Biomolecules of the Horseshoe Crab’s Hemolymph: Components of an Ancient Defensive Mechanism and Its Impact on the Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Industry

Without adaptive immunity, invertebrates have evolved innate immune systems that react to antigens on the surfaces of pathogens. These defense mechanisms are included in horseshoe crab hemocytes’ cellular responses Secretory granules, large (L) and small (S), found hemocytes. Once invasion pathogens is present, these granules release their contents through exocytosis. Recent data biochemistry immunology granular constituents granule-specific proteins stored which involved cell-mediated response. L-granules contain most clotting proteins, necessary for hemolymph coagulation. They also include tachylectins; protease inhibitors, such as cystatin serpins; anti-lipopolysaccharide (LPS) factors, bind LPS agglutinate bacteria. Big defensin, tachycitin, tachystatin, tachyplesins some essential cysteine-rich S-granules. tachycitin tachystatins, can act synergistically fight infections. biomolecules antimicrobial antibacterial, enabling them be drug resistant. This review aimed at explaining identified crab’s application scopes pharmaceutical biotechnology sectors.