Rag1−/− Mutant Zebrafish Demonstrate Specific Protection following Bacterial Re-Exposure

Abstract

Our findings show that a component of the innate immune system mounted a response that provided significantly increased survival when rag1(-/-) mutant zebrafish were re-exposed to the same bacteria. Further, adoptive cell transfers demonstrated that kidney interstitial leukocytes from previously exposed rag1(-/-) mutant zebrafish transferred this protective immunity. This is the first report of any rag1(-/-) mutant vertebrate mounting a protective secondary immune response to a bacterial pathogen, and demonstrates that a type of zebrafish innate immune cell can mediate adaptive immunity in the absence of T and B cells.