosis in medfly haemocytes.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We have recently reported that the activation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and its downstream targets upon pathogen challenge regulate phagocytosis in medfly haemocytes. The goal of this study was to further explore the signalling pathway underlying the process of phagocytosis. In particular, in this report, we used flow cytometry, RNA interference, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot and immunoprecipitation analysis to demonstrate the haemocyte surface receptor, through which the extracellular signals in response to bacteria are transmitted intracellularly. The presented data demonstrate the expression o...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - June 27, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Mamali I, Lamprou I, Karagiannis F, Karakantza M, Lampropoulou M, Marmaras VJ Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Two thymosin-repeated molecules with structural and functional diversity coexist in Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Recently, beta-thymosin-like proteins with multiple thymosin domains (defined as thymosin-repeated proteins) have been identified from invertebrate. In the present study, the cDNAs of two thymosin-repeated proteins (designated EsTRP1 and EsTRP2) were cloned from Chinese mitten crab by expressed sequence tags (EST) techniques. BLAST analysis presented three and two thymosin domains in EsTRP1 and EsTRP2, respectively, with the identities amongst the five domains varying from 47% to 100%. Both EsTRP1 and EsTRP2 shared high similarities with previously identified vertebrate beta-thymosins and invertebrate thymosin-repeated...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - June 27, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Gai Y, Zhao J, Song L, Wang L, Qiu L, Ning X, Zheng X, Zhang Y, Mu C, Zhang Y, Li L Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Commentary on Galindo et Al. [Dev. Comp. Immunol. 33(4) (2009) 612-617].Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
PMID: 19428489 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology)
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - June 27, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Macqueen D Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Characterisation and expression analysis of the chicken interleukin-7 receptor alpha chain.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a central regulator of T cell survival and homeostasis and its expression is indicative for naïve and memory T cells. We cloned chicken IL-7Ralpha (CHIL-7Ralpha) and determined its expression profile in chicken lymphocyte subpopulations. The predicted protein sequence contained 460 amino acids. The extracellular domain exhibited features typical of a type I cytokine receptor; a fibronectin type III domain and the GXWSXWS motif were conserved. ChIL-7Ralpha mRNA is highly expressed in lymphoid organs and in CD4+, CD8alpha+ and CD8beta+ cells. A monoclonal antibody was generated and expression...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - June 27, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: van Haarlem DA, van Kooten PJ, Rothwell L, Kaiser P, Vervelde L Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Expression of essential B cell genes and immunoglobulin isotypes suggests active development and gene recombination during equine gestation.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Many features of the equine immune system develop during fetal life, yet the naïve or immature immune state of the neonate renders the foal uniquely susceptible to particular pathogens. RT-PCR and immunohistochemical experiments investigated the progressive expression of developmental B cell markers and immunoglobulins in lymphoid tissues from equine fetus, pre-suckle neonate, foal, and adult horses. Serum IgM, IgG isotype, and IgA concentrations were also quantified in pre-suckle foals and adult horses. The expression of essential B cell genes suggests active development and gene recombination during equine gesta...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - June 27, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Tallmadge RL, McLaughlin K, Secor E, Ruano D, Matychak MB, Flaminio MJ Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

Characterization of an ETS transcription factor in the sea scallop Chlamys farreri.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We have cloned and characterized a cDNA encoding a putative ETS transcription factor, designated Cf-ets. The Cf-ets encodes a 406 amino acid protein containing a conserved ETS domain and a Pointed domain. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Cf-ets belongs to the ESE group of ETS transcription factor family. Real-time PCR analysis of Cf-ets expression in adult sea scallop tissues revealed that Cf-ets was expressed mainly in gill and hemocytes, in a constitutive manner. Cf-ets mRNA level in hemocytes increased drastically after microbial challenge indicated its indispensable role in the anti-infection process. Simultaneo...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - June 27, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Ma H, Wang J, Wang B, Zhao Y, Yang C Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

A novel C-type lectin (FcLec4) facilitates the clearance of Vibrio anguillarum in vivo in Chinese white shrimp.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
C-type lectins play important roles in innate immunity of invertebrates. In the present study, we report a novel C-type lectin, named FcLec4, from the Chinese white shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis. FcLec4 contains a single carbohydrate recognition domain (CRD) with a putative signal peptide. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that FcLec4 was distant from most reported C-type lectins from shrimps. The expression of FcLec4 increased at both mRNA and protein level after stimulation of Vibrio anguillarum. Recombinant FcLec4 could agglutinate both Gram-positive and -negative bacteria in the presence of calcium. The recombinant...
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - June 27, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Wang XW, Zhang XW, Xu WT, Zhao XF, Wang JX Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals

The diversity of C-type lectins in the genome of a basal metazoan, Nematostella vectensis.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study provides a N. vectensis CTL database that can be used for further research on the evolution of cnidarian CTLs and the role of CTLs in cnidarian innate immunity. PMID: 19454330 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology)
Source: Developmental and Comparative Immunology - June 27, 2009 Category: Allergy & Immunology Authors: Wood-Charlson EM, Weis VM Tags: Dev Comp Immunol Source Type: journals