SPECIFIC IMMUNE RECOGNITION OF INSECT HEMOLIN

Bacteria entering the body cavities of insects are recognized by hemol ymph components and subsequently inactivated by phagocytosis and nodul e formation. A hemolymph component called hemolin is apparently involv ed in the recognition process. It binds to a bacterial surface molecul e and forms a stable complex with other hemolymph proteins. Hemolin bi nding is independent of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) structure, whereas the complex formation is dependent on the presence of the carb ohydrate moiety of LPS molecules. The specificity of immune recognitio n in insects is discussed.