Investigations of phagocytosis concerning the immunological defence mechanism of Mytilus edulis using a sublethal luminescent bacterial assay (Photobacterium phosphoreum).
1. A simple method for the determination of phagocytosis activity using mussel hemocytes by measuring the bioluminescence is presented. 2. The immunological defence activity based on phagocytosis is measured and quantified by a luminescent bacterial assay with Photobacterium phosphoreum. 3. The measuring system allows us to establish the stress of the immunological defence mechanism of organisms exposed to chemicals and polluted rivers or sewage. Results with reference substances and the phagocytosis indices of exposed mussels from Norwegian aquaculture plants compared to those of mussels from the German Wadden Sea are given as examples.
Institute for Water, Soil and Air Hygiene, Federal Health Office, Berlin, F.R.G.
P D
PD
Hansen
R
R
Bock
F
F
Brauer
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D049872:Bivalvia / Q000276:immunology*; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000276:immunology*; D010776:Photobacterium / Q000276:immunology*