IMMUNOLOGY2026™ Conference Recordings For Attendees-Organized mucosal associated lymphoid tissue is present in the nurse shark spiral valve

Organized mucosal associated lymphoid tissue is present in the nurse shark spiral valve

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Video Summary

The talk describes research on shark immunity, showing that sharks possess sophisticated, not primitive, adaptive immune features: specific antibody responses, somatic hypermutation, affinity maturation, and long-term memory. The team found germinal-center-like B-cell follicles in shark spleen and then investigated the gut spiral valve. They discovered lymphoid follicles, abundant T cells, plasma cells, and antibodies in mucus, especially IgM coating gut bacteria. Unexpectedly, the gut was rich in gamma delta T cells and showed strong AID expression in T-cell clusters, suggesting possible somatic mutation of T-cell receptors. The speaker seeks ideas and feedback on this surprising finding.

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Date April 17, 2026 5:00 PM - 5:15 PM

Room 104AB

Session Learning from Others - Immunity from the Jawless to Paws and Hooves

Speaker Helen Dooley

Track Veterinary and Comparative Immunology (VET)

Year 2026

Keywords

shark immunity

adaptive immune system

germinal-center-like follicles

gut lymphoid tissue

gamma delta T cells

April 17, 2026 5:00 PM - 5:15 PM

104AB

Learning from Others - Immunity from the Jawless to Paws and Hooves

Helen Dooley

Veterinary and Comparative Immunology (VET)

2026