IgG Isotypes in Disease and Vaccination

Schematic model of an antibody

The evolution of equine immunoglobulin genes and their corresponding antibodies has been one of our major projects in the past, resulting in the discovery of former unknown antibody isotypes of the horse. Our current studies of functional roles that the seven equine IgG antibodies play during immune responses of the horse focus on infectious diseases, such as West Nile virus and Equine Herpes Virus Type I (EHV-1) infection.

We have found that specific isotypes are indicative for protection to these viral diseases. Although the correlation between Ig isotypes and T-cell mediated immunity has long been recognized in mice, it has almost been ignored in other animals. The goal is to use IgG isotypes as easily accessible parameters for T-cell mediated immunity during vaccination and the development of new vaccines in horses.

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References

  1. Immunoglobulins and immunoglobulin genes of the horse

    Wagner B

    Dev Comp Immunol. 2006;30(1-2):155-64. Review.

  2. IgE and IgG antibodies in skin allergy of the horse

    Wagner B, Miller WH, Morgan EE, Hillegas JM, Erb HN, Leibold W, Antczak DF

    Vet Res. 2006 Nov-Dec;37(6):813-25. Epub 2006 Sep 15.

  3. Comparison of the efficacy of inactivated combination and modified-live virus vaccines against challenge infection with neuropathogenic equine herpesvirus type 1 (EHV-1)

    Goodman LB, Wagner B, Flaminio MJ, Sussman KH, Metzger SM, Holland R, Osterrieder N

    Vaccine. 2006 Apr 24;24(17):3636-45. Epub 2006 Feb 13.

  4. The complete map of the Ig heavy chain constant gene region reveals evidence for seven IgG isotypes and for IgD in the horse

    Wagner B, Miller DC, Lear TL, Antczak DF

    J Immunol. 2004 Sep 1;173(5):3230-42.

  5. The different effector function capabilities of the seven equine IgG subclasses have implications for vaccine strategies

    Lewis MJ, Wagner B, Woof JM

    Mol Immunol. 2008 Feb;45(3):818-27. Epub 2007 Jul 31.

  6. Characterization of the horse (Equus caballus) IGHA gene

    Wagner B, Greiser-Wilke I, Antczak DF

    Immunogenetics. 2003 Nov;55(8):552-60. Epub 2003 Oct 15.