Award details

Natural killer cell receptors in chickens

Reference	BBS/E/I/00000222
Principal Investigator / Supervisor	Professor Jim Kaufman
Co-Investigators / Co-Supervisors
Institution	The Pirbright Institute
Department	The Pirbright Institute Department
Funding type	Research
Value (£)	195,830
Status	Completed
Type	Institute Project
Start date	01/10/1998
End date	30/09/2001
Duration	36 months

Abstract

Natural Killer (NK) cells play several important roles in the immune response. Virtually nothing is known about NK cells in chickens, beyond the fact of their existence by rudimentary functional assays. However, we have found that the total cell surface expression level of class I molecules varies enormously between strains of chickens with different MHC haplotypes, which correlates exactly with the reported MHC-determined susceptibility to Marek's disease virus (MDV), an economically important pathogen for the poultry industry. In addition, another locus in the chicken genome that confers resistance to MDV has recently been shown to correspond in location to the NK receptor locus of mammals (Bumstead et al, in press). Thus, it seems likely that chicken NK cells influence disease susceptibility by recognition of MHC molecule expression. Very recently, we have identified a putative NK receptor gene that probably encodes a KIR. In this project, we would like to use the gene in three ways. First, we would examine the chicken genome for other members of this multigene family, and characterise the sequence and location of those genes that we identify, in particular looking for evidence of an NK receptor locus in chickens. Second, we would express some of these proteins and determine whether they bind other proteins and carbohydrates, in particular characterising the specificity of binding for purified class I molecules. Third, we would generate serological reagents, such as anti- peptide antibodies and monoclonal antibodies to expressed protein, and use these reagents to characterise the cells that bear the protein, examining the number and location of such cells, and whether the serological reagents will block in vitro assays for putative NK function.

Summary

unavailable

Committee	Closed Committee - Biochemistry & Cell Biology (BCB)
Research Topics	X – not assigned to a current Research Topic
Research Priority	X – Research Priority information not available
Research Initiative	X - not in an Initiative
Funding Scheme	X – not Funded via a specific Funding Scheme

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