Canine and Feline WC1 and γδ T cell Response to Leptospira

Presenter

Tyler Jakob Yoder

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Janice C. Telfer, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 4, 2:30 PM - 3:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board C17, Poster Showcase Room (163), Row 2 (C11-C20) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

γδ T cells have unique capabilities and are underutilized targets in vaccine design. γδ T cells in many animal species have multi-genic arrays encoding multiple WC1 molecules. We have previously shown that WC1 functions as an activating co-receptor for the γδ TCR, and as a pattern recognition receptor (PRR), and that the pathogen-binding specificity of WC1 molecule expressed on the surface of the γδ T cell governs whether the γδ T cell responds to important pathogens, such as the spirochete Leptospira. We hypothesize that each WC1 protein’s ability to bind to pathogen has co-evolved over millions of years with the pathogens threatening that species. Infection with Leptospira, or Leptospirosis, is a major problem in mammals such as cattle, cats, and dogs. We hypothesized that WC1 in cats and dogs functions similarly to WC1 in cattle, in binding to, and governing the γδ T cell response to Leptospira.  To test this hypothesis, we annotated the WC1 gene in both feline and canine genomes. Interestingly, there appears to be only one WC1 gene in the canine and feline genome, as opposed to the thirteen WC1 genes in the bovine genome. We have engineered recombinant SRCR domain proteins for two canine (a1 and b2) and one feline (a1) SRCR domain, whose bovine homologs bind Leptospira. We will perform a bacterial pulldown assay to determine binding to Leptospira and whether canine and feline WC1 have the potential to govern the γδ T cell response to Leptospira.

Keywords

WC1, Immunology, γδ T cell, Leptospira, Adaptive immune response

Research Area

Genetics

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