Toll-like receptor responses in tuatara

Flamme, Anne Camille La; Thierry, Danielle de; O'Neill, Shay B.; Miller, Hilary C.

doi:10.1080/03014223.2010.501107

Cited by 8 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Burnham, Keall et al [27] also did not detect a seasonal effect on T cell responses when tuatara were tested during adjacent seasons (winter and spring). In contrast, La Flamme, de Thierry et al [36] observed significantly greater responses to toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists by tuatara leukocytes in summer than in winter.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Presence of antibodies to Salmonella in tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) sera

Middleton

Nelson

Gartrell

et al. 2015

Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 87%

Presence of antibodies to Salmonella in tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) sera

Middleton

Nelson

Gartrell

et al. 2015

Comparative Immunology, Microbiology and Infectious Diseases

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“…In contrast, no seasonal effect on T cell responses was detected in captive tuatara tested during winter and spring (Burnham et al 2005). In La Flamme et al (2010) and the present study, summer was the period of increased immune function. Burnham et al (2005) investigated T cell responses during winter and spring and consequently the time between sampling may have been too small to detect any difference in T cell response.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 77%

“…Wild tuatara were also sampled only during summer and early autumn, therefore the time span between sampling periods may be too small to detect a difference in antibody production. A similar seasonality was observed in responses to toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists by leukocytes, with significantly greater responses observed in summer than in winter (La Flamme et al 2010). In contrast, no seasonal effect on T cell responses was detected in captive tuatara tested during winter and spring (Burnham et al 2005).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 62%

“…It has therefore been proposed that seasonal variation in immune responses may be different to those of many other ectothermic vertebrates (Burnham et al 2006). Previous research has indicated that the innate immunity of tuatara may be reduced in winter compared to summer (La Flamme et al 2010). Investigation of toll-like receptor (TLR) responses in tuatara found a clear increase in TLR agonists in leukocytes isolated from tuatara in summer compared with winter (La Flamme et al 2010).…”

Section: Tuatara Ecology and Immunitymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Very little is known about the immune response of this species. A number of studies have been conducted on their acquired immunity (Burnham et al 2005;Marchalonis et al 1969) but considerably less is known about innate immunity in this species (La Flamme et al 2010). Despite these long-lived reptiles (>80yrs) being extensively tested, there has only been one reported case of Salmonella in a wild tuatara (tuatara was found deceased and Salmonella identified post-mortem; K. McInnes, Department of Conservation, personal communication) and it has never been isolated from captive tuatara (Gartrell et al 2006;Gartrell et al 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Ecological and Immunological Relationships Between Salmonella and Tuatara

Middleton¹

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<p>The transmission and expression of disease in wild animal populations is a complex interaction of host, pathogen and environmental factors. The individual fitness of a host may be negatively impacted by pathogenic bacteria in a number of ways including increased predation risk and reduced survival and reproductive output. Salmonellosis is an important zoonotic disease resulting in significant morbidity and mortality in populations of wild reptiles, birds and mammals throughout the world, and herpetofaunal species have often been implicated as shedders and transmitters of Salmonella globally. To better understand the unique threats to New Zealand native wildlife, I investigated spatio-temporal dynamics of Salmonella in an island ecosystem, and selected one species, tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) (an endemic New Zealand reptile), for in-depth immunological analyses. I collected cloacal swabs and faecal samples from native wildlife on Stephens Island repeatedly between October 2009 and October 2011. While Salmonella was isolated from 6.5% of native skinks and 8% of the soil samples, intestinal carriage of Salmonella was not detected in the more than 600 cloacal swabs collected from wild tuatara, despite these tuatara living in close proximity to Salmonella-positive skinks or soil. In context, the lack of Salmonella detected in tuatara in this and other studies raises the question of whether tuatara are innately resistant to Salmonella. To test this hypothesis I examined aspects of innate and adaptive immune responses in tuatara serum. Immune measurements included in vitro anti-microbial activity of serum and antibody recognition of bacterial antigens. Serum was tested against three closely related enteric pathogens, including Salmonella, in order to establish the importance of cross-reactivity in the strength of immune responses observed. I found that tuatara possess antibodies which recognise Salmonella antigens by Western blot and flow cytometry. I also determined that the anti-microbial activity of tuatara serum was approximately 6-fold higher than donkey or mouse sera, but showed similar activity to other reptilian species tested. These findings are the first report of both environmentally-induced anti-Salmonella antibodies and anti-microbial activity in tuatara serum. Taken together, these studies investigating the distribution and seasonality of Salmonella within the environment and evaluating anti-Salmonella immune responses in tuatara will help to inform decisions about disease screening and animal movements to maintain the health of native fauna.</p>

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The effects of annual cycle, source population, and body condition on leukocyte profile and immune challenge in a basal reptile, the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus)

Lamar,

Frank,

La Flamme

et al. 2023

J Exp Zool Pt A

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Leukocyte profiles are broadly used to assess the health status of many species. Reference intervals, and an understanding of the factors that may influence these intervals, are necessary for adequate interpretation of leukograms. Using a data set that spans over three decades, we investigated variation in leukocyte profile in several populations of the evolutionarily unique reptile, the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus). To do this, we first established reference intervals for each leukocyte type according to best practices. Next, we determined that source population and sampling date were the two most important predictors of leukocyte makeup. We found significant differences in the ratio of heterophils: lymphocytes (H:L) between populations, with tuatara on the more resource‐stressed sampling island having a significantly higher ratio of H:L. Finally, we found that sampling location, sex, and life stage did not explain variation in the responses of tuatara to stimulation with Concanavalin A and lipopolysaccharide in both 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐di‐phenyltetrazolium bromide and Griess assay experiments. Our results offer important insight into the function of leukocytes in reptiles.

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Toll-like receptor responses in tuatara

Cited by 8 publications

References 24 publications

Presence of antibodies to Salmonella in tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) sera

Presence of antibodies to Salmonella in tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) sera

The Ecological and Immunological Relationships Between Salmonella and Tuatara

The effects of annual cycle, source population, and body condition on leukocyte profile and immune challenge in a basal reptile, the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus)

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