Thermal performance and acclimatization of a component of snake (<i>Agkistrodon piscivorus</i>) innate immunity

Graham, Sean P.; Fielman, Kevin T.; Mendonça, Mary T.

doi:10.1002/jez.2083

Cited by 15 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 65 publications

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“…These data show that the area of maximal serum complement efficiency fall within the preferred temperature range of C. viridis (28-32°C) (Gannon & Secoy, 1985). Similar results have been noted in cottonmouths (A. piscivorus; Graham et al, 2017) and corn snakes (Pantherophis guttatus; Stahlschmidt, French, Ahn, Webb, & Butler, 2017). It is interesting to note the wide thermal range at which maximum activity was observed.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

“…More recently, Sparkman and Palacios (2009) showed that garter snakes (Thamnophis elegans) exhibit strong innate immunity in the form of antibacterial activity of plasma, high serum complement titer, and natural antibody production. Additionally, cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) show a strong positive correlation between temperature and complement performance (Graham, Fielamn, & Mendonça, 2017). Here, we provide a detailed characterization of serum complement activation in the plasma of the prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Characterization of serum complement immune activity in the prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis)

Baker

Merchant

2018

JoBAZ

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Background: Reptile populations face a growing number of threats including global climate change and emerging pathogens. Unfortunately, research investigating the reptile immune system lags behind other taxa groups, hindering our ability to predict or mitigate species' response to threats. Baseline studies are critical for our understanding of reptile immune response and overall health of wild populations. Results: Treatment of unsensitized sheep red blood cells (SRBCs) with plasma collected from captive prairie rattlesnakes (Crotalus viridis) resulted in volume-dependent hemolysis, with a CH 50 of 0.23 ± 0.01 mL. Kinetic analyses at different temperatures revealed that the hemolysis was relatively rapid, with 50% of hemolytic activity occurring within 15 min (25°C), 18 min (35°C), or 23 min (15°C), and near maximum hemolysis within 60-90 min at all three temperatures. A comparative thermal profile revealed that complement activity was low at 5°C, but increased sharply at 10 and 15°C, and was maximal at 20-30°C. A steep decline in activity was noted at temperatures > 30°C. Mild heat treatment of the snake plasma (56°C, 30 min) or treatment with proteases completely abolished the hemolytic activity. In addition, inclusion of 5 mM EDTA inhibited 90% of the hemolysis, but the activity could be reconstituted with the addition of 15 mM Ca 2+ or Mg 2+ , but not Ba 2+ , Cu 2+ , or Fe 2+. Furthermore, the hemolysis was unaffected in the presence of 20 mM methylamine, indicating that the alternative mechanism of complement activation is responsible for the observed activities. Conclusions: Rattlesnakes show a relatively robust innate immune response as measured by hemolysis of SRBCs. However, hemolytic activity is reduced at high temperatures, indicating that rising global temperatures may have immune consequences for snake species, making them more vulnerable to known and emerging pathogens.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Characterization of serum complement immune activity in the prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis)

Baker

Merchant

2018

JoBAZ

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“…Plasma was separated and stored at −80°C until shipment on dry ice to Stockton University where the assays were conducted. Innate immune function was assessed using a plasma bacteriakilling assay (Tieleman et al, 2005), which primarily tests the ability of complement proteins to kill live Escherichia coli (Baker and Merchant, 2018;Graham et al, 2017;Merchant et al, 2003). Briefly, one pellet of E. coli (ATCC #8739; Microbiologics, St Cloud, MN, USA) was suspended in 40 ml sterile PBS.…”

Section: Assessment Of the Immune Responsementioning

confidence: 99%

The metabolic response to an immune challenge in a viviparous snake, Sistrurus miliarius

Lind

Agugliaro

Farrell

2020

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Mounting an immune response may be energetically costly and require the diversion of resources away from other physiological processes. Yet, both the metabolic cost of immune responses and the factors that impact investment priorities remain poorly described in many vertebrate groups. For example, although viviparity has evolved many times in vertebrates, the relationship between immune function and pregnancy has been disproportionately studied in placental mammals. To examine the energetic costs of immune activation and the modulation of immune function during pregnancy in a nonmammalian vertebrate, we elicited an immune response in pregnant and non-pregnant pygmy rattlesnakes, Sistrurus miliarius, using lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Resting metabolic rate (RMR) was measured using flow-through respirometry. Immune function was examined using bactericidal assays and leukocyte counts. The RMR of pygmy rattlesnakes increased significantly in response to LPS injection. There was no statistically significant difference in the metabolic response of non-reproductive and pregnant snakes to LPS. Mean metabolic increments for pregnant females, non-reproductive females, and males were 13%, 18% and 26%, respectively. The ratio of heterophils to lymphocytes was elevated in response to LPS across reproductive categories; however, LPS did not impact plasma bactericidal ability in non-reproductive snakes. Although pregnant females had significantly higher plasma bactericidal ability compared with non-reproductive snakes prior to manipulation, their bactericidal ability declined in response to LPS. LPS administration also significantly reduced several litter characteristics, particularly when administrated relatively early in pregnancy. Our results indicate that immune performance is energetically costly and is altered during pregnancy, and that immune activation during pregnancy may result in tradeoffs that affect offspring in a viviparous reptile.

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“…The ectotherm immune system relies on the temperature-dependent activity of enzymes and cells, and immune performance is therefore also constrained by temperature. Although the number of studies on the thermal performance of the ectotherm immune system is limited, immune activity generally conforms to a classic thermal performance curve and operates over a wide range of temperatures (Butler et al, 2013;Ferguson et al, 2016;Graham et al, 2017;Murdock et al, 2012;Zimmerman et al, 2017).…”

Section: Thermal Dependence Of Ectotherm Immunitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Eco-immunology in the cold: the role of immunity in shaping the overwintering survival of ectotherms

Ferguson

Kortet

Sinclair

2018

Journal of Experimental Biology

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The effect of temperature on physiology mediates many of the challenges that ectotherms face under climate change. Ectotherm immunity is thermally sensitive and, as such, environmental change is likely to have complex effects on survival, disease resistance and transmission. The effects of temperature on immunity will be particularly profound in winter because cold and overwintering are important triggers and regulators of ectotherm immune activity. Low temperatures can both suppress and activate immune responses independent of parasites, which suggests that temperature not only affects the rate of immune responses but also provides information that allows overwintering ectotherms to balance investment in immunity and other physiological processes that underlie winter survival. Changing winter temperatures are now shifting ectotherm immunity, as well as the demand for energy conservation and protection against parasites. Whether an ectotherm can survive the winter will thus depend on whether new immune phenotypes will shift to match the conditions of the new environment, or leave ectotherms vulnerable to infection or energy depletion. Here, we synthesise patterns of overwintering immunity in ectotherms and examine how new winter conditions might affect ectotherm immunity. We then explore whether it is possible to predict the effects of changing winter conditions on ectotherm vulnerability to the direct and indirect effects of parasites.

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Thermal performance and acclimatization of a component of snake (Agkistrodon piscivorus) innate immunity

Cited by 15 publications

References 65 publications

Characterization of serum complement immune activity in the prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis)

Characterization of serum complement immune activity in the prairie rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis)

The metabolic response to an immune challenge in a viviparous snake, Sistrurus miliarius

Eco-immunology in the cold: the role of immunity in shaping the overwintering survival of ectotherms

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