This proposal requests funds for partial support of a conference entitled Molecular and Developmental Immunology of Xenopus, to be held April 7-8, 1989 in Sarasota, Florida. The amphibian, Xenopus, is a unique organism for studying the evolution and development of the vertebrate immune response. Several groups, investigating the Xenopus system at the molecular level, have identified elements of both B-cell differentiation and expression of major histocompatibility molecules which seem to be unique to this species. Other workers, investigating the ontogeny of both stem cells and the thymus, are collecting data which are unattainable from higher vertebrates. The goal of this conference, therefore, is to focus on these emerging areas of Xenopus developmental immunobiology and to identify both similarities and differences between frogs and more well studied birds and mammals. This conference will catalyze productive interactions and draw attention to the unique and interesting aspects of this important amphibian species as a source of new insights into the fundamental mechanisms of self recognition and self defense that underly immune responses.
