The ferret is a key animal model for investigating the pathogenicity and transmissibility of important human viruses, and for the pre‐clinical assessment of vaccines. However, relatively little is known about the ferret immune system, due in part to a paucity of ferret‐reactive reagents. In particular, T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are critical in the generation of effective humoral responses in humans, mice and other animal models but to date it has not been possible to identify Tfh in ferrets. Here, we describe the screening and development of ferret-reactive BCL6, CXCR5 and PD-1 monoclonal antibodies. We found two commercial anti-BCL6 antibodies (clone K112-91 and clone IG191E/A8) had cross-reactivity with lymph node cells from influenza-infected ferrets. We next developed two murine monoclonal antibodies against ferret CXCR5 (clone feX5-C05) and PD-1 (clone fePD-CL1) using a single B cell PCR-based method. We were able to clearly identify Tfh cells in lymph nodes from influenza infected ferrets using these antibodies. The development of ferret Tfh marker antibodies and the identification of ferret Tfh cells will assist the evaluation of vaccine-induced Tfh responses in the ferret model and the design of novel vaccines against the infection of influenza and other viruses, including SARS-CoV2.
【저자키워드】 Lymph node, Follicular T-helper cells, 【초록키워드】 viruses, antibodies, Vaccine, SARS-CoV2, Vaccines, antibody, Influenza, monoclonal antibody, Infection, animal model, immune system, monoclonal antibodies, cross-reactivity, Humoral response, Transmissibility, mice, ferret, humans, response, pathogenicity, Critical, Tfh, marker, Bcl6, reagents, CXCR5, ferrets, clone, murine, effective, Cell, identify, assist, follicular, PCR-based method, single B cell, Tfh cell, 【제목키워드】 monoclonal antibody, Screening, Cell, follicular,