Most cited article - PubMed ID 8763159
Characterization of the limited specificity of antigen recognition in earthworms
Discrimination of self and nonself is one of the features of all animal species but the ways of elimination of nonself are different. Defense strategies of invertebrates, which lack antibodies and lymphocytes, are based on innate defense mechanisms. The study of such, undoubtedly less complex, defense mechanisms in invertebrates may shed a new light on the more sophisticated immunity of vertebrates. The main aim of this review is to show on one experimental model--an oligochaete annelid--cellular and humoral defense pathways protecting against microbial infection.
- MeSH
- Toxins, Biological MeSH
- Cytotoxins genetics immunology MeSH
- Hemolysin Proteins immunology MeSH
- Lectins * MeSH
- Molecular Sequence Data MeSH
- Oligochaeta immunology microbiology physiology MeSH
- Antigen Presentation MeSH
- Proteins chemistry genetics immunology MeSH
- Amino Acid Sequence MeSH
- Sequence Alignment MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Review MeSH
- Comparative Study MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Toxins, Biological MeSH
- coelomic cytolytic factor 1, Eisenia fetida MeSH Browser
- Cytotoxins MeSH
- fetidin MeSH Browser
- Hemolysin Proteins MeSH
- Lectins * MeSH
- lysenin MeSH Browser
- Proteins MeSH
Parenteral administration of foreign proteins results in earthworms in significantly increased levels of the antigen-binding protein (ABP). The earthworms (Lumbricus terrestris and Eisenia foetida; Oligochaeta, Annelida) were stimulated with different proteins and the ABP response was followed with an anti-ABP monoclonal antibody and in ligand assay with biotin conjugates of all proteins used for stimulation. ABP levels are increased after the stimulation with different proteins irrespective of the size and extent of glycosylation. Molar mass of the ABP molecules was always the same, 56 kDa in L. terrestris and 60 kDa in E. foetida. The level of the specificity is considerably lower in comparison with immunoglobulins since ABP reacts not only with the protein used for stimulation but also, though to lesser extent, with related proteins.
- MeSH
- Antigens, Heterophile MeSH
- Antigens * MeSH
- Antibodies, Monoclonal MeSH
- Oligochaeta immunology MeSH
- Proteins immunology MeSH
- Protein Binding immunology MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
- Names of Substances
- Antigens, Heterophile MeSH
- Antigens * MeSH
- Antibodies, Monoclonal MeSH
- Proteins MeSH