Date of Award
Spring 5-2009
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Coastal Sciences, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Committee Chair
Dr. Marius Brouwer
Committee Chair Department
Coastal Sciences, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Committee Member 2
Dr. Mark Peterson
Committee Member 2 Department
Coastal Sciences, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Committee Member 3
Dr. Alexander Pozhitkov
Committee Member 3 Department
Coastal Sciences, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Committee Member 4
Dr. Jeffery Lotz
Committee Member 4 Department
Coastal Sciences, Gulf Coast Research Laboratory
Abstract
The blue crab, calinectes sapidus (Rathbun), is a commercial and recreation valuable crustacean species which lives in a microbially rich environment. In contrast to vertebrates, invertebrates lack of large repertoire and antigenic-recognition receptors and immunological memory that define the essential characteristics of acquired immunity in mammals. In crustaceans, circulating hemocytes are essential in immunity and perform functions such as phagocytosis of non-self particles, encapsulation, and melanization of foreign materials, production of reactive oxygen species and lysis of foreign cells. Despite supporting valuable recreational and commercial fisheries and their potential as an aquaculture species, studies on the immune function in blue crabs are limited and no large-scale gene expression work has been conducted to elucidate immune effectors of the blue crab.
for the full Abstract, please download the dissertation.
Copyright
2009, Natasha Jayne Sharp
Recommended Citation
Sharpe, Natasha Jayna, "BACTERIAL CELL WALL COMPONENTS AFFECT HEMOCYTE COMPOSITION AND GENE EXPRESSION IN THE BLUE CRAB, CALINECTES SAPIDUS: AN INSIGHT INTO EFFECTORS OF IMMUNE FUNCTION" (2009). Dissertations. 1043.
http://aquila.usm.edu/dissertations/1043
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