Proteins in the arthropod hemocyanin gene family are involved in major physiological processes, including aerobic respiration, the innate immune response, and molting. Members of this family, hemocyanin, cryptocyanin, and phenoloxidase, are multisubunit molecules that assemble into hexamers and higher aggregates. The hemocyanin hexamers show species-specific subunit heterogeneity. It is hypothe...

This investigation studied the innate immune parameters of Macrobrachium malcolmsonii fed diets enriched with 0, 0.01%, 0.1%, or 1.0% Andrographis paniculata extract and infected with Lactococcus garviae. The total hemocyte count did not significantly differ between treatments during the first week but was significantly higher in prawns fed the 0.1% or 1.0% diets during weeks 2 and 4. Phenoloxi...

This paper reports the evaluation of digestibility, immunological parameters, and resistance to thermal shock at low temperature in Litopenaeus vannamei fed diets with diferent Aurantiochytrium sp. meal additions (0; 0.5; 1 2%). First, apparent digestibility coefficient ingredient was determined. The microalgae high for protein (74.90%); around 60% lipids, docosahexaenoic fatty acid (DHA) it 55...

Gastroliths are transient extracellular calcium deposits formed by the crayfish Cherax quadricarinatus von Martens on both sides of the stomach wall during pre-molt. Gastroliths are made of a rigid chitinous organic matrix, constructed as sclerotized chitin-protein microfibrils within which calcium carbonate is deposited. Although gastroliths share many characteristics with the exoskeleton, the...

Estimates of phenoloxidase (PO) activity have been suggested as a useful indicator of immunocompetence in arthropods, with the idea that high PO activity would indicate high immunocompetence against parasites and pathogens. Here, we test for variation in PO activity among clones of the planktonic crustacean Daphnia magna and its covariation with susceptibility to infections from four different ...