Inter-Research
Diseases of Aquatic Organisms

ABSTRACT: In a previous study we determined that administration of recombinant feline interferon-w (rFeIFN-w) could protect Japanese pearl oysters Pinctada fucata martensii from akoya-virus infection. Our results suggested that rFeIFN-w enhanced the potential of agranulocytes to phagocytize necrotic cells and to produce collagen fibers that repair the lesions caused by the akoya-virus. In the present study, using an indirect immunofluorescence technique with an anti-rFeIFN-w rabbit serum, we examined whether hemocytes bear receptors that bind rFeIFN-w. rFeIFN-w receptors were present on agranulocytes and bound rFeIFN-w, and appeared as green fluorescent spots in the cytoplasm under a fluorescent microscope. Around 56% of agranulocytes in Japanese pearl oysters bore the rFeIFN-w receptors.

KEY WORDS: Japanese pearl oyster · Agranulocytes · rFeIFN-w receptor · Akoya-virus

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Published in DAO Vol. 51, No. 2 (2002) on August 29
Print ISSN: 0177-5103; Online ISSN: 1616-1580. Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2002