Lymphoid Organs, Tissues, and Structures in Amphibians and Reptiles: An Evolutionary Perspective

BackgroundThis Research Topic will focus on the development, architecture, dynamics, and functions of lymphoid structures in amphibians and reptiles. Our intent is to catalog and describe structures in herptiles that enable and promote antigen-elicited adaptive immune responses, taking steps toward a comprehensive appreciation of the heterogeneity of lymphoid structures (in terms of both their architectures and their functions) in our evolutionary ancestors.Rather than fitting observations of lymphoid structures and the cellular behaviors therein into established mammalian archetypes, we hope that submissions to this Research Topic will take an agnostic approach to description and nomenclature – in this way we hope to provide a broad framework for a better understanding the evolutionary trajectories that led to the establishment of mammalian lymphoid structures, as well as the trajectories that led to structures that have not been conserved.Key Areas of Focus:• Overall microarchitecture and leukocyte dynamics in the spleen during quiescence and acute, adaptive immune responses with a focus on T cell zone:B cell zone positioning and segregation, red pulp:white pulp delineation, and antigen trafficking• Identification of novel/induced immune structures throughout the body, with an emphasis on mucosal structuresA more comprehensive appreciation of the positioning of herptile lymphoid organs and structures throughout the body, as well as the positioning of leukocyte subsets within these organs and tissues, will offer significant insight into the capacity of individual genera to mount productive adaptive immune responses, and will offer additional insight into the pressures faced by individual genera. The generation of large-scale datasets across multiple genera has been hindered in the past by the limited availability of specific reagents for specific leukocyte (and non-leukocyte) cell populations; it is our hope that in this Research Topic, investigators will be able to make use of new technologies including spatial transcriptomics and proteomics to rapidly expand our knowledge of the compositions, distributions, and evolutionary heterogeneity of immune organs and structures in herptiles, while providing a general framework for further expansion into additional vertebrate classes. Topic editors: Harold Neely Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/84472/lymphoid-organs-tissues-and-structures-in-amphibians-and-reptiles-an-evolutionary-perspective