Development and testing of species-specific ELISA assays to measure IFN-γ and TNF-α in bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus).

Monitoring the immune status of cetaceans is important for a variety of health conditions. Assays to quantify cytokines, especially pro-inflammatory cytokines, could be employed, in addition to currently available diagnostic assays, to screen for alterations in the health status of an animal. Though a number of immunological assays are readily available for humans and mice, specific assays for many veterinary species, including cetaceans such as bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus), are more limited.

Development and characterization of mouse monoclonal antibodies reactive with chicken CXCLi2.

Interleukin-8(IL-8)/CXCL8 is a CXC-family chemokine that attracts lymphocytes to sites of tissue damage and plays a role in the inflammatory response and wound healing. Chicken chemotactic and angiogenic factor was referred to as chCXCLi2 and has been studied as one of human CXCL8 homologue for more than 20 years. However, no monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) that specifically detect chCXCLi2 have been developed.

Development and characterization of mouse monoclonal antibodies reactive with chicken TL1A.

Tumor necrosis factor-like ligand 1A (TL1A) is a type II transmembrane protein predominantly expressed by endothelial cells that promotes the expansion of activated T cells and regulatory T cells, modulates inflammation, and regulates the production of a wide variety of T cell cytokines. However, there have not been any mAbs which specifically detect chTL1A and define its biochemical and immunological properties. So in this study, two mouse monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) which specifically detect chicken TL1A (chTL1A) were developed and characterized.

Expressed gene sequence and bioactivity of the IFNgamma-response chemokine CXCL11 of swine and cattle.

This report describes the cloning and characterization of expressed gene sequences of the swine and bovine interferon-gamma inducible chemokine CXCL11, or I-TAC, associated with type 1 T-helper immune responses, and affirmation of bioactivity of their yeast-expressed protein products. The coding regions of both cDNA sequences were 303 nucleotides in length; each is coded for four exons in the genome. The bovine coding region shared 82% and 70% homology with human and mouse CXCL11, respectively, and the swine coding region 84% and 72% homology, respectively.