# THE EVOLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF IMMUNE RESPONSES

> **NIH NIH R01** · REED COLLEGE · 1987 · $92,913

## Abstract

Amphibia occupy a crucial evolutionary position and therefore provide us
with the opportunity to gain understanding of how the extraordinary
complexity of mammalian immunity may have developed.  I have been studying
three species which offer a clear evolutionary and functional immunologic
progression.  My interest has centered primarily on the several regulatory
roles of thymus-derived cells and macrophages.  I plan to continue to
explore T-cell regulation of antibody production in vitro by using specific
lectins and antibodies for sorting and behavioral modulation.  Our studies
on immunologic regulatory changes during amphibian metamorphosis suggest
that these models are especially well suited for tests of systemic
(neuro-endocrine) control of different aspects of immune responses, e.g.
antigen recognition, antibody production and particularly, thymic
regulation.  Additionally, amphibia, unlike mammals, affect much less
subtle thymic regulation of responses to linear polysaccharides, e.g.
Ficoll.  Moreover, since amphibia can be more easily tolerized to these
responses than others, they are useful for studying questions on
self-tolerance.  Since primitive vertebrates fail to respond to soluble
protein antigens because of limited macrophage capacity, I plan to compare
the capacities of primitive and more advanced amphibian macrophages to
process and present antigen by using radiolabelled ovalbumin.  My long term
objectives are to understand the bases for mammalian immunologic failures
by learning how their too finely tuned and fragile immune systems arose.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3125312
- **Project number:** 5R01AI012846-13
- **Recipient organization:** REED COLLEGE
- **SAM.gov UEI:** CMNJCKH6LTK6
- **Principal Investigator:** LAURENS N RUBEN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $92,913
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1975-06-01 → 1989-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3125312

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3125312, THE EVOLUTION AND DEVELOPMENT OF IMMUNE RESPONSES (5R01AI012846-13). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3125312. Licensed CC0.

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