Effect of acclimatization at different temperature on the thermal sensitivity of the bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) immune response

• Grant number: 19/07218-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: July 01, 2019
• End date: December 31, 2021
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Physiology - Compared Physiology
• Principal Investigator: Fernando Ribeiro Gomes
• Grantee: Alan Siqueira Lima
• Host Institution: Instituto de Biociências (IB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 14/16320-7 - Impacts of climate/environmental change on the fauna: an integrative approach, AP.PFPMCG.TEM

Abstract

Amphibian populations are declining worldwide. This pattern is associated with an array of factors, of which climate changes associated with unpredictable thermal and rainfall alterations, as well as, emerging infectious disease, being often described as the most important ones. Additionally, temperature changes act synergistically, influencing both pathogen physiology and host immune response performance against infection. Amphibians, as ectotherms, are particularly sensitive to changes in temperature. However, little is known about amphibian immune response thermal sensitivity. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the effect of acclimatization at different temperatures (28°C e 34°C) on thermal sensitivity, measured as: phagocytic activity of blood leukocytes and plasma bacterial killing ability (BKA), in the bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus). Blood samples are going to be taken 7 days after animals are placed under laboratory conditions, and 20 and 45 days after acclimatization period. Phagocytosis assays are going to be performed with blood leukocytes and BKA with plasma samples, both at 8 different temperatures, in a 5°C to 40°C gradient (with 5°C interval), in order to investigate the thermal sensitivity curve of these two immune components.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LIMA, ALAN S.; FERREIRA, LETICIA DE F.; SILVA, DIEGO P.; GOMES, FERNANDO R.; TITON, STEFANNY C. M.. Thermal sensitivity of Bullfrog's immune response kept at different temperatures. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART A-ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOGY, v. 333, n. 10, SI, DEC 2020. (14/16320-7, 19/07218-8)

LIMA, ALAN S.; FERREIRA, LETICIA DE F.; SILVA, DIEGO P.; GOMES, FERNANDO R.; TITON, STEFANNY C. M.. Thermal sensitivity of Bullfrog's immune response kept at different temperatures. OURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART A-ECOLOGICAL AND INTEGRATIVE PHYSIOLOG, v. 333, n. 10, p. 12-pg., 2020-12-23. (19/07218-8, 14/16320-7)