Recurrent expansions of B30.2-associated immune receptor families in fish
AbstractB30.2 domains, also known as PRY/SPRY, are key components of specific subsets of two large families of proteins involved in innate immunity: the tripartite motif proteins (TRIMs) and the Nod-like receptors (NLRs). TRIM proteins are important, often inducible factors of antiviral innate immunity, targeting multiple steps of viral cycles through a variety of mechanisms. NLRs prime and regulate systemic innate defenses, especially against bacteria, and control inflammation. Large TRIM and NLR subsets characterized by the presence of a B30.2 domain have been reported from a few fish species including zebrafish and seem...
Source: Immunogenetics - December 1, 2021 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research
The Hydractinia allorecognition system
AbstractHydractinia symbiolongicarpus is a colonial hydroid and a long-standing model system for the study of invertebrate allorecognition. TheHydractinia allorecognition system allows colonies to discriminate between their own tissues and those of unrelated conspecifics that co-occur with them on the same substrate. This recognition mediates spatial competition and mitigates the risk of stem cell parasitism. Here, I review how we have come to our current understanding of the molecular basis of allorecognition inHydractinia. To date, two allodeterminants have been identified, calledAllorecognition 1 (Alr1) andAllorecogniti...
Source: Immunogenetics - November 13, 2021 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research
C. elegans: out on an evolutionary limb
AbstractThe natural environment of the free-living nematodeCaenorhabditis elegans is rich in pathogenic microbes. There is now ample evidence to indicate that these pathogens exert a strong selection pressure onC. elegans, and have shaped its genome, physiology, and behaviour. In this short review, we concentrate on howC. elegans stands out from other animals in terms of its immune repertoire and innate immune signalling pathways. We discuss howC. elegans often detects pathogens because of their effects on essential cellular processes, or organelle integrity, in addition to direct microbial recognition. We illustrate...
Source: Immunogenetics - November 10, 2021 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research
NOD2 and reproduction-associated NOD-like receptors have been lost during the evolution of pangolins
AbstractNOD-like receptors (NLRs) are sensors of pathogen-associated molecular patterns with critical roles in the control of immune responses and programmed cell death. Recent studies have revealed inter-species differences in mammalian innate immune genes and a particular degeneration of nucleic acid sensing pathways in pangolins, which are currently investigated as potential hosts for zoonotic pathogens. Here, we used comparative genomics to determine which NLR genes are conserved or lost in pangolins and related mammals. We show thatNOD2, which is implicated in sensing bacterial muramyl dipeptide and viral RNA, is a ps...
Source: Immunogenetics - November 1, 2021 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research
Innate immune genes of the chicken MHC and related regions
AbstractCompared to the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) of typical mammals, the chicken BF/BL region is small and simple, with most of the genes playing central roles in the adaptive immune response. However, some genes of the chicken MHC are almost certainly involved in innate immunity, such as the complement component C4 and the lectin-like receptor/ligand gene pair BNK and Blec. The poorly expressed classical class I molecule BF1 is known to be recognised by natural killer (NK) cells and, analogous to mammalian immune responses, the classical class I molecules BF1 and BF2, the CD1 homologs and the butyrophilin ho...
Source: Immunogenetics - October 26, 2021 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research
Black fungus immunosuppressive epidemic with Covid-19 associated mucormycosis (zygomycosis): a clinical and diagnostic perspective from India
AbstractThe catastrophic phase of Covid-19 turns the table over with the spread of its disastrous transmission network throughout the world. Covid-19 associated with mucormycosis fungal infection accompanied by opportunistic comorbidities have emerged the myriad of complications and manifestations. We searched the electronic databases of Google Scholar, PubMed, Springer, and Elsevier until June 05, 2021, using keywords. We retrieved the details of confirmed and suspected mucormycosis patients associated with Covid-19. We analyzed the case reports, treatment given for Covid-19, steroids used, associated comorbidities, mucor...
Source: Immunogenetics - October 1, 2021 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research
A reverse vaccinology and immunoinformatics approach for designing a multiepitope vaccine against SARS-CoV-2
AbstractSince 2019, the world was involved with SARS-CoV-2 and consequently, with the announcement by the World Health Organization that COVID-19 was a pandemic, scientific were an effort to obtain the best approach to combat this global dilemma. The best way to prevent the pandemic from spreading further is to use a vaccine against COVID-19. Here, we report the design of a recombinant multi-epitope vaccine against the four proteins spike or crown (S), membrane (M), nucleocapsid (N), and envelope (E) of SARS-CoV-2 using immunoinformatics tools. We evaluated the most antigenic epitopes that bind to HLA class 1 subtypes, alo...
Source: Immunogenetics - September 20, 2021 Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research
