Effects of fetal bovine serum (FBS) and complement on phagocytic activity in Ornithodaros moubata (Murray 1877) hemocytes and protease activity in the hemocytes were examined. At least three morphologically different cell types, granulocytes, plasmatocytes, and prohemocytes, were detected in hemolymph of O. moubata, and granulocytes and plasmatocytes showed phagocytic activity. FBS altered phag...

Most, if not all, animals engage in associations with bacterial symbionts. Understanding the mechanisms by which host immune systems and beneficial bacteria communicate is a fundamental question in the fields of immunology and symbiosis. The Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymna scolopes) engages in two known symbioses; a binary relationship with the light organ symbiont Vibrio fischeri, and a bacte...

Malaria is a global public health problem, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where the mosquito Anopheles gambiae Giles serves as the major vector for the protozoan Plasmodium falciparum Welch. One determinant of malaria vector competence is the mosquito's immune system. Hemocytes are a critical component as they produce soluble immune factors that either support or prevent malaria parasite dev...

The relationships between schistosomiasis and its intermediate host, mollusks of the genus Biomphalaria, have been a concern for decades. It is known that the vector mollusk shows different susceptibility against parasite infection, whose occurrence depends on the interaction between the forms of trematode larvae and the host defense cells. These cells are called amebocytes or hemocytes and are...

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...

Cell migration has been studied extensively in vitro, however, fewer studies address this subject in vivo. Our aim is to determine in vivo, the role of the actin regulatory protein, Ena. To enable this we are studying Drosophila hemocytes in the developing embryo. Hemocytes are the primary immune cells of Drosophila and during development they follow stereotyped pathways to distribute throughou...

Cell migration has been studied extensively in vitro, however, fewer studies address this subject in vivo. Our aim is to determine in vivo, the role of the actin regulatory protein, Ena. To enable this we are studying Drosophila hemocytes in the developing embryo. Hemocytes are the primary immune cells of Drosophila and during development they follow stereotyped pathways to distribute throughou...

Invertebrate organisms mostly have innate immune system. Hemocytes are the cells of immunity in invertebrates. Our study was designed to observe effect malathion insecticide on system, function and hemocytes Drosophila melanogaster. A hemocytometer used for total count which showed a reduced percentage live (from 91.63% 44.57%) due treatment. For differential count, hemolymph spread as smear cl...

Tunicates are filter feeding marine invertebrates that are susceptible to environmental contamination by toxic metals and polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Recently, we have shown that tunicate immune reactions are profoundly affected by exposure to tributyltin (TBT) and copper, both of which are components of marine antifouling paints. This study tests the effects of those pollutants on the hemocytes...

Invertebrates display effective innate immune responses for defense against microbial infection. However, the protozoan parasite Perkinsus marinus causes Dermo disease in the eastern oyster Crassostrea virginica and is responsible for catastrophic damage to shellfisheries and the estuarine environment in North America. The infection mechanisms remain unclear, but it is likely that, while filter...