THE ROLE OF HEMOLYMPH COAGULATION IN INNATE IMMUNITY

Invertebrate animals, which lack adaptive immune systems, have develop ed defense systems that respond to common antigens on the surface of p otential pathogens. Hemolymph coagulation is one such defense system i n-innate immunity. The discovery of lipopolysaccharide-sensitive and ( 1-->3)-beta-D-glucan-sensitive serine protease zymogens in horseshoe c rab (limulus) hemocytes, both of which trigger the coagulation cascade , has exemplified how the animals detect and respond to foreign materi als.