Antigenic Determinants on the Surface of Granulocytes of Battella Germanica

Date of Graduation

Summer 1993

Degree

Master of Science in Biology

Department

Biology

Committee Chair

Richard Myers

Abstract

The ability of the Blattella germanica to respond to immunological stimulations is limited when compared to that of the mammalian system. Granulocytes are a basic blood cell type found in most animals; in humans these cells divide and differentiate into basophils, eosinophils, and neutrophils, among others. These cells make up a small portion of the total blood cells found in mammals. In the German cockroach, however, the granulocyte is the most predominate blood cell type, making up 94% of the total cell count. Since this cell was overwhelmingly prevalent in the cockroach, it was studied to determine how many antigenic surface receptors it contained on its membrane. The study began by injecting New Zealand rabbits with granulocytes, isolated from the German cockroach to stimulate antibody production. Using rabbit antigranulocytes serum for Western blot analysis, seven antigenic surface determinants were identified and their molecular weights were determined.

Subject Categories

Biology

Copyright

© Belinda D Presley

Citation-only

Dissertation/Thesis

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