Cell-Free Immunity and Antibacterial Peptides in Insects

Authors: Afife İZBIRAK

Abstract: All higher organisms can in some way defend or protect themselves against their natural flora of bacteria. This applies also to insects which have highly effective immune systems, both cellular and humoral. Many insects respond to an injection of live, non-pathogenic bacteria with the production of a potent cell-free antibacterial activity. This phenomenon was first analyzed at the molecular level using the Hyalophora cecropia moth as a model system. Today, insect immunity is a rapidly expanding field of research. This present review is focused on the recent work done on cell-free immunity and related phenomena in insects.

Keywords: Antibacterial Peptides; Cecropin; Attacin; Diptericin; Hemolin; Insect Immunity.