Identification of monoclonal antibodies cross-reactive with bottlenose dolphin orthologues of the major histocompatibility complex and leukocyte differentiation molecules

Authors: ELNAGGAR, MAHMOUND - Washington State University; ABDELLRAZEQ, GABER - Washington State University; VENN-WATSON, STEPHANIE - National Marine Mammal Foundation; JENSEN, ERIC - Us Navy Marine Mammal Program Biosciences Division, Space And Naval Warfare Systems Center Pacific; MACK, VICTORIA - Washington State University; FRY, LINDSAY - Washington State University; Sacco, Randy; DAVIS, WILLIAM - Washington State University

Submitted to: Developmental and Comparative Immunology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/30/2017
Publication Date: 10/3/2017
Citation: Elnaggar, M.M., Abdellrazeq, G.S., Venn-Watson, S.K., Jensen, E.D., Mack, V., Fry, L.M., Sacco, R.E., Davis, W.C. 2017. Identification of monoclonal antibodies cross-reactive with bottlenose dolphin orthologues of the major histocompatibility complex and leukocyte differentiation molecules. Developmental and Comparative Immunology. 192:54-59. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2017.09.007.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2017.09.007

Interpretive Summary: There is a need for the development of tools for the study of the immune systems of veterinary species to further enhance our understanding of comparative animal immunology. In this regard, we have been collaborating on a project to examine whether tools available for the study of white blood cells in cattle or humans could be used in the study of white blood cells of bottlenose dolphins. We found some of the currently available cattle or human reagents will work for studies of bottlenose dolphin white blood cells. To be able to use these tools that are already available would be beneficial to examine changes in white blood cells of these animals as part of the current effort to monitor the health of these animals and for future studies of their immune response to vaccination.

Technical Abstract: The slow progress in understanding immunotoxic effects of environmental contaminants and their influence on disease susceptibility and immunopathogenesis of the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncates) and other species of cetaceans, is largely due to lack of monoclonal antibody (mAb) reagents. As reported here, we used flow cytometry to screen mAbs that recognize highly conserved epitopes expressed on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and leukocyte differentiation molecules (LDMs) in land mammals for cross-reactivity with orthologous molecules in the bottlenose dolphin. MAbs were identified that recognize dolphin MHC class I, MHC class II, CD11a, CD14, CD16, CD18, CD163 and CD172a. Comparison of the amino acid sequences of dolphin and bovine orthologues show considerable conservation of the sequences during speciation, suggesting an approach for developing a large set of cross-reactive mAbs for use in cetacean research. In addition, the identification of mAbs to CD14 and CD163 to highly conserved epitopes offer immediate opportunities for assessing the effect of environmental factors on the functioning of the immune response in marine mammals, targeting study of monocyte derived dendritic cells.