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Ontogeny of Antibody Production Against Microbial Cell Wall Constituents in Juvenile Chickens
Author(s) -
Koppenheffer Thomas
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.22.2_supplement.560
Subject(s) - ontogeny , biology , antibody , antigen , keyhole limpet hemocyanin , yolk , juvenile , hatchling , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , ecology , genetics , hatching
Primates and rodents produce natural antibodies as a consequence of extensive V‐J and V‐D‐J gene rearrangements that occur during B cell development. Some of these antibodies are produced early in ontogeny and are thought to provide protection against certain pathogens through recognition of microbial products. As the avian primary antibody repertoire is much more restricted than those of mammals, the question arises as to whether birds produce natural antibodies of similar specificity, and if so, whether they are produced in the absence of antigenic stimulation. In order to gain insight into these questions, the ontogeny of serum antibodies against microbial cell wall constituents (bacterial lipopolysaccharide and lipotechoic acid, and yeast mannan) was compared with that of a non‐microbial protein antigen (keyhole limpet hemocyanin) using ELISA methodology. While high levels of yolk derived antigen‐specific IgY, and in some instances small amounts of IgA, were found in serum of hatchlings, birds did not produce antibodies against any of the antigens tested until 5–7 weeks of age, and thereafter produced increasing amounts of antibodies of all isotypes. These findings suggest that the birds in this study produced ‘natural’ antibodies against microbial cell wall constituents as a consequence of sensitization through environmental exposure. Supported in part by the Ralph and Louise Memorial Endowed Fund.