Gene Number and Sequence Variation Among Food Animal Species of Wc1 (aka T19) That Functions As Both A Unique ?d T Cell Pattern

Major long-term goal: To define the molecular recognition structures and mechanisms involved in γδ T cell interactions with pathogens in food animal species, so that activation of these cells may be targeted in next generation vaccines. γδ T cells are unusual T cells, in that they respond much faster than conventional T cells and respond more broadly to pathogen molecules than antibody-producing B cells, which predicts that pathogens will be less likely to evade the γδ T cell response by mutation. Designing vaccines enriched in the pathogen molecules that specifically activate γδ T cells will recruit these cells to the immune response and potentially result in more effective, more broadly reactive vaccines. In addition, the characterization of variation in this host:pathogen interaction is of potentially high impact for selective breeding or genetic modification for disease resistance in food animals. We have focused on the WC1 gene
family in cattle, which is expressed on γδ T cell, and which we have shown contributes to the immune response to pathogens. This study extends this work to WC1 genes and pathogens with significant impact in pig, sheep and goats.Objective 1: Molecular characterization of the WC1 genes and proteins in pigs, sheep, and goats.Objective 2: Evaluate the ability of WC1 proteins to bind pathogens relevant to pigs, sheep and goats.Objective 3: Characterization of the potential role of WC1 extracellular and intracellular domain splice variants in pathogen binding and signaling for γδ T cell activation.