Assessing Immunological Memory in the Solitary Ascidian Ciona robusta.

ABSTRACT: The immune defensive mechanisms active in the solitary ascidian Ciona robusta include phagocytic and encapsulating activity, largely brought about by phagocytic cells within the haemocyte population, the presence of complement components, which have been molecularly and functionally identified, and expression of a number of immune-related genes and pathways, identified by genome-based homology with vertebrate counterparts. Since C. robusta only displays highly conserved innate immune mechanisms, being devoid of an adaptive immune system, this organism is an excellent model for studying the features of innate memory, i.e., the capacity of the innate immune system to re-programming its responsiveness to potentially dangerous agents upon repeated exposure. In this study, we have

SUBMITTER: Melillo D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6707023 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature