Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 16, 2026
12:18
An Allelotyping PCR for Identifying Salmonella enterica serovars Enteritidis, Hadar, Heidelberg, and Typhimurium
Published on: July 22, 2011
Clonal and temperature induced differences in serotypes in the ciliate Dileptus anser
1Institute of Cytology, Academy of Sciences of the USR, St. Petersburg, USR.
European Journal of Protistology
|December 1, 2012
Summary
Temperature influences the expression of surface antigens in Dileptus anser ciliates, altering their serotypes. This temperature-induced serotype change is reversible and occurs over several cell divisions, impacting antigenic differences.
Area of Science:
- Protozoology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Antigenic variation is crucial for microbial survival and immune evasion.
- Ciliates, like Dileptus anser, exhibit complex antigenic profiles.
- Understanding serotype plasticity is key to comprehending microbial adaptation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate antigenic differences among Dileptus anser clones.
- To determine the influence of cultivation temperature on ciliate serotypes.
- To characterize the reversibility and kinetics of temperature-induced serotype changes.
Main Methods:
- Immobilization assay
- Agar precipitation reaction
- Immunofluorescence
- Immunodiffusion
- Cultivation at varying temperatures (17°C to 25°C)
Main Results:
- Demonstrated antigenic differences in 20 Dileptus anser clones using immunological assays.
- Identified distinct serotypes expressed by clones cultured at different temperatures (17°C vs. 25°C).
- Showed that temperature shifts induce reversible serotype transformations, with kinetics dependent on cultivation temperature.
Conclusions:
- Cultivation temperature is a significant factor in modulating serotype expression in Dileptus anser.
- Serotype plasticity in these ciliates is a dynamic and reversible process.
- Antigenic variation in Dileptus anser is influenced by environmental cues, impacting cellular identity.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Bacterial Phylum Chlamydiae
The phylum Chlamydiae or Chlamydiota is composed of a single order, Chlamydiales. This phylum consists entirely of obligate intracellular parasites that infect eukaryotic hosts. While human pathogens within this group have been studied extensively, the phylum encompasses many species capable of interacting with various eukaryotic organisms. Members of Chlamydiae are typically small cocci, approximately 0.5 μm in diameter, and exhibit a distinctive developmental cycle. As is characteristic of...
01:27Diversity of Protists II
Alveolates are a group of organisms recognized by the presence of alveoli, which are cytoplasmic sacs located beneath the cell membrane. While their function remains uncertain, alveoli may help regulate water balance by controlling how much water enters and leaves the cell. In dinoflagellates, these structures may serve as armor plates. There are three major types of alveolates: ciliates, which move using cilia; dinoflagellates, which use flagella for movement; and apicomplexans, which are...