Mitogen-induced responses in lymphocytes from platypus, the Tasmanian devil and the eastern barred bandicoot.
OBJECTIVE
As the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisi) and the eastern barred bandicoot (Perameles gunni) are currently at risk of serious population decline or extinction from fatal diseases in Tasmania, the goal of the present study was to describe the normal immune response of these species to challenge using the lymphocyte proliferation assay, to give a solid basis for further studies.


METHODS
For this preliminary study, we performed lymphocyte proliferation assays on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from the three species. We used the common mitogens phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin A (ConA), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM).


RESULTS
All three species recorded the highest stimulation index (SI) with the T-cell mitogens PHA and ConA. Tasmanian devils and bandicoots had greater responses than platypuses, although variability between individual animals was high.


CONCLUSIONS
For the first time, we report the normal cellular response of the platypus, the Tasmanian devil and the eastern barred bandicoot to a range of commonly used mitogens.
Stewart
N J
NJ
University of Tasmania, School of Medicine, Hobart Tasmania, Australia. nstewart@utas.edu.au
Bettiol
S S
SS
Kreiss
A
A
Fox
N
N
Woods
G M
GM
D000818:Animals; D000835:Animals, Wild / Q000276:immunology; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003208:Concanavalin A / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000276:immunology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008394:Marsupialia / Q000276:immunology*; D008934:Mitogens / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D051189:Murinae / Q000276:immunology*; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D010987:Platypus / Q000276:immunology*; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology; D012016:Reference Values; D013045:Species Specificity; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology
D008934:Mitogens; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D011043:Pokeweed Mitogens; D003208:Concanavalin A