title: Antibacterial immune response in Astacus leptodactylus (Crustacea, Decapoda).
abstract: Antibacterial substances (ABS) in the hemolymph of Astacus leptodactylus were studied by agar-plate lysis and inhibition tests. The results demonstrate ABS against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. ABS against Gram-positive bacteria were identified as a lysozyme with a molecular weight of 14 kDa, heat resistance (< 50 degrees C) and lability to freezing. ABS against Gram-negative bacteria lost 50% of their activity at 50 degrees C and completely at 70 degrees C but were stable to freezing. Both ABS are inducible; they are produced and stored in the granular and semigranular hemocytes. Lysozyme is found in treated and untreated animals, ABS against Gram-negative bacteria only after induction.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Allgemeine und Spezielle Zoologie, Justus-Liebig-Universität, Germany.
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Xylander
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ullrich
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Kaiser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003400:Astacoidea / Q000276:immunology*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005615:Freezing; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000276:immunology; D006458:Hemolymph / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007114:Immunization; D009113:Muramidase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009113:Muramidase