B cell profiling in Atlantic salmon

Antibodies are versatile effector molecules that mediate protection against viruses by different means:
¹⁾ neutralization antibodies block virus binding to cellular receptors and prevent virus entry into cells,
²⁾ antibodies recruit cytotoxic molecules and cells to eliminate viruses. B cells also serve as antigen presenting cells and produce different cytokines, and thereby regulate other aspects of immunity. However, in Atlantic salmon B cell functions are incompletely defined, and in on-going activities we aim at addressing some pending research question.

In salmonids, only three antibody isotypes, IgD, IgM, and IgT, have been described. IgM is the main isotype found in serum, and has a dominant role in systemic responses, while IgT plays important roles in mucosal immunity. However, a detailed understanding of how IgM- and IgT-secreting plasma cells are produced and distributed in salmon is lacking, and these questions are presently being studied in the group. In addition to Ig-receptors, B cells express different pattern recognition receptors, including Toll like receptors (TLRs), and an interesting question is if and how TLR agonists modulate salmon B cell responses.

By different experimental approaches, using both in vitro and in vivo activated B cells, we aim at extending the present knowledge about B cell responses in Atlantic salmon. The role of both antigen and TLR stimulation for efficient B cell activation is being investigated.

PIs: Dr. Jorunn Jørgensen (professor), Dr. Ingvill Jensen (ass. professor)
Staff: Dr. Michelle Penaranda (researcher) and Shiferaw Jenberie (PhD student) 
Master students: Morten Bay Styrvold and Mikael Wold