Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42079643›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in immunology2026

Annotation and comparative analysis of T cell receptor germline genes reveal lineage-specific patterns in pinnipeds.

Huan Qin, Long Ma, Jun Li, Fengli Wu, Huifang Wang, Qianqian Li, Xiaoji Pan, Xinsheng Yao

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in immunology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Huan Qin *Department of Microbiology, College of Preclinical Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.
Long Ma *Department of Immunology, Center of Immunomolecular Engineering, Innovation & Practice Base for Graduate Students Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.
Jun LiDepartment of Immunology, Center of Immunomolecular Engineering, Innovation & Practice Base for Graduate Students Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.
Fengli WuDepartment of Immunology, Center of Immunomolecular Engineering, Innovation & Practice Base for Graduate Students Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.
Huifang WangDepartment of Immunology, Center of Immunomolecular Engineering, Innovation & Practice Base for Graduate Students Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.
Qianqian LiDepartment of Immunology, Center of Immunomolecular Engineering, Innovation & Practice Base for Graduate Students Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.
Xiaoji PanDepartment of Immunology, Center of Immunomolecular Engineering, Innovation & Practice Base for Graduate Students Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.
Xinsheng YaoDepartment of Immunology, Center of Immunomolecular Engineering, Innovation & Practice Base for Graduate Students Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Adaptive immunity in jawed vertebrates relies on V(D)J recombination, yet the expansion-contraction dynamics of germline genes remain underexplored, especially in secondary aquatic mammals. We present the first systematic annotation of TRA/TRB germline genes in semi-aquatic carnivores-pinnipeds (Eumetopias jubatus, Zalophus californianus, Mirounga angustirostris, Neomonachus schauinslandi) and the sea otter (Enhydra lutris)-and compare them with terrestrial carnivores (represented by bears), artiodactyls, primates, rodents, reptiles, and ray-finned fishes. Pinnipeds harbor fewer TRBV genes and DJC clusters than terrestrial carnivores, whereas artiodactyls show pronounced TRBV expansions; phylogeny/synteny reveal recurrent TRBV5 proliferation in carnivorans. Structural modeling indicates highly conserved mammalian TRAC/TRBC, consistent with TCR-CD3 stabilization. Transcriptome-based repertoires show that, despite reduced germline copy number, pinnipeds maintain diversity comparable to water buffalo; expanded TRBV families dominate usage and contracted families are under-utilized. These findings support TRA conservation, TRB contraction, and pinnipeds maintain repertoire diversity despite reduced germline copy number.

Indexed as

CaniformiaGenes, T-Cell ReceptorReceptors, Antigen, T-CellAnimalsMolecular Sequence AnnotationPhylogenyReceptors, Antigen, T-Cellpinnipedssecondary aquatic adaptationT cell receptorTCR repertoireTR annotation

Identifiers

PMID42079643
PMCPMC13128417

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.