Invertebrate Immunology

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XIII

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2. Humoral Factors in Marine Invertebrates

   • M. Leclerc

   Pages 1-9

3. Earthworm Immunity

   • E. L. Cooper

   Pages 10-45

4. The Prophenoloxidase Activating System and Associated Proteins in Invertebrates

   • M. W. Johansson, K. Söderhäll

   Pages 46-66

5. Inducible Humoral Immune Defense Responses in Insects

   • R. D. Karp

   Pages 67-87

6. Blood Clotting in Invertebrates

   • S. Srimal

   Pages 88-100

7. Immune Function α2-Macroglobulin in Invertebrates

   • P. B. Armstrong, J. P. Quigley

   Pages 101-130

8. Host—Parasite Interactions in Molluscs

   • S. E. Fryer, C. J. Bayne

   Pages 131-153

9. Clotting and Immune Defense in Limulidae

   • T. Muta, S. Iwanaga

   Pages 154-189

10. Cytotoxic Activity of Tunicate Hemocytes

    • N. Parrinello

    Pages 190-217

11. Humoral Factors in Tunicates

    • Y. Saito

    Pages 218-234

12. Molecular Aspects of Immune Reactions in Echinodermata

    • V. Matranga

    Pages 235-247

13. Back Matter

    Pages 249-250

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The biological bases of invertebrate immune responses have interested scientists for decades, from the first relevant observation by E. Metchnikoff in 1882, who discovered phagocytosis while studying starfish larvae. Invertebrate immunology first began to be appre­ ciated as an important field in the late 1960s and 1970s. However, in the following years there was much controversy regarding the question: do invertebrates offer insight into the origin of the sophisticated immune responses of the vertebrates? There are several reasons why progress in research on invertebrate immune competence has been painfully slow. One of the main impediments to the progress, as compared to the fast development of knowledge in the vertebrate systems, was the fact that most of the studies concentrated on "whole organism" assays, mainly on grafting tissues between allogeneic partners. Only in the last few years have more and more aspects of invertebrate immunity been investigated on the cellular, biochemical and molecular levels. These studies led to discoveries of novel defense reactions, new pathways of effector mechanisms which are elicited after recognition of "nonself', and complex, sometimes highly polymorphic genetic elements that control invertebrate immune reactions. The importance of invertebrate immunity for understanding "immunology" as a whole, despite the conflicting models and hypotheses, is now much more recognized than before. Although most of the 20 phyla belonging to the inver­ tebrates have different modes of life, body organizations, habitats occupied, and biochemical patterns, they show striking aspects of exceptional precision for discriminating between self and nonself.

• Immunologie
• Interverteberates
• Marine Biology
• Marine Organismen
• Marine Organisms
• Meeresbiologie
• Wirbellose
• Zellbiologie
• biology
• cell
• cell biology
• immune response
• immunity
• immunology

"...an essential text for any invertebrate immunologist. Furthermore, it should also be of interest to scientists with backgrounds in vertebrate immunology." Immunology Today

• Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, Haifa, Israel

  B. Rinkevich

• Institut für Physiologische Chemie, Abteilung Angewandte Molekularbiologie, Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany

  W. E. G. Müller

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