In response to microbial infection, insects mount several defense reactions including the induction of proteolytic cascades that lead to localized melanization and coagulation. Melanization requires the activation of prophenoloxidase (proPO) to its active form phenoloxidase (PO), a key enzyme that leads to the formation of melanin at wound sites and around intruding microorganisms in the hemoly...

In response to microbial infection, insects mount several defense reactions including the induction of proteolytic cascades that lead to localized melanization and coagulation. Melanization requires the activation of prophenoloxidase (proPO) to its active form phenoloxidase (PO), a key enzyme that leads to the formation of melanin at wound sites and around intruding microorganisms in the hemoly...

In insects, hemocytes are considered as the only source of plasma prophenoloxidase (PPO). PPO also exists in the hemocytes of the hematopoietic organ that is connected to the wing disc of Bombyx mori. It is unknown whether there are other cells or tissues that can produce PPO and release it into the hemolymph besides circulating hemocytes. In this study, we use the silkworm as a model to explor...

Mating can affect female immunity in multiple ways. On the one hand, the immune system may be activated by pathogens transmitted during mating, sperm and seminal proteins, or wounds inflicted by males. On the other hand, immune defences may also be down-regulated to reallocate resources to reproduction. Ants are interesting models to study post-mating immune regulation because queens mate early...

Crustaceans affected by shell disease syndrome display characteristic black-spot lesions in regions of exoskeletal degradation. Vogan et al. [Dis. Aquat. Org. (2001)] have shown that the severity of shell disease in the edible crab, Cancer pagurus, correlates with an increase in haemocoelic bacterial infections and may therefore serve as an external marker for the internal health of the animal....

BACKGROUND RNA interference (RNAi) is an important molecular tool for analysis of gene function in vivo. Daphnia, a freshwater microcrustacean, is an emerging model organism for studying cellular and molecular processes involved in aging, development, and ecotoxicology especially in the context of environmental variation. However, in spite of the availability of a fully sequenced genome of Daph...