Project description:The absence of germinal centers (GCs) in cartilaginous fishes lies at odds with data showing nurse sharks can produce robust antigen-specific responses and affinity mature their B cell repertoires. To Investigate this paradox, we performed RNA sequencing on single nuclei, allowing us to characterize the cell types present in the nurse shark spleen, and RNAscope to provide in situ cellular resolution of key marker gene expression following immunization with R-phycoerythrin (PE). We tracked PE to the splenic follicles where it co-localizes with CXCR5high centrocyte-like B cells, surrounded by a peripheral ring of AID+ CXCR4+ centroblast-like B cells, and a population of putative T follicular helper (Tfh) cells. Further, we reveal selection of mutated B cell clones dissected from these follicles. We propose the B cell selection sites identified here represent the evolutionary foundation of GC-based selection, dating back to the jawed vertebrate ancestor.
Project description:LC-MS/MS proteomics was used to identify immune proteins in the plasma of the nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum), using a de novo multi-tissue transcriptome generated for this species. LC-MS/MS was then used to assess the host response to immunization with human serum albumin (HSA) and Complete Freund’s Adjuvant (CFA).
Project description:Next-generation sequencing (NGS) of antibody variable regions has emerged as a powerful tool in systems immunology by providing quantitative molecular information on polyclonal humoral immune responses. Reproducible and robust information on antibody repertoires is valuable for basic and applied immunology studies, thus it is essential to establish the reliability of antibody NGS data. Therefore, two conditions of immunological relevance were assessed for NGS reproducibility. First, we pooled spleen plasmablasts and plasma cells (CDR138-enriched) and bone marrow plasma cells (CD45R-depleted and CD138-enriched 4) of 1 mouse (1M) immunized with NP-CGG (chicken gamma globulin (CGG) conjugated to 4-hydroxy-3-nitrophenylacetyl) and sacrificed 14 days post-immunization (dpi). The thus created cell pool contained approximately 3 x 106 viable ASCs. Second, in order to model extreme antibody diversity, we repeated the same cell isolation procedure from 9 immunized mice (9M) resulting in an ASC pool of approximately 2.5 x 10^7 viable cells. From isolated cells, we recovered total RNA and used RT-PCR to amplify expressed rearranged IgG variable heavy VDJ genes; PCR was performed using a well-characterized and utilized primer set based on variable framework 1 region forward primers and one IgG constant region 1 reverse primer (covering all IgG isotypes) 43. Similarly to previously published methods (Vollmers et al., 2013, PNAS), Illumina adaptors were added during the PCR step by using a direct addition approach where adaptors are added at the 5’ end of the gene-specific portion of the primer set, thus circumventing the need for ligation of adaptors following PCR. For each of the two conditions (1M/9M), triplicates were prepared, where a triplicate signifies three separately indexed samples prepared from the same starting cDNA pool; thus variable region PCR was independently performed in each of the triplicates. All six samples (triplicates of 1M and 9M) were sequenced using the Illumina MiSeq platform with 250bp paired-end reads.
Project description:We have used RNA-seq to examine mRNAs from chicken spleen and bursa of Fabricius of three different condition (non-immunized and non-heat-stressed (24 ± 1℃ for 3 h), immunized (Newcastle disease vaccine) and non-heat-stressed, and immunized and heat-stressed (36 ± 1℃ for 3 h)). To clarify how chicken immune systems responded to heat stress with and without immunization.
Project description:We sequenced more than 52,500 single cells from E11.5 to P5 gonads to analyze primordial follicles and wave 1 medullar follicles during mouse fetal and perinatal oogenesis. Germ cells clustered into six meiotic substages as well as dying/nurse cells. We also define genes expressed by epithelial progenitors, and clarify the similar but distinct genetic programs of bipotential-derived and epithelial-derived pre-granulosa cell progenitors. Their differentially expressed genes are candidates to control the distinctive developmental programs of wave 1 and wave 2 follicles. These observations provide a strong basis for further studies of the development, physiology, and evolutionary conservation of mammalian ovarian follicle formation.
Project description:Collagen type II-induced arthritis (CIA) is a disease, which includes inflammatory and autoimmune reactions. Spleen protein extracts were subjected to 2D-DiGE and MS-MALDI-TOF/TOF analysis to identify proteins that were different in concentration ally expressed in CD38-KO and B6 WT mice with arthritis or with inflammation. Using multivariate analyses, in Col-II-immunized mice 20 differentially expressed spleen protein species were able to discriminate between WT and CD38-KO mice. Among them, multiple serotransferrin (Tf) species were identified. In contrast, in CFA/IFA-treated mice, the distinct protein profile, which discriminates between CD38-KO and WT mice, was unrelated with Tf. Unexpectedly, non-immunized CD38-KO mice showed a distinct proteome profile as compared with that in non-immunized WT mice, and again multiple protein species were identified as Tf. By using a LC-TOF-MS method to separate and detect Tf glycopeptide glycoforms in serum samples, differences in the Tf glycosylation pattern between CD38-KO and WT mice sera were found in both non-immunized and CIA+ mice. Data on Tf spots separated by 2-DE indicate differences in glycosylation related with NeuGc content. In summary, Tf changed significantly in its glycosylation pattern in mice with arthritis