Evolutionary Biology - Dr Kathy Belov

Dr Kathy Belov

ARC Postdoctoral Fellow

Address

Evolutionary Biology Unit
The Australian Museum
6 College St
Sydney 2010
Phone: (+612) 9320 6292 or 6175
Fax: (+612) 9320 6020

Academic Qualifications

B.Sc. (Hons) Macquarie University 1996
Ph.D. Macquarie University 2002

Current research interests

My main research focus is on the evolution of the mammalian adaptive immune system. During my PhD studies I determined that the ‘second big bang’ of immunoglobulin evolution occurred prior to the separation of the three extant mammalian lineages. All mammals produce IgM, IgA, IgG and IgE, which is quite different to the antibody repertoire seen in lower vertebrates. Investigation of the variable region diversity in the different mammalian lineages has also lead to some surprising discoveries.
At present, I am characterising genes of immunological importance from the short-beaked echidna and the platypus with the purpose of

investigating the immune system in monotremes,
gaining insights into the timing and order of evolutionary separation of the three extant mammalian groups:- the Prototherians (monotremes), the Metatherians (marsupials) and Eutherians (placentals),
increasing understanding of the evolution of the vertebrate immune system
providing the basis for making immunological reagents, for studying monotreme diseases (as a conservation strategy).

The evolution of the major histocompatibility complex has recently become a key focus of my work. I have found that the MHC genes in marsupials and monotremes are not orthologous to the gene clusters found in eutherians. I have isolated BACs containing MHC class I and class II sequences from both the tammar wallaby and the platypus. I am currently involved in projects studying MHC diversity in platypuses, macropods, tuataras, lizards and sharks.

Collaborators

The adaptive immune system of marsupials and monotremes - Prof. R.D. Miller (University of New Mexico) and Prof. L. Hellman (University of Uppsala)
Major histocompatibility complex genomics of marsupials and monotremes - Prof. R.D. Miller (UNM), Prof. J.A. Graves and Dr. J. Deakin (ANU)
MHC diversity in platypuses and relationship between MHC and susceptibility to ulcerative mycosis - Dr. Shiro Akiyama (Genetic Science Services), the late Dr. Barry Munday (University of Tasmania), Dr. M.D.B. Eldridge (Macquarie University)
MHC diversity in macropods - Dr. M.D.B. Eldridge and Ms T.L. Browning (Macquarie University) and Prof. R.D. Miller (UNM)
Characterisation of MHC genes and the study of MHC diversity in the New Zealand tuatara - Prof. C. Daugherty and Dr. Hilary Miller (Victoria University, New Zealand) and Prof. D.W. Cooper (Macquarie University)
T cell receptor diversity in marsupials and monotreme - Prof. R.D. Miller and Ms. Zuly Paras (UNM)
Development of marsupial specific immunological reagents - Prof. D.W. Cooper and Ms R. Rawson (Macquarie University), Mr. J. Kelly and Dr. A. Gidley-Baird (Bioquest Ltd.)

Students

Ms Mai-Anh Nguyen (Macquarie University) Onset of immunoglobulin expression in brushtail possum pouch young - 2001
Ms Rachael Woodward (Macquarie University) MHC class II ß-diversity in the platypus - 2003
Ms Uta Kuepper - Production of recombinant platypus IgG in a bacterial expression system - 2002
Mr Till Bayer - Production of recombinant platypus IgM in a bacterial expression system - 2002
Ms Aliana Hoerhagger - Characterisation of immunoglobulin isotype numbers in the platypus and echidna - 2002
Ms Katjuscha Siehl - Characterisation of T cell receptor diversity in the platypus and echidna - 2003

Publications

Belov, K., Harrison, G.A., Cooper, D.W. (1998) Molecular cloning of the cDNA encoding the constant region of the immunoglobulin A heavy chain from a marsupial: Trichosurus vulpecula (common brushtail possum). Immunology Letters 60, 165-170.

Belov, K., Harrison G.A., Cooper, D.W. (1998) Cloning of the red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) follicle stimulating hormone beta subunit. Reproduction Fertility and Development 10, 289-291.

Belov, K., Harrison, G.A., Miller, R.D., Cooper, D.W. (1999) Isolation and sequence of a cDNA coding for the heavy chain constant region of IgG from the Australian brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula. Molecular Immunology, 36, 534-541.

Belov, K., Harrison, G.A., Rosenberg, G.H., Miller, R.D., Cooper, D.W. (1999) Isolation and comparison of the IgM heavy chain constant regions from Australian (Trichosurus vulpecula) and American (Monodelphis domestica) marsupials. Developmental and Comparative Immunology, 23(7-8), 649-56.

Belov, K., Harrison, G.A., Miller, R.D., Cooper, D.W. (1999) Cloning and characterisation of the Trichosurus vulpecula heavy chain constant regions of IgG, IgM, IgA and IgE. Advances in the biological control of possums, 56, 47-49.

Belov, K., Harrison, G.A., Miller, R.D., Cooper, D.W. (1999) Molecular cloning of the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) immunoglobulin E heavy chain constant region. Molecular Immunology 36(18):1255-61.

Miller R.D. and Belov K. (2000) Immunoglobulin genetics in marsupials. Developmental and Comparative Immunology 24(5):485-90.

Belov, K., Harrison, G.A., Miller, R.D., Cooper, D.W. (2000) Characterisation of the kappa light chain of the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 78(3-4):317-24

Belov, K., Harrison, G.A., Miller, R.D., Cooper, D.W. (2002) Molecular cloning of four lambda light chain cDNAs from the Australian brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). European Journal of Immunogenetics - 29(2):95-9.

Rawson, R.R., Belov, K., Gidley-Baird, A.A and Cooper D.W. (2002) Characterisation of antisera to recombinant IgA of the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 88(1-2): 89-95

Lam, M.K-P., Belov, K., Harrison, G.A., Cooper, D.W. (2000). cDNA Cloning of the MHC Class II DRB gene from the Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Immunology Letters 76(1):31-6.

Lam, M.K-P., Belov, K., Harrison, G.A., Cooper, D.W. (2000). An MHC Class I gene from the Brushtail Possum (Trichosurus vulpecula). Immunogenetics 5; 430-433.

Belov, K., Nguyen, M.T., Zenger, K.R. and Cooper, D.W. (2002) Ontogeny of immunoglobulin expression in the brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)- Developmental and Comparative Immunology 26(7);599-602.

Belov, K., Zenger, K.R., Hellman, L., Cooper, D.W. (2001) Echidna IgA supports mammalian unity and traditional Therian relationship. Submitted - Mammalian Genome 13(11):656-63.

Belov, K., Hellman, L and Cooper, D.W. (2002) Characterisation of immunoglobulin gamma 1 from a monotreme, Tachyglossus aculeatus. Immunogenetics 53(12);1065-71.

Belov, K., Hellman, L. and Cooper, D.W. (2002) Characterisation of echidna IgM provides insights into the time of divergence of extant mammals. Developmental and Comparative Immunology - 26; 831-839.

Belov, K. and Hellman, L. (2003) Platypus immunoglobulin M and the divergence of the two monotreme lineages. Australian Mammalogy 25:87-94.

Belov, K. and Hellman, L. (2003) Immunoglobulin genetics of Ornithorhynchus anatinus (platypus) and Tachyglossus aculeatus (short-beaked echidna). Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology, Part A. DOI: 10.1016/S1095-6433(03)00165-X

Belov, K., Lam, M.K.P., Hellman, L., Colgan, D.J. (2003) Evolution of the major histocompatibility complex: Isolation of class II beta cDNAs from two monotremes, the platypus and the short-beaked echidna - Immunogenetics - in press.

Australian Museum Evolutionary Biology Unit