Isolation and Characterization of the Immunoglobulin (IgM) from Oreochromis niloticus in Brazil

Abstract

The objective of study was to isolate immunoglobulin (IgM) from the serum of tilapia found in Brazil, characterize its molecular mass, and evaluate it by serological tests. Results showed that IgM had a tetrameric structure with 81 kDa heavy chain and 40 kDa light chain, probably being another lineage of those described in scientific articles in other countries. Immuno-electrophoresis confirmed the IgM and, in the double diffusion agar test, the homologous reaction was observed. Elisa test was developed to quantify the IgM produced by tilapia. These techniques could be used in future tilapia projects involving vaccine production.