Immunomodulatory effects of temperature and pH of water in an Indian freshwater sponge.
Eunapius carteri, a freshwater sponge of India, inhabits the ponds and lakes and experiences variations of temperature and pH of water throughout the year. Sponges bear evolutionary and ecological importance with limited information on their immunological attribute and adaptational resilience in a changing environment. This paper reports temperature and pH specific responses of immune related parameters in sponge maintained in the experimental conditions of laboratory. Innate immunological parameters like phagocytosis and generation of cytotoxic molecules like superoxide anion, nitric oxide and phenoloxidase activity were estimated in E. carteri at different environmentally realistic water temperatures (10, 20, 30 and 40°C) and pH (6.4, 7.4 and 8.4). Phagocytosis and cytotoxicity are established as important immune parameters of invertebrates. Calalase, an antioxidant enzyme and phosphatases are involved in pathogen destruction and are considered as components of innate immunity. Activities of catalase, acid and alkaline phosphatases were estimated in E. carteri at different thermal regimes and pH. Modulation of phagocytic and cytotoxic responses and the activities of catalase and phosphatases at different water temperatures and pH indicated temperature and pH specific immunological status of E. carteri. Present investigation deals with the effects of selected hydrological parameters on the fundamental immune related parameters in sponge indicating its adaptational plasticity. Immunological resilience of this species in the face of variation of water temperature and pH is thought to be a special adaptive feature of sponge, a reported "living fossil".
Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata 700019, West Bengal, India. Electronic address: mukherjee.soumalya259@gmail.com.
Soumalya
S
Mukherjee
Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata 700019, West Bengal, India. Electronic address: anindyasbhunia@gmail.com.
Anindya Sundar
AS
Bhunia
Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata 700019, West Bengal, India. Electronic address: niladri80.bhunia@gmail.com.
Niladri Sekhar
NS
Bhunia
Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata 700019, West Bengal, India. Electronic address: mitalirayin@yahoo.co.in.
Mitali
M
Ray
Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Calcutta, 35 Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata 700019, West Bengal, India. Electronic address: raysnailmail@rediffmail.com.
Sajal
S
Ray
D000818:Animals; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D056747:Immunomodulation; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase / Q000276:immunology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000276:immunology; D010587:Phagocytosis; D011161:Porifera / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000276:immunology; D013696:Temperature
D013481:Superoxides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D014442:Monophenol Monooxygenase
Eunapius carteri; Immunological resilience; Nitric oxide; Phagocytosis; Phenoloxidase; Superoxide anion; Water temperature and pH