Constitutive Innate Immunity and Systemic Responses to Infection of the American Alligator (Alligator mississippiensis)

Author:

Merchant Mark1ORCID,Hebert Matthew1,Salvador Anna C.2,Berken Jennifer3,Boverie Thomas1,White Mary E.4

Affiliation:

1. Department of Chemistry, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA 70605, USA

2. Department of Nutrition and Food Science, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA 70605, USA

3. Department of Mathematical Sciences, McNeese State University, Lake Charles, LA 70605, USA

4. Department of Biological Sciences, Southeastern Louisiana University, Hammond, LA 70402, USA

Abstract

Uninfected alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) exhibited high constitutive levels of hepatic gene expression related to immune function, whereas the highest-expressed hepatic genes of uninfected mice were related to metabolism. Intraperitoneal challenge of mice with bacterial lipopolysaccharide results in dramatic inflammatory effects including peritoneal ascites, febrile response, dramatic alterations in electrophoretic serum profile, and mortality. In contrast, coelomic injection of alligators with 200× the murine LD50 of intraperitoneal bacterial lipopolysaccharide resulted in no changes in serum protein profiles, behavioral effects, mortality, and no coelomic ascites. However, injection of juvenile alligators with live bacteria resulted in a titer-dependent decrease in metabolic rate, as measured by oxygen consumption. These results are the opposite of those observed for mammalian and avian species. The decreased oxygen consumption was not accompanied by changes in heart or respiration rate, indicating that this phenomenon was not due to bradycardia or bradypnea. Interestingly, challenge of alligators with bacteria resulted in the complete expulsion of digestive tract contents within four hours. We interpret these activities as temporary minimization of other biological systemic activities to redirect and devote energy to immune function. The reallocation of resources within an organism to fight infection without increases in metabolic rate has not been described in other animals.

Funder

McNeese State University

Publisher

MDPI AG

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