Veterinary Immunology: Comparative Immunology Flashcards
(26 cards)
What is comparative immunology?
Investigating the major differences in the immune system between different organisms
What are the two reasons to study comparative immunology?
To understand the
- Variation in immune mechanisms
- Evolution of the immune system
What are marsupials?
Mammals with pouches
What are monotromes?
Mammals that lay eggs
What were the three branches of evolution of mammals?
- Split into prototherian mammals and therian mammals
- Then split into marsupials and eutherians
What are eutherians?
Placental mammals
Why are monotremes, marsupials and eutherian ideal for comparative immunology studies?
As there were 150 million years of evolution between them
What is the key difference between the thymus in eutherians, polyprotodont and diprotodont marsupials?
Location:
- On the thorax in eutherians and polyprotodont
- On the cervical and thorax in diprotodont
Functionality:
- Fully functional in eutherians
- Assumed not fully developed in polyprotodont and diprotodont
How does immune system develop in marsupials?
- Short gestation
- Born at an early development
- Immunonaive at birth
- Immune system develops within non-sterile pouch
How does immune system develop in eutherians?
- Long gestation
- Born at a late development stage
- Immunocompetent at birth
- Immune system develops within sterile uterus
Where is the haemotopoietic tissue in marsupials?
In the liver rather than the bone marrow
How is passive immunity acquired in marsupials?
Passive immunity via milk
What protection do marsupials get in the pouch?
- Antimicrobial peptide genes
- Target and kill bacteria and fungi
Where are antimicrobial peptides found in marsupials?
- Pouch
- Milk
- Skin of young animals
Why is it so hard to sequence the genome of marsupials and eutherians?
As they are endangered and are rare to find
What are the four T cell receptor chains that have been conserved in jawed verterbrates?
- Alpha
- Beta
- Gamma
- Delta
How are the T cell receptors paired?
- Alpha/Beta
- Gamma/Delta
What is the fifth TCR chain in marsupial and monotreme?
Mu - μ
What are the TLRs in marsupials and monotremes?
Same TLR as eutherians, except TLR1 and TLR6 could not be identified
What unique TLR do eutherians have?
TLR1/6 like
What is unique about the MHC in monotremes?
They are organised in a different way and found on sex chromosomes
How do the immunoglobulins marsupials differ to eutherians and monotremes?
They do not have IgD
What is the variable region in eutherians?
High diversity in heavy and light chains which equally contribute
What is the variable region in marsupials and echidnas?
Limited heavy chain diversity with the light chain compensating
