The International CIgW Committee
The committee as of August 1, 2004 is comprised of the members listed below.
Aitken, Robert (Vice-chairman) (2001-2010) UK R.Aitken@bio.gla.ac.uk
Bengten, Eva (2004-2007) USA ebengten@microbio.umsmed.edu
Jenne, Craig (2004-2007) Canada cnjenne@ucalgary.ca
Kacskovics, Imre (Chairman) (2001-2007) Hungary ikacsko@univet.hu
Lefranc, Marie-Paule (2004-2010) France lefranc@ligm.igh.cnrs.fr
Marchalonis, John (2001-2007) USA jmarchalonis@yahoo.com
Muyldermans, Serge (2004-2010) Belgium svmuylde@vub.ac.be
Committee Meeting at the 7th Veterinary Immunology Symposium
A committee business meeting was held on July 26th in Quebec City in conjunction with the 7th Veterinary Immunology Symposium (IVIS2004). All but one member attended. A new chairman and vice chairman were elected and it was agreed that Craig Jenne would serve out the term of Wayne Hein and Eva Bengten would serve out the term of Lars Pilstrom. Other vacant positions will be filled according to the CIgW Committee by-laws. Also in attendance were representative of the USDA and members of the veterinary community concerned with reagent availability. The official minutes of the meeting are included below.
Official Minutes
Official Minutes of the CIgW Committee Meeting
Quebec City, July 26th 2004
Present
B. Aasted Royal Veterinary University, Denmark bas@kvl.dk
R. Aitken University of Glasgow, UK r.aitken@bio.gla.ac.uk
C. Baldwin University of Massachusetts, USA cbaldwin@vasci.umass.edu
J. Butler University of Iowa, USA john-butler@uiowa.edu
W. Davis Washington State University, USA davisw@wsu.edu
C. Gay USDA-ARS Beltsville, USA cgg@ars.usda.gov
W. Golde USDA Orient, USA wgolde@piadc.ars.usda.gov
W. Hein AgResearch, New Zealand wayne.hein@agresearch.co.nz
C. Jenne University of Calgary, Canada cnjenne@ucalgary.ca
P. Johnson USDA / CSREES, USA pjohnson@csrees.usda.gov
I. Kacskovics Szent Istvan University, Hungary kacskovics.imre@aotk.szie.hu
M.-P. Lefranc Université Montpellier II, France lefranc@ligm.igh.cnrs.fr
J. Lunney USD-ARS Beltsville, USA jlunney@anri.barc.usda.gov
N. Miller University of Mississippi Medical Center, US nmiller@microbio.umsmed.edu
M. Murtaugh University of Minnesota, USA murta001@umn.edu
S. Muyldermans Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium svmuylde@vub.ac.be
J. Naessens ILRI Nairobi, Kenya j.naessens@cgiar.org
B. Wagner Cornell University, USA bw73@cornell.edu
Business
After a brief overview of the CIgW website currently hosted at the University of Iowa, the meeting moved to Agenda item 1.
(1) Proposed CIgW by-laws. John Butler reviewed the proposed by-laws, emphasizing the advantages of regular turnover on a 6 year rolling cycle. Acceptance of the document was proposed, seconded and adopted with the suggestion that a clause be added to make clear that membership of the CIgW Committee for a 6 year term need not preclude future membership if that was thought desirable. (The revised by-laws follow these Minutes)
(2) Composition of the Committee. In advance of the meeting, Eva Bengtén (University of Mississippi Medical Center) had been asked if she would join the Committee to replace the expertise in fish immunology previously provided by Lars Pilström. In light of her willingness, her membership was proposed, seconded and accepted. Wayne Hein explained his desire to step down from the Committee. It was proposed, seconded and adopted that Craig Jenne replace him. (Committee composition follows below)
(3) Chair and vice chair. It was proposed, seconded and adopted that Imre Kacskovics serve as Chair of the CIgW 2004 - 2007 assisted by Rob Aitken as Vice Chair. In line with the by-laws, it was anticipated that Rob would take over as Chair 2007 - 2010 supported by a newly-elected Vice Chair.
(4) Nomenclature. The central problem - Ig molecules from different species with identical designations but dissimilar biological activities - was evident to everyone present at the meeting. Various strategies were discussed that might help clarify matters but as Bettina Wagner cautioned, phylogenetic and sequence comparisons between species are no panacea. She pointed out that in the horse, seven IgG constant region genes exist and biological function could not have been accurately predicted from their sequence similarities with IgG subclasses from other species. As indicated by Jan Naessens, a rational approach to nomenclature might be based upon one or more of several criteria - sequence, function, chromosomal position, interaction with FcRs. It was acknowledged that in veterinary immunology, identification of Ig classes / subclasses would likely require a working nomenclature far in advance of complete understanding of all these criteria. Two suggestions were made to take matters forward. Marie-Paule Lefranc suggested that the literature should carry clear reference to the species from which a given Ig was isolated (eg "we have purified and characterized the properties of IgG1 [Bos taurus] …") as a caveat against inter-species comparison solely on the basis of name. From her experience with the HLDA8 workshop, Joan Lunney proposed that the Committee draft general and more detailed papers for publication to highlight to the wider immunological community the emerging problem of nomenclature and the need for a naming convention that would aid clarity in inter-species comparison.
(5) Remit of the Committee re. TCRs. It was agreed that the remit of the Committee should be broadened to include TCRs but that to support this, the membership of the Committee should be expanded. Marie-Paule Lefranc offered the reassurance that the nomenclature issue for TCRs could be resolved more easily by sequence comparison.
(6) Reagents. There was lengthy discussion of how a wider range of reagents could be brought to the veterinary immunology community for the study of Igs and potentially of TCRs / FcRs. The role of the Committee in facilitating this process was also discussed. Bill Golde suggested that the community would be best served by contract manufacturing arrangement, to supply reagents identified by existing and future initiatives. Reagent development would need to be co-ordinated on an international basis to avoid duplication of effort. An alternative, commercial model - reagent development in an academic environment, followed by licensing to a commercial entity - might be possible if the market for reagents was of sufficient size to be profitable. Bill Davis suggested that income from this model could be reinvested in further rounds of reagent development. Peter Johnson outlined up-coming USDA initiatives re reagent development that would aim to complement BBSRC-funded work in the UK but as pointed out by Cyril Gay, the differences between budgets available to USDA and NIH were substantial. A convincing case for large animal models of human disease could clearly lever improved funding for large animal research and reagent development. In this context, Imre Kacskovics highlighted the likely rise of transgenesis in livestock animals as a means to produce human therapeutics and as models for human disease. He suggested that the success of this strategy would depend upon better understanding of the immunology of the species concerned.
Imre Kacskovics and John Butler proposed that the Committee could best facilitate reagent development by highlighting the problem in publications (see end of item 4), providing a point of contact for investigators seeking reagents, surveying the needs of the community, and helping identify where new reagents would have maximal impact. Mike Murtaugh warned of the workload inherent in generating / maintaining a database published on the web and underscored the need for definitive data with new and existing reagents. In this context, John Butler proposed that one useful step forward would be for the Committee to request data from manufacturers of existing reagents on how the specificity of their reagents was assessed and defined. Joan Lunney reminded the Committee that the Veterinary Immunology Committee had limited funds available for the evaluation of reagents through workshops.
(7) To close, Marie-Paule Lefranc provided the meeting with an overview of the history and function of the IMGT information system. Attention was drawn to the range of tools and display functions available.
Official By-laws of the CIgW Committee
I. Duties and Tenure of Membership
A. Membership
Members who agree to serve on the CIgW Committee (hereafter called the Committee) will do so for a term of not less than six years. However, they may serve a longer term or be re-appointed for a second term at a later time. Members are chosen on recommendation from Committee members and the outside international immunological community. Their duties are to include:
1. A willingness to serve as chairperson, vice-chairperson or secretary if asked to do so. Special circumstances are accepted as reasons for not assuming a Committee leadership role.
2. A willingness to respond rapidly to communications from the Committee chairperson/vice-chairperson and to work closely with the leadership to resolve issues.
3. An effort to attend all official business meetings and most workshops organized by the Committee.
4. An agreement to inform the Committee in due time if the tenure of membership cannot be fulfilled and to suggest an individual to complete the term.
II. Official Duties of Leadership
A. Chairperson
Is to be elected by the Committee membership to serve a term of not less than three years but not more than six. The duties of the chairperson include the following:
1. Maintain a regular exchange and discussion with the Committee by electronic or other forms of communication, regarding all matters of concern to the Committee.
2. Act as the presiding official at all formal meetings of the Committee.
3. Organize regular business meetings of the Committee or Special Workshops as needed in conjunction with international meetings.
4. Work closely with members of the Committee and the vice-chairperson to assure that updated information on immunoglobulins, immunoglobulin genes or Fc receptor is provided to the CIgW Webmaster.
5. Arrange for the regular replacement of members of the Committee on recommendations from the Committee and with consultations with others in the immunological community.
6. Maintain liaison with relevant immunological societies such as the Veterinary Immunology Committee (VIC), the International Union of Immunology Societies (IUIS), the British Society of Immunology and American Association of Immunologists (AAI).
B. Vice-Chairperson
Is to be elected by the Committee to a minimum of three years and to be prepared to become chairperson after three years. The duties of the vice-chairperson will include the following:
1. Take over the duties of the chairperson if for any reason he/she is unable to do so.
2. Serve as the chief liaison person to the VIC and other relevant international immunological organizations and special committees. These include groups and committees concerned with immunoglobulin nomenclature and reagent standardization.
3. Work with the chairperson, the Committee, VIC and commercial or governmental groups to establish a budget for the Committee and its proper use.
C. Secretary
To be appointed by mutual understanding, by the chairperson to prepare the minutes of all formal meetings of the CIgW Committee and provide them to the CIgW Webmaster.
III. Maintenance and Use of the CIgW Committee Budget
A. Source of funding
1. Relevant research organization such as VIC, AAI or BSI
2. International agencies such as NATO, the EU or the WHO
3. Veterinary and agricultural branches in various countries such as the USDA
4. Private companies
5. International foundations
B. Use of CIgW Funding
1. Organization of workshops in conjunction with international meetings not to cover travel.
2. Compensation to the vice-chairperson and chairperson to attend meetings of important committees or organizations that impact the role of the CIgW. Travel support for such meetings must be agreed upon by the Committee.
3. Maintenance of the CIgW Website.