Control of the quantity and quality of antibody biosynthesis in the domestic fowl

Smillie, David Malcolm (1976) Control of the quantity and quality of antibody biosynthesis in the domestic fowl. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

It has been assumed that the factors which control antibody biosynthesis in the chicken, and their mode of operation, are subsequently reflected in the characteristics of the antibody response. These characteristics were taken to include the kinetics of antibody biosynthesis, as well as the quantity, the quality (i.e. the affinity, avidity and heterogeneity) and the class of the antibody molecules themselves. This assumption is particularly justifiable in the chicken, where the relative short half life values of immunoglobulins ensure that the characteristics of the antibody response reflect preceding events in the induction and control of biosynthesis fairly rapidly and with reasonable accuracy. One of the most important factors which exert control on the biosynthesis of antibodies is the immunogenicity of the antigen and the influence of immunogenicity on the processes of cell selection and induction of biosynthesis of antibodies in chickens was examined. For example, the effect of antigen structure upon the production of specific antibody in chickens was studied - this involved investigation of the proficiency of different carriers and the effect of epitope density upon the antibody response to the DNP hapten. Another consideration is the presentation of the antigen, and this entailed examination of the effect of carrier pre-immunisation upon the response to a hapten coupled to that carrier and also investigation into the action of adjuvants. Although birds of all ages produced detectable amounts of antibody when immunised with a protein antigen such as HSA, and the kinetics of the response and the avidity of the antibodies could be readily determined, the age of chickens did appear to have a considerable bearing upon their ability to produce anti-DNP antibodies. The kinetics of the anti-DNP response were very similar to the pattern observed for production of anti-HSA antibodies; however, the affinity of chicken anti-DNP antibodies, as measured by equilibrium dialysis, was found to be very low and not affected significantly by the dose of antigen. The effect of adjuvants upon biosynthesis of antibodies in chickens was also investigated. From the characteristic kinetics of antibody biosynthesis following immunisation with antigen in Freund's complete adjuvant, as well as from the pattern of antibody avidity, the distribution of antibody classes and the effect of adjuvant on homeostasis of the antibody response in chickens, certain conclusions concerning the mode of action of adjuvants were reached; their influence either on the selection process or on the regulation of biosynthesis was discussed. Efficient regulation of antibody production in chickens was readily inferred from the kinetics of biosynthesis. This homeostatic mechanism was studied by analogy with the effects of passive antibody upon the production of specific antibodies, and the possibility that regulation of biosynthesis was achieved by antibody-mediated feedback inhibition was discussed.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Adviser: R G White
• Keywords: Animal sciences
• Date of Award: 1976
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1976-72393
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 24 May 2019 15:12
• Last Modified: 24 May 2019 15:12
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/72393