Transfection, expression, and DNA sequence of a gene encoding a BoLA-A11 antigen.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to R L Spooner.
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A longitudinal epidemiological investigation of tropical theileriosis was carried out in an endemic region of Morocco during the 1991 disease season. This involved approximately 220 cross-bred cattle on 15 farms. Data were collected on the frequency of existing infections, the size of the vector tick population and the incidences of new infections and clinical disease, and these were then analysed using statistical models. The prevalence of subclinically infected carriers of Theileria annulata, the number of adult Hyalomma detritum, the vector, and the probability of becoming newly infected with T. annulata increased significantly with the age of cattle, although the age effect on new infections may be a result of increased tick numbers on older animals. The probability of clinical disease in newly infected cattle was not significantly influenced by age or by the number of adult ticks, but was significantly positively associated with the cattle population on the farm. The number of H. detritum nymphs counted on cattle in the autumn was related significantly to the previous adult tick count on the same animal.
We have used a panel of anti-major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and have assessed their specificity for the products of the individual bovine MHC (BoLA) class II subregions. The mAbs identified two distinct class II molecules by affinity purification and ELISA. Two-dimensional immunoblotting confirmed these data and NH2-terminal sequencing of the purified class II alpha chains of one member of each group identified the subregion specificity of the mAbs. The mAbs VPM36, TH22A and TH81A are specific for BoLA DQ, whereas VPM54, TH14B and J11 are specific for BoLA DR. SW73.2 reacts with both MHC subgroups of all cattle tested.
Polymorphism of expressed bovine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II DQB genes was investigated in a group of nine MHC-homozygous Kenya Boran cattle (Bos indicus). DQB second exon fragments were amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of total mononuclear cell RNA, cloned and sequenced. While a single DQB sequence was obtained from some animals, two DQB exon 2 sequences were found in others, implying expression of duplicated DQB genes. Two pairs of duplicated DQB genes were found in this group of homozygotes, and sequence analysis showed that both pairs contained distinct DQB alleles. One DQB duplication was observed in two related animals with the same MHC haplotype (F100 and F188), while the second was detected in three animals (F187, G166 and G277) that expressed the same class II DRB3 and DQB alleles but had different class I (BoLA-A) types, suggesting that this DR/DQ haplotype may be widespread in Boran cattle.
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An immunoblotting technique is reported that reveals electrophoretic variants in the beta-chains of class II antigens of the bovine major histocompatibility complex. One monoclonal antibody, mAb VPM57, reacted on immunoblots with an epitope present in approximately half of the haplotypes investigated. This reagent is especially useful in discriminating electrophoretic variants that have similar isoelectric points.
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers designed to amplify the octapeptide repeat region of the bovine prion gene were used to test the association of genotypes with bovine spongiform encephalitis (BSE) in 56 BSE-affected and 177 unaffected animals. Three alleles (A,B,C) were detected as single-strand conformation polymorphisms (SSCPs) and two alleles (1,2--representing six or five copies of the octapeptide repeat respectively) were detected as amplified double-strand fragment length polymorphisms (AMFLPs). Observed genotypes of SSCPs and AMFLPs were analysed by chi-square. The SSCP genotypes of nuclear family members of animals with BSE and BSE-affected animals were different (P < 0.001, P < 0.01) from unrelated animals of the same breed without BSE. No genotypic differences were found between the BSE-affected animals and their relatives (P > 0.469). No AMFLP genotypic differences were detected between BSE-affected animals, their relatives, unrelated animals of the same breed or animals of different breeds (P > 0.05). These data suggest that BSE-affected animals and their relatives are more likely to have the AA SSCP genotype than unrelated animals of the same breed or animals of different breeds.
Bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) infected in vitro with Theileria annulata sporozoites have previously been characterized as MHC class II+ mature macrophages. The ability of T. annulata sporozoites to infect different subpopulations of MHC class II+ bovine monocytes was investigated. Cells were labelled with monocyte specific monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) and isolated using magnetic cell sorting (MACS). Sporozoites infected both immature and mature monocytes, but more readily infected the mature population. A potential ligand for sporozoite entry is the elastin receptor which is expressed mainly on the immature population of monocytes and not on B cells or T cells. T. annulata sporozoites infected elastin receptor positive and negative cell populations equally well. Infected immature cells lost the expression of elastin receptors and the immature marker, subsequently expressing the mature marker. All monocytes lost the expression of CD14 (the LPS receptor) upon infection with sporozoites. The infection of specific populations and subsequent alterations in phenotype may alter the function of these cells and play an important role in disease pathogenesis.
Altogether 424 Norwegian AI bulls, progeny tested for clinical mastitis, ketosis and fertility (recorded as nonreturn percentage), were typed by Edinburgh and Oslo allo-antisera to bovine lymphocyte antigens (BoLA-A) over a 7-year period. Significant effects of BoLA-A on disease were revealed. A2 was associated with relative resistance to mastitis, a positive influence on fertility, and a possible relative resistance to ketosis, while A13 was associated with relative resistance to ketosis. The previously reported associations of A11 and w16 with relative susceptibility to mastitis were not confirmed in the present material.
An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using sporozoite, schizont and piroplasm antigens was developed to study the immune response of animals that had been immunised with either Theileria annulata sporozoites or schizont-infected cells and then challenged with sporozoites. The aim was to identify the most suitable antigen for a routine screening test and to compare the sensitivity of the latter with that of the indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT). As determined by ELISA, cattle produced antibodies to all three antigens, regardless of the method of immunisation. The schizont antigen was the least sensitive, whereas the sporozoite antigen displayed high pre-inoculation values. In contrast, the piroplasm antigen exhibited low non-specific pre-infection levels and high post-immunisation and post-challenge values according to both ELISA and IFAT. Therefore, the latter was though to be the most appropriate antigen for use in ELISA.
Complement fixing antibodies were measured in sera from animals immunised with either Theileria annulata sporozoites or autologous or allogeneic schizont-infected mononuclear cells using a complement-mediated micro-cytotoxicity test. The test demonstrated the presence of anti-lymphocyte antibodies in allogeneic cell-immunised animals, which were not detectable in autologous cell- or sporozoite-immunised animals; also that these antibodies were directed to T. annulata-infected and (MHC) class I antigens. Their potential importance in repeated immunisations is discussed.
Western blot analysis of Theileria annulata antigens was carried out using sera collected from cattle which had been immunised and challenged with either T. annulata sporozoites or schizont-infected cells. Three antigens between 71 and 73 kDa proved to be common to the three stages of parasite studied: sporozoites, schizonts and piroplasms. An antigen was found at 32 kDa which was specific to T. annulata piroplasms. Results were reproducible using sera from Morocco and the UK. At least one of the proteins at 71-73 kDa, but not that at 32 kDa were also recognised by sera from animals infected with Babesia species.
Serum defined BoLA-A antigens, together with BoLA-DQB RFLP patterns, were determined in 87 almost unrelated Norwegian cattle. Statistical analysis revealed strong linkage disequilibria between these loci at the population level. A total of 13 haplotypes were found to be present at frequencies significantly greater than those predicted on the basis of their component gene frequencies. Among these, the subgroups 1A and 1B of the DQ1 haplotype were found to be closely associated with the class I antigens A11 and w16, respectively. The association between A11 and DQ1A is of particular interest, as two independent studies, one employing class I serology, and the other RFLP analysis of the class II locus DQ, have previously indicated that A11 and DQ1A confer relative susceptibility to mastitis.
A total of 102 cows was tested for class I antigens of the bovine major histocompatibility complex. Half of the animals (51) had completed at least four lactations without any veterinary treatment for mastitis. The distribution of BoLA-A antigens among these relative mastitis-resistant cows was compared to that in the other half of the material (51), which comprised animals with at least one recorded treatment for mastitis. There were no statistically significant differences in BoLA-A antigen frequency between cows with mastitis and cows without mastitis. The two most common antigens were A2 and w16. The frequency of these two antigens deviated from earlier estimates within the Norwegian cattle (NRF) population, the difference for w16 being statistically significant.
This paper describes the production of alloantisera directed against bovine major histocompatibility complex (MHC) (BoLA) class II antigens in animals whose MHC phenotypes had been defined by one dimensional isoelectric focusing. Animals of closely matched BoLA class I types were selected by serology and subsequently typed for class I and class II by 1D-IEF of immunoprecipitated antigens. Those with similar class I type by both methods, but differing at the class II locus, were chosen for reciprocal immunization. Cross-immunization was by two skin implantations 6 weeks apart. The resulting antisera showed low titre after the first immunization and elevated titre 3 weeks after the second immunization. The sera reacted strongly with cells expressing specific BoLA class II antigens. The pattern of reactivity correlated well with IEF class II typing on a panel of animals representing all of the class II IEF types present in the Friesian population.
A putative synthetic vaccine for foot-and-mouth disease (FMDV15) has proved less successful in a host species, cattle, than predicted by results in a small-animal model. Possible reasons for this include non-recognition by T cells influenced by major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-linked immune response gene control. It is now possible to type for human leucocyte antigen (HLA) DR-like bovine MHC (BoLA) class II polymorphisms with a one-dimensional isoelectric focusing (IEF) technique. Using this method 14 unrelated cattle were selected with eight different BoLA class II IEF types. After immunization with FMDV15, 13 cattle generated a T-cell response to FMDV15. However, the fine specificity and magnitude of the response was related to BoLA class II type. The non-response by one animal and low response by two other animals were associated with two of the BoLA class II types. Response to the region 149-158 was immunodominant and animals which did not respond to this region had low responses to the whole peptide. Using FMDV-specific T-cell lines five BoLA class II types associated with responder animals were able to present FMDV15 in an MHC class II-restricted fashion, indicating that this peptide is capable of binding to different MHC class II molecules and may account for the broad response observed. The restriction patterns of the lines indicated that the IEF method does not distinguish all functional polymorphisms. At least two of the IEF-defined types could each be split into two distinct specificities and revealed that the three sets of animals with identical IEF types in fact expressed distinct restriction elements.
A recently established, one-dimensional isoelectric focusing (IEF) method for distinguishing major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II polymorphisms in an outbred species, cattle, has allowed us to analyse the involvement of the MHC in the recognition of antigen by bovine T cells. Bovine T-cell lines of Th cell phenotype (BoCD4+) specific for ovalbumin were generated from six individual high responder animals. These animals were bovine MHC (BoLA) class II typed using the IEF technique which detects bovine DR-like products. Four of the animals were shown to be heterozygous and two were homozygous for the IEF specificities. Six out of the 13 IEF specificities (EDF types) detected so far were represented by this group of animals. The cell lines were tested against a panel of IEF-typed antigen-presenting cells (APC) from unrelated donors. The lines only responded to antigen in proliferation assays when the APC shared at least one MHC class II EDF specificity with the BoCD4+ cell line. The responses did not correlate with BoLA class I specificities. However, lines from one of the animals were consistently generated to one of the two haplotypes only. This suggests that there are non-responder alleles to a multi-epitope antigen, present in the cattle population. The results demonstrate that IEF of bovine MHC class II products defines haplotypes of functional relevance, and may indeed be identifying the actual restriction elements involved in presentation of ovalbumin. These results have important implications for future vaccine design in an outbred species, particularly in terms of immune response gene effects and disease associations.
15 antigen-specific T cell lines have been generated from eight individual cattle immunised with ovalbumin. Several sources of interleukin-2 (IL-2) were used, including a supernatant from a gibbon cell line (MLA-Sup), human recombinant IL-2 (hrIL-2) and bovine recombinant IL-2 (brIL-2). These IL-2 sources were used alternately with autologous peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) together with ovalbumin to generate the lines. They grew least well in MLA-Sup and best in brIL-2. FACS analysis indicated that the lines generated with the recombinant IL-2s were extremely homogeneous in that the majority of cells were BoCD4+ (bovine CD4 equivalent) and therefore of TH phenotype. The lines were antigen specific and responded to antigen only in the presence of autologous PBM and not allogeneic (MHC class I nonidentical) PBM. However, allogeneic PBM did support their proliferation to ConA. No MLR response was observed by the cell lines to allogeneic PBM. The response to antigen was inhibited by anti bovine class II mAbs but not an anti bovine class I mAb. The subpopulation of PBM which acted as antigen presenting cells for these bovine TH cell lines had typical macrophage characteristics.