title: Characterisation of antisera to recombinant IgA of the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula).
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Renée R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Rawson
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Belov
authors.forename: A Angus
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gidley-Baird
authors.forename: Desmond W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Cooper
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D007106:Immune Sera; D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007143:Immunoglobulin Heavy Chains; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins