Jurd R D
Department of Biology, University of Essex, Colchester, England.
Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis. 1994 Feb;17(1):41-52. doi: 10.1016/0147-9571(94)90005-1.
Immune systems and responses in Monotremata and Marsupialia are reviewed. The Monotremata (Prototheria) are egg-laying mammals. Few studies have been carried out on monotremes. The structure of the lymph nodules of Tachyglossus aculeatus is unusual, and the occurrence of IgG in this species is noteworthy: IgG has not yet been found in any non-mammal. A number of Marsupialia (Metatheria) species have been used as immunological models. Generally immune responses are somewhat slower and less accentuated than in placental (eutherian) mammals. Of interest is the presence of cervical and thoracic thymuses in several marsupials. Marsupials are born very immature and possess rather rudimentary immune responses at birth: the neonate may provide a helpful model for immune ontogenesis. Marsupials have a full repertoire of immunoglobulin classes. MHC Class II (but not Class I) gene polymorphism may be limited. Studies using molecular biology techniques are awaited to elucidate the structural organization of the immune components and to determine similarities and differences between marsupials' and other animals' immune systems.
本文综述了单孔目动物和有袋目动物的免疫系统及免疫反应。单孔目动物（原兽亚纲）是卵生哺乳动物。目前针对单孔目动物的研究较少。针鼹的淋巴小结结构独特，该物种中IgG的出现值得关注：在任何非哺乳动物中尚未发现IgG。许多有袋目动物（后兽亚纲）物种已被用作免疫学模型。一般来说，与胎盘（真兽亚纲）哺乳动物相比，其免疫反应 somewhat slower 且不太明显。有趣的是，几种有袋动物存在颈胸腺和胸胸腺。有袋动物出生时非常不成熟，出生时免疫反应相当原始：新生儿可能为免疫个体发生提供一个有用的模型。有袋动物拥有完整的免疫球蛋白类别。MHC II类（但不是I类）基因多态性可能有限。期待使用分子生物学技术的研究来阐明免疫成分的结构组织，并确定有袋动物与其他动物免疫系统之间的异同。
