Development of the immune tissues and T cell immunology in the red-tailed phascogale (Phascogale calura)

Abstract

The research presented within this thesis represents an examination of the redtailed phascogale immune system, with a focus on the development of the immune tissues and T cells in developing pouch young. A number of complementary methods and techniques were used to examine development in this species; both histology and immunohistochemistry were used to examine the development of the immune tissues and investigate the localisation of mature immune cells, whereas molecular techniques were used to identify the expressed coding sequences of T cell receptors TCRa, TCRB, TCR?, TCRd, and TCRµ, and the co-receptors CD3e, CD4, and CD8a and examine the expression of these molecules during pouch young development. Similar molecular techniques were also used to examine the expression of IL-6, a cytokine associated with T cells, and its specific receptor chain, IL-6R in a selection of lymphoid and nonlymphoid tissues from adult red-tailed phascogales.

Date of Award	2016
Original language	English