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
Immunoglobulins and immunoglobulin genes of the horse
Wagner B
Dev Comp Immunol. 2006;30(1-2):155-64. Review.
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.
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.
Wagner B, Miller DC, Lear TL, Antczak DF
J Immunol. 2004 Sep 1;173(5):3230-42.
Lewis MJ, Wagner B, Woof JM
Mol Immunol. 2008 Feb;45(3):818-27. Epub 2007 Jul 31.
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.