Document Type
Thesis
Degree
Master of Science (MS)
Major/Program
Please see currently inactive department below.
Major/Program
Medical Laboratory Science
First Advisor's Name
Sylvia Smith
First Advisor's Committee Title
Committee Chair
Second Advisor's Name
Charles Bigger
Third Advisor's Name
Patrick Shen
Fourth Advisor's Name
Steven Obenauf
Keywords
Ginglymostoma, Complement activation
Date of Defense
11-25-1992
Abstract
Complement is activated via two pathways: classical (CCP) and alternative (ACP). The CCP has been demonstrated in the nurse shark. The ACP has not been demonstrated in any cartilagenous fish. Nurse shark serum was evaluated for complement activity by its ability to lyse heterologous erythrocytes. As CCP activity requires calcium and magnesium, activity of shark serum chelated with EGTA (a selective calcium chelator) or EDTA (a chelator of calcium and magnesium) was assessed. Activity remained in serum chelated with EGTA but not EDTA. Furthermore, activity of chelated serum was enhanced by added magnesium. Activation of shark complement by activators of mammalian ACP (zymosan, LPS, inulin, CVF) was assessed. Complement was activated by zymosan and LPS. Immunoblots were employed, with limited success, to demonstrate complement proteins in nurse shark serum. This study unequivocally demonstrates that the ACP is present in the primitive nurse shark.
Identifier
FI14061562
Recommended Citation
Culbreath, Lieneke Cecile, "Evidence for the alternative pathway of complement activation in the nurse shark" (1992). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 2686.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/2686
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