Characterisation of antisera to recombinant IgA of the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula).
One of the limiting factors in understanding immune responses in marsupials is the scarcity of marsupial specific immunological reagents. This paper describes the characterisation of an antiserum raised against a recombinant protein of the constant region of the heavy chain of IgA (C(alpha)) of the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). The availability of a marsupial specific anti-IgA provides a useful tool for the characterisation of mucosal immune responses in possums. Anti-C(alpha) specifically detects IgA in possum serum and secretions using ELISAs, immuno-dot blots and Western blots without any cross-reactivity to IgG. The possum anti-C(alpha) cross-reacts with IgA of koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) and eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), demonstrating the potential for use in other marsupials.
Rawson
Renée R
RR
Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia.
Belov
Katherine
K
Gidley-Baird
A Angus
AA
Cooper
Desmond W
DW
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000662:veterinary; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000662:veterinary; D007106:Immune Sera / Q000276:immunology; D005779:Immunodiffusion / Q000662:veterinary; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology*; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D009893:Opossums / Q000276:immunology*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000276:immunology
D007106:Immune Sera; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins