Arthropoda: Pattern recognition proteins in crustacean immunity

Abstract

Crustaceans in general are able to mount a robust defense to microorganisms and parasites. They are equipped with pattern recognition proteins (PRPs) capable of binding microbial molecular patterns such as β-1,3-glucans and different bacterial cell wall components. A variety of different reactions are triggered such as prophenoloxidase activation, opsonin formation, phagocytosis, and encapsulation. The crustacean PRPs constitute a large group of proteins consisting of evolutionary highly conserved proteins with a wide presence in several phyla that act side by side with other PRPs that are possibly unique to crustaceans or even groups of crustaceans.