Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
3
pubmed:dateCreated
1998-4-23
pubmed:databankReference
pubmed:abstractText
IgA has not previously been identified in waterfowl. Studies instead revealed physical and antigenic similarities between duck bile immunoglobulin (Ig) and serum IgM. Here, a differential screening approach was used to clone, from a duck spleen library, the cDNA encoding the heavy (H) chains of IgM and the Ig, identified here as IgA, occurring in duck secretions. Phylogenetic comparisons of inferred amino acid sequences of entire H chain constant (C) regions and of individual domains revealed that the duck mu chain was closest to chicken mu (54% overall identity), and duck alpha was closest to chicken alpha (50% identity). Comparison of the mu and alpha C regions revealed areas of up to 65% amino acid similarity within the C4 domains, accounting for the previously noted antigenic overlap of duck IgM and IgA. Messages for alpha and mu were detected in duck lymphoid organs but the alpha message was most abundant in the respiratory, alimentary and reproductive tracts. The alpha message first appeared around 14 days of age and reached adult levels of expression only at 35-50 days. The results indicate that the duck has a mucosal immune system which utilizes IgA; however, the delayed expression and secretion of duck IgA explains the susceptibility of ducklings to mucosal pathogens. Since the waterfowl are among the most primitive extant birds, the recognition of IgA in the duck supports the conclusion that IgA occurs throughout the class Aves and also existed in the common ancestors of birds and mammals.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Mar
pubmed:issn
0014-2980
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
28
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1063-8
pubmed:dateRevised
2006-11-15
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1998
pubmed:articleTitle
Secretory immune system of the duck (Anas platyrhynchos). Identification and expression of the genes encoding IgA and IgM heavy chains.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Pathology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't