Development of equine reagents
The Immunological Toolbox is a 4 year (2004-2008) BBSRC funded project involving 3 research institutes: the Animal Health Trust, the Institute of Animal Health (IAH) and the Moredun Research Institute (MRI). The aim of the project is to develop immunological reagents that can be used in the research of the immune response in horses, cows, sheep, pigs and chickens. The Animal Health Trust is involved in the development of reagents for studies into the horse.
As part of the Toolbox project, The Animal Health Trust is generating antibodies (immunoglobulins), which will recognise different equine proteins that are involved in the horse immune system. These antibodies can then potentially be used to bind and identify equine proteins in various research applications including immunofluoresence, western blots and ELISAs.
In the body, antibodies are used by the immune system to recognise and neutralise foreign particles such as viruses and bacteria. The diagram below illustrates the structure of an antibody. It consists of four polypeptide chains: two heavy chains and two light chains. Although the general structure of antibodies is very similar, the tips of the heavy and light chains are extremely variable. This is called the hypervariable region and is where the antibody binds to a specific protein (antigen). The high level of variability in this region results in a huge number of slightly different antibodies, each binding a different antigen.
The Structure of an Antibody
The AHT has so far generated antibodies to recognise the following equine proteins (antigens):
TNFα- Tumour Necrosis Factor α
IL15 – Interleukin 15
IL6- Interleukin 6
CD14
ORF64 (Intermediate early protein of EHV1 infection)
Further Information:
For further information about some of the antigens listed above:
http://www.copewithcytokines.de/cope.cgi?key=TNF%2dalpha
The official website:
http://www.immunologicaltoolbox.co.uk
Contact us:
toolbox@aht.org.uk
