This review discusses evolution of the process of Ig heavy chain class switching, relating it to
the first appearance of somatic hypermutation (SHM) of variable region genes. First, we …

The ability to identify factors responsible for disease in all species depends on the ability to
separate those factors which are environmental from those that are intrinsic. This is …

Concerted evolution is often invoked to explain the diversity and evolution of the multigene
families of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genes and immunoglobulin (Ig) genes …

Forty different PCR clones encoding a llama variable heavy chain domain were analysed.
The majority of these clones are derived from heavy-chain antibody cDNA in which the …

The antigen‐binding site of the camel heavy‐chain antibodies devoid of light chain consists
of a single variable domain (VHH) that obviously lacks the VH–VL combinatorial diversity. To …

The evasion of the host immune response is central to the pathogenicity of Staphylococcus
aureus, and is facilitated by the ability of the cell wall-associated protein A (SpA) to bind …

Changes in the VH‐region repertoire of isolator piglets reared for 6 weeks under germ‐free
(GF) conditions and those colonized (COL) with a defined exclusion flora on the 1st day of …

The variable domains of the functional heavy-chain antibodies (VHHs) discovered in camels
are related to the human VH subgroup III. They are nevertheless clearly distinguishable from …

The adaptive immune system of higher vertebrates is believed to have evolved to counter
the ability of pathogens to avoid expulsion because their high rate of germline mutations …

Swine share with most placental mammals the same five antibody isotypes and same two
light chain types. Loci encoding λ, κ and Ig heavy chains appear to be organized as they are …