Dataset Information

A preliminary analysis of the immunoglobulin genes in the African elephant (Loxodonta africana).

ABSTRACT: The genomic organization of the IgH (Immunoglobulin heavy chain), Ig? (Immunoglobulin kappa chain), and Ig? (Immunoglobulin lambda chain) loci in the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) was annotated using available genome data. The elephant IgH locus on scaffold 57 spans over 2,974 kb, and consists of at least 112 V(H) gene segments, 87 D(H) gene segments (the largest number in mammals examined so far), six J(H) gene segments, a single ?, a ? remnant, and eight ? genes (? and ? genes are missing, most likely due to sequence gaps). The Ig? locus, found on three scaffolds (202, 50 and 86), contains a total of 153 V(?) gene segments, three J(?) segments, and a single C(?) gene. Two different transcriptional orientations were determined for these V(?) gene segments. In contrast, the Ig? locus on scaffold 68 includes 15 V(?) gene segments, all with the same transcriptional polarity as the downstream J(?)-C(?) cluster. These data suggest that the elephant immunoglobulin gene repertoire is highly diverse and complex. Our results provide insights into the immunoglobulin genes in a placental mammal that is evolutionarily distant from humans, mice, and domestic animals.

SUBMITTER: Guo Y

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3045440 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

A preliminary analysis of the immunoglobulin genes in the African elephant (Loxodonta africana).

Guo Yongchen Y Bao Yonghua Y Wang Hui H Hu Xiaoxiang X Zhao Zhihui Z Li Ning N Zhao Yaofeng Y

PloS one 20110225 2

The genomic organization of the IgH (Immunoglobulin heavy chain), Igκ (Immunoglobulin kappa chain), and Igλ (Immunoglobulin lambda chain) loci in the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) was annotated using available genome data. The elephant IgH locus on scaffold 57 spans over 2,974 kb, and consists of at least 112 V(H) gene segments, 87 D(H) gene segments (the largest number in mammals examined so far), six J(H) gene segments, a single μ, a δ remnant, and eight γ genes (α and ε genes are miss ...[more]

PMID: 21364892

Similar Datasets

Project description:Adipose tissue (AT) is a dynamic and flexible organ with regulatory roles in physiological functions including metabolism, reproduction and inflammation; secreted adipokines, including leptin, and fatty acids facilitate many of these roles. The African elephant (Loxodonta africana) is experiencing serious challenges to optimal reproduction in captivity. The physiological and molecular basis of this impaired fertility remains unknown. AT production of leptin is a crucial molecular link between nutritional status, adiposity and fertility in many species. We propose that leptin has a similar function in the African elephant. African elephant visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue (AT) was obtained from both sexes and a range of ages including females with known pregnancy status. RNA was extracted and histological sections created and analyzed by microarray, PCR and immunohistochemistry respectively. Gas-chromatography was used to determine the fatty acid composition of AT. Microarray expression profiling was used to compare gene expression profiles of AT from pre-pubertal versus reproductively competent adult African elephants. This study demonstrates, for the first time, leptin mRNA and protein expression in African elephant AT. The derived protein sequence of the elephant leptin protein was exploited to determine its relationship within the class I helical cytokine superfamily, which indicates that elephant leptin is most closely related to the leptin orthologs of Oryctolagus cuniculus (European rabbit), Lepus oiostolus (woolly hare), and members of the Ochotonidae (Pika). Immunohistological analysis identified considerable leptin staining within the cytoplasm of adipocytes. Significant differences in fatty acid profiles between pregnant and non-pregnant animals were revealed, most notably a reduction in both linoleic and α linoleic acid in pregnant animals. This report forms the basis for future studies to address the effect of nutrient composition and body condition on reproduction in captive and wild elephants.

Project description:Distinct but related species of elephant endotheliotropic herpesviruses (EEHVs) circulate within Asian and African elephant populations. Primary infection with EEHVs endemic among Asian elephants can cause clinical illness and lethal EEHV hemorrhagic disease (EEHV-HD). The degree to which this occurs among African elephants has not been fully established. Recent cases of EEHV-HD caused by the EEHV3 species in African elephants housed in North American zoos has heightened concern about the susceptibility of this elephant species to EEHV-HD. In this study, we utilize the luciferase immunoprecipitation system (LIPS) to generate a serological assay specific for EEHV3 in African elephants by detecting antibodies against the EEHV3 E34 protein. The results showed that the majority of tested elephants from four separate and genetically unrelated herds, including five elephants that survived clinical illness associated with EEHV3, were positive for prior infection with EEHV3. However, African elephants who succumbed to EEHV3-HD were seronegative for EEHV3 prior to lethal infection. This supports the hypothesis that fatal EEHV-HD caused by EEHV3 is associated with primary infection rather than reactivation of latent virus. Lastly, we observed that African elephants, like Asian elephants, acquire abundant anti-EEHV antibodies prenatally and that anti-EEHV3 specific antibodies were either never detected or declined to undetectable levels in those animals that died from lethal disease following EEHV3 infection. IMPORTANCE Prior to 2019, only five cases of clinical disease from EEHV infection among African elephants had been documented. Since 2019, there have been at least seven EEHV-HD cases in North American zoos, resulting in three fatalities, all associated with EEHV3. Evidence is accumulating to suggest that EEHV-associated clinical illness and death among Asian elephants is due to primary infection and may be associated with waning anti-EEHV antibody levels in young elephants. The development of the EEHV3 serological test described in this study enabled us to confirm that similar dynamics may be contributing to EEHV-HD in African elephants. The ability to screen for EEHV immune status in African elephant calves will have a major impact on managing captive African elephant herds and will provide new tools for investigating and understanding EEHV in wild populations.

Dataset Information

A preliminary analysis of the immunoglobulin genes in the African elephant (Loxodonta africana).

Publications

A preliminary analysis of the immunoglobulin genes in the African elephant (Loxodonta africana).

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets