Abstracts

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Uncorrected rough draft

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Adaptive cell-mediated immune responsiveness in Jurassic and Crettaceous reptile: a molecular analysis and interpretation of the DNA sequences corresponding to mammalian T lymphocyte markers and their implications on the appearance of distinct cellular phenotypes involved in cell-mediated reactions of the adaptive immune system.a

Thera Podd, Peter Osoar, U. Vanya, and Archie Opptrics. The Miskatonic University, Arkham, Massachussettsb

Recent technologcal advances in the detection and isolation of nucleic acids from ancient fossil material have enabled investigators to probe the evolutionary steps leading to the development of the adaptive immune system in vertebrates. DNA was extracted from fossilized bone fragments from early Jurassic (Dilphosaurus, Plesiosaur, Syntarsus), Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary (Brachiosaurus, Barosaurus, Protoarcheopteryx), and late Cretaceous (Albertosaurus, Majungothalus, Oviraptor) spesimens. The fragments were collected from fossils recovered at sites in Flobbsburg, Germany; Chinyong, Hunan province, China; Burgess Shale, British Columbia, Canada; West Mooville, Montana; and Safir, Ethiopia.c Homologs of mammalian CD3, CD4 and CD8 were found in all specimens examined from the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary (~145 Mya) and late Cretaceous periods, but were absent in the early Jurassic specimens. DNA was extracted using the techniques described by Habilis et al (1998), and resuspended in buffered saline. Triplicate samples of each suspension were subjected to real time PCR using primers (AATCGGCTAGC and CGTATACGCGATCTAGC for CD3, TTTGCAAGCCGCGATTAC TGCCAGCTAGAACT for CD4, and CCAGACTAGTTCAGA and CTTATCCCAAGACA for CD8; all were obtained by House of Primers, Boston, Massachusetts). Amplified DNA sequences were analyzed on a Sony VAIO computer using the MatchIt program for DNA sequence comparisons. Statistical analysis of the sequence matching was done using Χ². Control sequences were obtained from goats, turtles, frogs and condors.d A greater degree of homology for these molecules with modern mammals is seen in samples from saurischians, the order thought to be ancestral to mamals. Samples from fossils of ornithischian derivation showed a lower degree of homology. While molecular evidence for production of multiple immunoglobulin isotypes first appears in the jawed fisheses, the data presented here is the earliest evidence indicating a diversification of a T cell-like lineage into distinctive functional subsets. It remains to be established whether the subsets defined by these “proto-T-cell” markers are similar to modern mammalian T cell subsets. We wish to thank Arkham University and the H.P. Lovecraft Foundation for their financial supporte.

Unfortunately, this draft is 2,717 characters, 1,217 characters over the AIC limit!

Revised version

Adaptive cell-mediated immune responsiveness in Jurassic and Cretaceous reptiles.

Thera Podd, Peter Osoar, U. Vanya, and Archie Opptrics. Miskatonic University, Arkham, MA

Recent technological advances in detection and isolation of nucleic acids from ancient fossil material have enabled analysis of the adaptive immune system in vertebrates. DNA was extracted from fossilized bone fragments from early Jurassic (Dilphosaurus, Plesiosaur, Syntarsus), Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary (Brachiosaurus, Barosaurus, Protoarcheopteryx), and late Cretaceous (Albertosaurus, Majungothalus, Oviraptor) specimens. Homologs of mammalian CD3, CD4 and CD8 were found in all specimens examined from the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary (~145 Mya) and late Cretaceous periods, but were absent in the early Jurassic specimens. A greater degree of homology for these molecules with modern mammals is seen in samples from saurischians, the order thought to be ancestral to mammals. Samples from fossils of ornithischian derivation showed a lower degree of homology. While molecular evidence for production of multiple immunoglobulin isotypes first appears in the jawed fishes, the data presented here is the earliest evidence indicating a diversification of a T cell-like lineage into distinctive functional subsets. Supported by Arkham University and the H.P. Lovecraft Foundation.

Ah, that's better, 1,357 characters with spaces . . .

. . . how it will look in the program booklet?

666.    Adaptive cell-mediated immune responsiveness in Jurassic and Cretaceous reptiles.
Thera Podd, Peter Osoar, U. Vanya, and Archie Opptrics. Miskatonic University, Arkham, MA

Recent technological advances in detection and isolation of nucleic acids from ancient fossil material have enabled analysis of the adaptive immune system in vertebrates. DNA was extracted from fossilized bone fragments from early Jurassic (Dilphosaurus, Plesiosaur, Syntarsus), Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary (Brachiosaurus, Barosaurus, Protoarcheopteryx), and late Cretaceous (Albertosaurus, Majungothalus, Oviraptor) specimens. Homologs of mammalian CD3, CD4 and CD8 were found in all specimens examined from the Jurassic-Cretaceous boundary (~145 Mya) and late Cretaceous periods, but were absent in the early Jurassic specimens. A greater degree of homology for these molecules with modern mammals is seen in samples from saurischians, the order thought to be ancestral to mammals. Samples from fossils of ornithischian derivation showed a lower degree of homology. While molecular evidence for production of multiple immunoglobulin isotypes first appears in the jawed fishes, the data presented here is the earliest evidence indicating a diversification of a T cell-like lineage into distinctive functional subsets. Supported by Arkham University and the H.P. Lovecraft Foundation.