Comparative Immunology: Sipunculid Bactericidal Responses

Abstract

This report continues comparative studies of inducible bactericidins of invertebrates. The bactericidin of the sipunculid worm Dendrostomum zostericolum Chamberlain was induced by intracoelomic injections of killed bacteria. With the assay system used, optimal results were obtained with 90 min of incubation at 20 to 35 C. Bactericidal titers in coelomic fluids from noninjected worms were either low or nonexistent. After injections of gram-negative bacteria, bactericidal titers of up to 1:1280 were reached within 7 days. Considerable individual variations were noted. Optimal stimulation was achieved with 4 x 108 bacteria per injection. The response was relatively nonspecific as measured by cross-immunization and absorption experiments. Injections of sterile sea water produced no response. Coelomic fluids could be inactivated by heating at 50 or 56 C for 20 min. Activity was not restored by a pool of unheated coelomic fluid from nonimmunized worms. The significance of these observations was discussed with reference to immunity of sipunculids and to comparative immunology.

The immune response in fish: a review

“…An anamnestic response could be demonstrated in that the production of antibodies was accelerated relative to the primary response, but the titres produced were not significantly higher. I n many respects the antibodies of the hagfish appear similar to the inducible bactericidins produced by the spiny lobster (Evans et al, 1968 and the sipunculid worm Dendrostomum zostericolum Chamberlain (Evans et al, 1973). Structurally, they also resemble the haemagglutinins of higher invertebrates.…”

CELLULAR DEFENSE REACTIONS OFPHASCOLOSOMA AGASSIZII, A SIPUNCULAN WORM: PHAGOCYTOSIS BY GRANULOCYTES

“…Strong anti-bacterial properties have been demonstrated in the coelomic fluid of S. nudus (Bang and Bang, 1962), Phascolosoma gouldii (Bang and Krassner, 1958;Krassner, 1963), Golfingia gouldii (Rabin and Bang, 1964;Krassner and Florey, 1970), P. agassizii (Blitz, 1965), D. zostericolum (Johnson and Chapman, 1970), and Dendrostomum pyroides (Krassner and Florey, 1970). Injecting bacteria in D. zostericolum resulted in production of a non-specific bactericidin not present, or present in very low amounts, in non-injected animals (Evans et al, 1969;Evans et al, 1973). Injecting ciliates or bacteria caused rapid production of a lysin for some bacteria, ciliates, and blood cells in S. nudus (Cantacuzene, 1922;F.…”