Immunoglobulins in Teleost

Jawed vertebrate species (Gnathostomata) are all characterized by an adaptive immune system based on B and T cells along with the huge diversity and specificity of their antigen receptors, the immunoglobulins (IG) or antibodies and the T-cell receptors (TCRs), respectively. The availability of genome assemblies of many species has recently provided valuable information on the complexity and diversity of teleost germline IG loci. The development of deep sequencing technologies has also favored a growing interest for immunoglobulin repertoires, to address basic questions about immune mechanisms in teleost or applied concerns such as the identification of molecular markers of protection after vaccination. This work provides an overview on the germline configuration of teleost IG loci, IG repertoire studies, and recent findings on IG functional roles in this group of vertebrates

Human immunology and immunotherapy: main achievements and challenges

The immune system is a fascinating world of cells, soluble factors, interacting cells, and tissues, all of which are interconnected. The highly complex nature of the immune system makes it difficult to view it as a whole, but researchers are now trying to put all the pieces of the puzzle together to obtain a more complete picture. The development of new specialized equipment and immunological techniques, genetic approaches, animal models, and a long list of monoclonal antibodies, among many other factors, are improving our knowledge of this sophisticated system. The different types of cell subsets, soluble factors, membrane molecules, and cell functionalities are some aspects that we are starting to understand, together with their roles in health, aging, and illness. This knowledge is filling many of the gaps, and in some cases, it has led to changes in our previous assumptions; e.g., adaptive immune cells were previously thought to be unique memory cells until trained innate immunity was observed, and several innate immune cells with features similar to those of cytokine-secreting T cells have been discovered. Moreover, we have improved our knowledge not only regarding immune-mediated illnesses and how the immune system works and interacts with other systems and components (such as the microbiome) but also in terms of ways to manipulate this system through immunotherapy. The development of different types of immunotherapies, including vaccines (prophylactic and therapeutic), and the use of pathogens, monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, cytokines, and cellular immunotherapies, are changing the way in which we approach many diseases, especially cancer.Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. BIO2017-84974-RXunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C 2016/041Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431G2019/06Unión Europea | Ref. INTERREG V-A España-Portugal (POCTEP) 2014-202

Evolution of T cell receptor beta loci in salmonids

T-cell mediated immunity relies on a vast array of antigen specific T cell receptors (TR). Characterizing the structure of TR loci is essential to study the diversity and composition of T cell responses in vertebrate species. The lack of good-quality genome assemblies, and the difficulty to perform a reliably mapping of multiple highly similar TR sequences, have hindered the study of these loci in non-model organisms. High-quality genome assemblies are now available for the two main genera of Salmonids, Salmo and Oncorhynchus. We present here a full description and annotation of the TRB loci located on chromosomes 19 and 25 of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). To get insight about variations of the structure and composition of TRB locus across salmonids, we compared rainbow trout TRB loci with other salmonid species and confirmed that the basic structure of salmonid TRB locus is a double set of two TRBV-D-J-C loci in opposite orientation on two different chromosomes. Our data shed light on the evolution of TRB loci in Salmonids after their whole genome duplication (WGD). We established a coherent nomenclature of salmonid TRB loci based on comprehensive annotation. Our work provides a fundamental basis for monitoring salmonid T cell responses by TRB repertoire sequencing

Comparación de la incidencia de malformaciones morfológicas y esqueléticas entre rodaballos (Scophthalmus maximus l.) diploides y triploides

Triploid fish are sterile and can be grown to the desired size without the problems related to reproduction. This is an interesting option for the marketing of large fish. Triploidy in some species is associated with morphological and skeletal deformations causing changes in the appearance of the fish and therefore also in their commercial value. This study compared the incidence of morphological and skeletal malformations in two groups of triploid turbot and diploid controls at 6 and 12 months of age. Morphological alterations were determined from measurements on external photographs of the upper side of the fish, and skeleton alterations were studied through X-ray photographs. The incidences of morphological and skeletal malformations were not significantly different (p>0.05) between ploidy in either of the two groups analyzed. These results suggest that triploidy per se does not induce malformations in turbot, although, it is possible that in some cases the induction treatment can cause these effects

View expanded cover Vaccine Design pp 673–689Cite as Proteomics for Development of Food Allergy Vaccines

17 pages, 1 table. 1 figureFood allergy is a hypersensitivity reaction to food products initiated by immunologic mechanisms, which represents one of the major concerns in food safety. New therapies for food allergies including oral and epicutaneous allergen-specific immunotherapy are required, and B cell epitope-based allergy vaccines are a good promise to improve this field. In this chapter, we describe a workflow for the design of food allergy vaccines using proteomic tools. The strategy is defined based on the characterization of B cell epitopes for a particular food allergen. For that, the workflow comprises five consecutive steps: (1) shotgun proteomics analysis of different protein isoforms for a particular food allergen, (2) downloading all protein sequences for the specific allergen included in UniProtKB database, (3) analysis by protein-based bioinformatics of B cell epitopes, (4) synthesizing of the selected B cell peptide epitopes, and (5) performing of immunoassays using sera from healthy and allergic patients. The results from this method provide a rationale repository of B cell epitopes for the design of new specific immunotherapies for a particular food allergen. The strategy was optimized for all the beta-parvalbumins (β-PRVBs), which are considered as the main fish allergens. Using this workflow, a total of 35 peptides were identified as B cell epitopes, among them the top 4 B cell peptide epitopes that may induce protective immune response were selected as potential peptide vaccine candidates for fish allergyThis work was supported by the GAIN-Xunta de Galicia Project (IN607D 2017/01) and the Spanish AEI/EU-FEDER PID2019-103845RB-C21 project. Dr. Mónica Carrera is supported by the Ramón y Cajal contract (Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain). Dr. Susana Magadan is supported by the Talent Retention program of Universidade de VigoN

Nanoparticles and trained immunity: glimpse into the future

Financiado para publicación en acceso aberto: Universidade de Vigo/CISUGEmerging evidences show that innate immune cells can display changes in their functional programs after infection or vaccination, which lead to immunomodulation (increased or reduced responsiveness) upon secondary activation to the same stimuli or even to a different one. Innate cells acquire features of immunological memory, nowadays using the new term of "trained immunity" or "innate immune memory", which is different from the specific memory immune response elicited by B and T lymphocytes. The review focused on the concept of trained immunity, mostly on myeloid cells. Special attention is dedicated to the pathogen recognition along the evolution (bacteria, plants, invertebrate and vertebrate animals), and to techniques used to study epigenetic reprogramming and metabolic rewiring. Nanomaterials can be recognized by immune cells offering a very promising way to learn about trained immunity. Nanomaterials could be modified in order to immunomodulate the responses ad hoc. Many therapeutic possibilities are opened, and they should be explored.Xunta de Galicia | Ref. GRC-ED431C 2020/02Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. BIO2017-84974-RAsociación Española Contra el Cáncer | Ref. PROYE16074BORRDepartamento de Salud del Gobierno Vasco | Ref. 202033302

Textos de didáctica de la lengua y la literatura

Resumen basado en el de la publicación. Resumen en inglés. Monográfico: Competencia comunicativa y educación democráticaSe presenta una antología poética y una propuesta didáctica, en la que se aborda la poesía entendiendo que la comunicación literaria puede ser un modo especial de comunicación con la realidad. Esta propuesta incide en la importancia de la educación poética para una educación ética y democrática del alumnado.CataluñaBiblioteca de Educación del Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte; Calle San Agustín, 5 – 3 Planta; 28014 Madrid; Tel. +34917748000; [email protected]

The immunoglobulin heavy chain locus in the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus)

Immunoglobulins loci in mammals are well known to be organized within a translocon, however their origin remains unresolved. Four of the five classes of immunoglobulins described in humans and rodents (immunoglobulins M, G, E and A-IgM, IgG, IgE and IgA) were found in marsupials and monotremes (immunoglobulin D-IgD was not found) thus showing that the genomic structure of antibodies in mammals has remained constant since its origin. We have recently described the genomic organization of the immunoglobulin heavy chain locus in reptiles (IGHM, IGHD and IGHY). These data and the characterization of the IGH locus in platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus), allow us to elucidate the changes that took place in this genomic region during evolution from reptile to mammal. Thus, by using available genome data, we were able to detect that platypus IGH locus contains reptilian and mammalian genes. Besides having an IGHD that is very similar to the one in reptiles and an IGHY, they also present the mammal specific antibody genes IGHG and IGHE, in addition to IGHA. We also detected a pseudogene that originated by recombination between the IGHD and the IGHM (similar to the IGHD2 found in Eublepharis macularius). The analysis of the IGH locus in platypus shows that IGHY was duplicated, firstly by evolving into IGHE and then into IGHG. The IGHA of the platypus has a complex origin, and probably arose by a process of recombination between the IGHM and the IGHY. We detected about 44 VH genes (25 were already described), most of which comprise a single group. When we compared these VH genes with those described in Anolis carolinensis, we find that there is an evolutionary relationship between the VH genes of platypus and the reptilian Group III genes. These results suggest that a fast VH turnover took place in platypus and this gave rise to a family with a high VH gene number and the disappearance of the earlier VH families.Peer reviewe