Are maternal antibodies really that important? Patterns in the immunologic development of altricial passerine house sparrows (Passer domesticus).

ABSTRACT:

Background

Maternal antibodies are believed to play an integral role in protecting immunologically immature wild-passerines from environmental antigens. This study comprehensively examines the early development of the adaptive immune system in an altricial-developing wild passerine species, the house sparrow (Passer domestics), by characterizing the half-life of maternal antibodies in nestling plasma, the onset of de novo synthesis of endogenous antibodies by nestlings, and the timing of immunological independence, where nestlings rely entirely on their own antibodies for immunologic protection.

Methodology/principal findings

In an aviary study we vaccinated females against a novel antigen that these birds would not otherwise encounter in their natural environment, and measu

SUBMITTER: King MO 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2836371 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature