Immunoglobulin (Ig) has antibody activity and binds specifically to the corresponding antigenic epitope, producing a series of biological effects. However, it is an antigenic substance that stimulates the body to produce the corresponding antibody (i.e., anti-Ig antibody). Immunoglobulin epitopes are analyzed using serum containing anti-Ig antibodies (serological identification), which can be divided into three serotypes: isotype, allotype, and idiotype.
Figure 1. The structure of IgA.
Isotype, Allotype and Idiotype
Isotype refers to the same immunoglobulin molecule with the same antigenic epitope in different individuals of the same species. Each immunoglobulin species has only one (γ, α, μ, ε, δ) heavy chain and one (k, λ) light chain. Structural differences in the heavy or light chain constant regions determine the classes and sub-classes, types and subtypes of immunoglobulins (Ig) of a species. In mammals, there are five major isotypes of immunoglobulins: IgA, IgD, IgE, IgG, and IgM.
Allotype refers to the same type of Ig molecules from different individuals of the same species with different antigenic epitopes. Allotype antigenic epitopes exist within the Ig heavy or light chain constant region due to differences in one or more amino acid residues.
The idiotype is located in the hypervariable region of the V region of the immunoglobulin molecule, and each Ig hypervariable region has five to six unique sites. The essence of the idiotype is the difference in amino acid sequence of the hypervariable region in the heavy and light chain variable regions of the immunoglobulin molecule, which is also the molecular basis of antibody specificity.
Sheep Immunoglobulin Antibodies
Ig is the main anti-infective component of sheep plasma, colostrum and breast milk. Sheep have 5 immunoglobulin isotypes, IgM, IgG, IgA, IgD and IgE. The IgG class is further subdivided into 3 subtypes, IgG1, IgG2, and IgG3; the IgA class is subdivided into 2 subtypes, IgA1 and IgA2. These specific proteins protect sheep from harmful bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens by binding to them or forming an encapsulated barrier. The detection of Ig in sheep plasma, colostrum and breast milk allows monitoring of the body condition of sheep and taking timely measures to control the spread of infectious diseases in order to reduce their economic losses to the sheep farming industry. Currently, researchers have developed a series of antibodies to detect sheep immunoglobulins, such as rabbit anti sheep IgA, mouse anti sheep IgE, rabbit anti sheep IgG, and so on.
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