Project Details
Projekt
Antigen presentation and memory/plasma cell formation in the chicken’s B cell response
Applicant
Privatdozentin Dr. Sonja Härtle
Subject Area
Veterinary Medical Science
Term
since 2021
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 434524639
The chicken B cell system differs in some fundamental aspects from that of human and mouse. B cell development occurs in the Bursa of Fabricius of birds, whereas this takes place in the bone marrow of mammals. While the molecular mechanisms of B cell receptor diversification in the bursa are quite well understood, far less is known about the B cell response to antigens. To a large extent this is a consequence of the lack of markers for chicken memory and plasma cells. Over the last years we generated a number of new tools, including several B cell specific antibodies and recombinant cytokines, which we will now use for a detailed functional analysis of antibody responses. A combination of new surface markers, next generation sequencing (NGS) and adoptive transfer of B cell subpopulations will be applied to identify and characterize memory and plasma cells. Beside their indispensable role in antibody production, B cells express high levels of MHC class I and class II molecules and act as antigen presenting cells. The chicken’s MHC shows striking differences compared to the typical ones of mammals and confers susceptibility or resistance to several chicken pathogens that also infect B cells. To investigate the antigen presenting function of B cells, we will use our recently established culture system for primary B cells to identify MHC class I and class II peptides presented on cells infected with Marek’s Disease Virus (MDV) or Infectious Bursal Disease Virus (IBDV) in close collaboration with other research unit members. Collectively, the goal of this project is to provide a better understanding of the chickens’ antibody response on a cellular and molecular level with MDV and IBDV as model pathogens.The individual research projects within FOR5130 benefit from the collaborations among each other and provide a better insight into the immune system of chickens in relation to important pathogens.
DFG Programme
Research Units
