I study whether B and T cell interactions are required for the development of GALT and the primary antibody repertoire in rabbits.  We are using two soluble co-stimulatory molecules, CD40L-Ig and CTLA4-Ig as inhibitors of B and T cell interactions.  In collaboration with Dr. Sethupathi, we surgically introduce specific bacteria into the germ-free rabbit appendix and then deliver the soluble inhibitors through a slow-release pump which is surgically implanted in the abdomen of the rabbit.  I hypothesize that GALT development and somatic diversification of the primary antibody repertoire in GALT are T independent processes.  I will test this possibility by performing immunohistological examination of GALT and nucleotide sequence analysis of Ig VDJ genes a few weeks after introduction of the bacteria and inhibitors of T-B interactions.