ABSTRACT
To detect genetic markers, electrophoretic analyses were carried out on Tetragonisca angustula, a stingless bee well adapted to its wide area of occurrence, which is becoming economically important because of the quality of its honey. Polymorphism of the enzyme hexokinase was detected and it was demonstrated that, although it presents two bands in meliponines, this enzyme is under the control of a single locus whose product probably undergoes postranslational modification. The more common allele occurs in the two Tetragonisca subspecies studied here, but the other seems to be characteristic of only one subspecies. Four variants involving the two glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase loci are also described. These two enzymes share the property of presenting two electrophoretic bands, one of which is characteristic of actively flying adult thoraces.
Subject(s)
Bees/enzymology , Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase/chemistry , Hexokinase/chemistry , Isoenzymes/chemistry , Animals , Behavior, Animal , Female , Isocitrate Dehydrogenase/chemistry , Malate Dehydrogenase/chemistry , Male , Phosphoglucomutase/chemistry , Polymorphism, Genetic , Protein Processing, Post-TranslationalABSTRACT
1. We show that mouse strains differ widely in susceptibility to tolerance induction and/or immunization (priming) following contact of protein antigens (ovalbumin, human or bovine gamma globulins) with different mucosal surfaces. 2. When compared to a control group pretreated with saline, mice pretreated by the oral (intragastric) route with antigen became significantly less responsive to subsequent parenteral immunization (i.e., tolerant). This was observed in most, but not all, antigen/strain combinations. 3. Similar, although less prominent changes were induced by pretreatments with antigen by the ocular (conjunctival) route. 4. No significant effects were observed following pretreatments by the nasal, vaginal or rectal routes. 5. Genes present in strains selected for multispecific "high" or "low" responsiveness are included among those involved in tolerance induction following mucosal contacts with protein antigens.
Subject(s)
Antigens/immunology , Genes, MHC Class II , Immune Tolerance , Immunization , Mice, Inbred Strains/immunology , Animals , BCG Vaccine/immunology , Chorionic Gonadotropin/immunology , Female , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred C3H , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Mice, Inbred CBA , Mucous Membrane/immunology , Ovalbumin/immunologyABSTRACT
Inbred mouse strains vary widely in their susceptibility to the induction of tolerance following oral (intragastric) administration of ovalbumin. Marked differences were found between strains that form a congenic pair differing at the H-2 complex: C3H/HeJ (H-2k) and C3H.SW (H-2b)-which were very susceptible and resistant to tolerance induction, respectively. In contrast, no significant differences were found between A/J (H-2a) and A.BY (H-2b) congenics, which were both susceptible, nor among C57BL/10J congenics, which were uniformly resistant to tolerance induction. We conclude that H-2-linked genes determine tolerance susceptibility in conjunction with background genes.
Subject(s)
H-2 Antigens/genetics , Intestinal Mucosa/immunology , Ovalbumin/immunology , Administration, Oral , Animals , Drug Tolerance , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Intestinal Mucosa/metabolism , Male , Mice , Mice, Inbred A , Mice, Inbred C3H , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Mice, Inbred DBA , Mice, Inbred NZB , Ovalbumin/administration & dosage , Ovalbumin/metabolism , Species SpecificityABSTRACT
Inbred mouse strains vary widely in their susceptibility to the induction of tolerance following oral (intragastric) adminsitation of ovalbumin. Marked differences were found berween strains that form a congenic pair differing at the H-2 complex: C3H/HeJ (H-2K) and C3H.SW(H2b) - which were very susceptible and resitant to tolerance induction, respectively. In comtrast, no significant differences were found betwwwn a/J(H-2a) and A.BY (H-2b) congenics, which were both susceptible, nor among C57BL/10J congenics, which were uniformly resitant to tolerance induction. We conclude that H-2-linked genes determine tolerance susceptibility in conjunction with background genes