ARS | Publication request: SMRT sequencing provides insight into the diversity of the bovine immunoglobulin heavy chain repertoire

Submitted to: Meeting Abstract
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: April 2, 2012
Publication Date: N/A

Technical Abstract: The vertebrate immune system produces a diverse antibody repertoire capable of responding to a vast array of antigens. This diversity is generated through a multifaceted process of gene segment recombination and somatic hypermutation or gene conversion. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing technology permit the sequencing of antibody repertoires at previously unattainable depths of coverage and, therefore, allow researchers to better explore antibody diversity and selection within individuals. Moreover, next-generation sequencing methods provide unique approaches to a number of immuno-based research areas including antibody discovery and engineering, disease surveillance, and host immune response to vaccines. It is within this framework that we approached the bovine antibody repertoire. Here, we present single-molecule real-time (SMRT) sequencing data of the expressed bovine immunoglobulin G (IgG) heavy-chain repertoire. We generated high quality circular consensus reads of the entire VDJ region of IgG cDNA libraries. Our results indicate that the number of functional germline V segments hypothesized within Bos taurus is likely underestimated. Moreover, we provide data which reinforce previous hypotheses regarding the preferential usage of a single germline J segment. Our experimental design provides the foundation for future studies important to livestock research including host immune response to infections and vaccines.