Skip to main content
ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #62989

Title: CHICKEN MHC ALLOANTISERUM CROSS-REACTIVITIES AS DETECTED BY HEMAGGLUTINATION AND FLOW CYTOMETRIC ANALYSES

Author
item Fulton, Janet
item Young, Evelyn
item Bacon, Larry

Submitted to: Immunogenetics
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/15/1995
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Chickens have genes that make them resistant to various diseases. Antibodies can be used to find out if chickens have the genes for resistance. This paper describes different antibodies that are useful for identifying which chickens have the genes for disease resistance and chicken breeders can use this information to help select more resistant birds.

Technical Abstract: This study utilized flow cytometric analysis to resolve identities of MHC-defined epitopes in the chicken. The analysis relied on antisera produced by MHC-congenic chickens that were reacted with peripheral blood cells obtained from chickens of seven MHC haplotypes. Individual antisera differed in reactivity to different cell populations of the peripheral blood as well as in specificity for different haplotypes. RBC specific cross-reactive antigens attributed to B-G molecules were demonstrated for the B5:B19, B12:B19 and B19:B21 cross-reactions. Cross-reactive antigens detected on RBC and thrombocytes attributable to thrombocyte B-G molecules were demonstrated for the B2:B12, B2:B12, B2:B19 and B2:B21 cross-reactions. In addition, cross-reactive antigens occurring on RBC and PBM were atttributable to B-F (or RBC and lymphocyte expressed B-G loci) and included the B12:B13, B13:B19 and B15:B19 cross-reactions. Several antisera with specificity to B-cells purportedly identifying B-L epitopes were found but their numbers were limited and cross-reactivities were not defined. Many of these identities have not been described previously, but their existence is confirmed by a historical inability to produce antisera between individuals having these comparable haplotypes. The identities described here will be useful in understanding B-haplotype similarities and differences in disease resistance and immune response.