Immunoglobulin genes and antibody responses in the spotted wolffish (Anarhichas minor Olafsen)

The spotted wolffish Anarhichas minor Olafsen is a promising new species in aquaculture in the cold waters of northern Norway. In this paper, some bas ic immunological studies of this marine species are reported. Of comparativ e interest are the cDNA sequences of the immunoglobulin transcript and the antibody responses to model antigens. Of more practical importance ar e the humoral immune responses and antibody specificities to potentially pathoge nic bacteria. Full length cDNA clones encoding the immunoglobulin heavy and light chains in the spotted wolffish were sequenced demonstrating variable degrees of si milarity to other teleost fish species. Also in the spotted wolffish the C( H)4 domain was deleted in the transmembrane form of the immunoglobulin heav y chain (IgH) as a receptor on B cells, with the transmembrane exon spliced directly to the C(H)3 domain. The antibody responses to various antigens l ike hapten-carrier molecules, protein antigens and bacterial pathogens were relatively high, but with some interesting exceptions. Anti-hapten respons es to NIP and FITC were high while anti-DNS responses were low, but more su rprisingly, there was hardly any B-cell response to the carrier molecule LP H. On the other hand, protein antigens like CGG and BSA were highly immunog enic in the spotted wolffish as were the bacterial antigens Vibrio anguilla rum, V. salmonicida and Aeromonas salmonicida. (C) 2001 Academic Press.