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Cell-mediated Defence Reactions in Insects

  • Chapter
Insect Immunity

Part of the book series: Series Entomologica ((SENT,volume 48))

Abstract

Compared to vertebrates, the immune system in insects is simple as they lack an antigen-antibody complex, although they are capable of responding very effectively against foreign invaders. In the cellular defence mechanism, haemocytes are able to recognize isografts (self) and allografts (non-self) (Lackie, 1986). Haemocytes react in three different ways to foreign invaders, viz., phagocytosis, nodule formation and encapsulation. These processes differ from each other primarily in the relative size of the foreign material to the responding cell and the extent of the reaction (Gupta, 1985). Phagocytosis is the specialized defence mechanism of a metazoan, which is confined to its specialized cells. In this process haemocytes behave selectively with respect to the objects around them. In insects, certain particles cause the reaction of phagocytosis while others do not; as yet, there is no definite postulation to explain how phagocytosis is induced (Götz and Boman, 1985). Nodule formation by the circulating haemocytes is the reaction against a high dose of particulate material, such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa, or suspension of living and non-living particles (Götz, 1986). On random contact with foreign particles the granular cells discharge a flocculent substance that surrounds the foreign object. The cells aggregate around the entrapped micro-organisms to form a compact capsule or nodule which may or may not undergo melanization. Such isolated foreign bodies may be further encapsulated by plasmatocytes to complete cellular encapsulation. Thus encapsulation is a common response to foreign invaders larger than the haemocytes involved in the immune response and involves enclosing the object in several layers of cells (Vinson, 1990).

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  1. Scientist ‘B’, Department of Zoology, Madhav Science College Vikram University, Ujjain, India

    J. P. N. Pathak

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Pathak, J.P.N. (1993). Cell-mediated Defence Reactions in Insects. In: Pathak, J.P.N. (eds) Insect Immunity. Series Entomologica, vol 48. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1618-3_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-1618-3_4

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