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Ramy R. Avtalion
Fish Immunology and Genetics |
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Research Interests and Achievements |
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Theoretical Research §
Effect
of environmental temperature on the immune system of fish, with emphasis on regulatory
effects of helper and suppressor functions. This model is currently used to
study the mechanism of action of these functions, their kinetics, antagonism,
cells subsets and production of specific and non-specific factor. §
Epitopic
profile of cell surface antigens (lymphocytes and erythrocytes) of tilapia and goldfish
with emphasis on cell subsets and MHC antigens, and development of appropriate
monoclonal antibodies. §
Influence
of stress on the immune system. By using fish (tilapia and striped bass) as animal model
where stress can be easily induced and defined, the influence of stress on
different functions of the immune system (e.g. antibody, phagocytosis,
lymphocyte proliferation, natural killer cells) and on resistance to diseases
are currently investigated. §
Transfer
of specific immunity from mother to embryo in tilapias and goldfish: kinetics of maternally
originated immunoglobulins and specific antibody activity in larvae;
involvement in a viral tilapia encephalitis disease. §
Sex
determination mechanism in tilapias and the crucial role of lethal genes in
its regulation. This
study is carried out with the BIU-O. aureus gynogenetic line using
selected UNH-microsatelite markers. |
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Applied Research §
Induced
immunity and vaccination against agents of 2 important fish diseases: 1) goldfish ulcerative disease (GUD).
An efficient vaccine is under development and will be available in the near
future; 2) viral encephalitis of tilapia larvae. §
Chromosome
set manipulations in tilapias for the creation of meiotic and mitotic clone. During last decade, our
laboratory has investigated these subjects and different gynogenetic lines
and clones were developed. Growth performance and sex ratios obtained in
progenies of interspecific crosses (O. niloticus female X 0.
aureus male) showed 100% of all male progenies with growth performances
highest by 12% in comparison to normal strains. This genetic potential is
the result of massive removal of defective genes and improvement of
the genetic potential of the lines by full-sib matting along 5 gynogenetic
generations. §
Creation
of transgenic tilapias: The main objective of this study is to provide rapid genetic
improvement of different traits such as growth rate and size, and low
temperature resistance by using a technique of transfer of different genes
(e.g. growth hormone gene, antifreeze gene, etc.). |
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Last modified March 25, 2003 |
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