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Invertebrate Immune Systems–Specific, Quasi-Specific, or Nonspecific?

Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture Research, Department of Biological Sciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea, United Kingdom

Until recently, it was widely accepted that invertebrates fail to show a high degree of specificity and memory in their immune strategies. Recent reports have challenged this view such that our understanding of the capabilities of the invertebrate immune systems needs to be reassessed. This account critically reviews the available evidence that suggests the existence of a high degree of memory and specificity in some invertebrates and seeks mechanistic explanations of such observations. It is postulated that elevated levels of phagocytosis may be a partial explanation for this phenomenon.

The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked advertisement in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.

¹ Address correspondence and reprint requests to Prof. Andrew F. Rowley, Department of Biological Sciences, Swansea University, Singleton Park, Swansea SA2 8PP, U.K. E-mail address: a.f.rowley{at}swansea.ac.uk

² Abbreviations used in this paper: WSSV, white spot syndrome virus; AMP, antimicrobial peptide; Dscam, Down syndrome cell adhesion molecule; Imd, immune deficiency; PRP, pattern recognition protein.

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