DISSERTATION RESEARCH: Immune-based Maternal Effects: Investigating Variation and Plasticity in Female Deposition of Protective Immune Compounds into Eggs

论文研究：基于免疫的母体效应：研究雌性保护性免疫化合物沉积到卵中的变异和可塑性

• 批准号: 1110563
• 负责人: David Winkler
• 金额: $ 1.5万
• 依托单位: Cornell University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2011
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2011-06-01 至 2013-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1110563&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: DISSERTATION; RESEARCH; Immune; based; Maternal

One thing birds can do to protect their young from the threat of bacteria in the environment is to transfer protective immune compounds, such as antibodies, directly into their eggs. Although these antibodies are associated with improved offspring growth and immunity, it is not known how levels of egg antibodies are influenced by disease risk. The purpose of this project is to test the hypothesis that tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) encountering more bacteria in their nests will have higher levels of antibodies in their eggs. To tackle this question, bacterial communities in swallow nests will be characterized using DNA-sequencing and compared with antibody levels in eggs collected from the same nests. This data set, from across North America, will be the most comprehensive ever collected on bacterial communities associated with any bird species, and the investigators predict that, as in plants and animals, bacterial diversity will be highest at the most southerly sites (e.g., Virginia) and lowest at the most northerly sites (e.g., Alaska). As a consequence, southern birds should have more antibodies in their eggs than northern birds. In addition to exploring new ground in bacterial biogeography, this study will bring new perspective to the variety of ways in which female birds can protect their offspring. Results from this study will also contribute to a large collaborative study of investigators working to quantify pathogens inhabiting the nests, feathers, feces, blood, and tissues of swallows through the NSF-funded Golondrinas de las Americas network. And sequence data will add to a growing wealth of 16S rRNA gene sequences publically available through GenBank. This project will also contribute to the training of undergraduates working in the field and laboratory. Through this research, students will have the opportunity to share data, ideas, and personal interactions with investigators throughout the hemisphere.

鸟类可以采取的一件事以保护年轻人免受环境中细菌的威胁，就是将保护性免疫化合物（例如抗体）直接转移到卵中。尽管这些抗体与后代的生长和免疫力有关，但尚不知道卵抗体的水平如何受疾病风险的影响。该项目的目的是检验以下假设：燕子（tachycineta bicolor）在其巢中遇到更多细菌的假设将在卵中具有更高水平的抗体。为了解决这个问题，燕子巢中的细菌群落将使用DNA测序来表征，并与从同一巢中收集的卵中的抗体水平进行比较。来自北美各地的数据集将是有史以来与任何鸟类相关的细菌群落收集的最全面的数据集，研究人员预测，与动植物一样，在动植物中，细菌的多样性将在最南端（例如弗吉尼亚州）（例如弗吉尼亚州）中最高，而在最北端的地点（例如，阿拉斯加）最低的地点。结果，南部鸟类在卵中的抗体应该比北方鸟多。除了探索细菌生物地理学的新基础外，这项研究还将为雌性鸟类保护其后代的多种方式带来新的观点。这项研究的结果还将有助于一项大型合作研究，研究人员通过NSF资助的Golondrinas de Las Americas网络来量化巢穴，羽毛，粪便，血液和组织的病原体。序列数据将增加通过GenBank公开获得的16S rRNA基因序列的不断增长。该项目还将有助于对在现场和实验室工作的大学生的培训。通过这项研究，学生将有机会与整个半球的调查人员共享数据，想法和个人互动。