Secondary immunological reactivity in invertebrate animals

Summary

The authors discuss the possibility of immune antibody production by marine invertebrates. Molluscs were immunized by extracts of Chordata (Styela rustica,Molgula retortiformis,Boltenia echinata), animals of higher organization than the molluscs. It was shown with the aid of the ring precipitation test that the corresponding antibodies appear in the celomic fluid of experimental animals 7–12 days after the completion of immunization. No appearance of antibodies was noted when more highly organized animals were immunized with the tissue of animals with a lower level of organization.