Most comprehensive book to date on insect immunocytes and other hemocytes Computer image analysis of immunocyte serial sections Why insects are immune to HIV Structural and functional similarities between certain components of the immune systems of arthropods and vertebrates Applications of Limulus Amebocyte Lysate (LAL) to detect endotoxin contamination in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, clinical diagnosis, and hygienic control

Extensively rewritten and long-awaited update of the standard text on insect structure and function.

This text brings together fundamental information on insect taxa, morphology, ecology, behavior, physiology, and genetics. Close relatives of insects, such as spiders and mites, are included.

Immunology of Annelids provides a state-of-the-art review of the biological and biochemical processes involved in defense reactions of annelids. The book covers phylogeny, taxonomy, and fundamental body structure to provide basic information essential to developing a full understanding of the defense system of an organism. Physiological aspects of the relationship between the immune systems and cells and their limitations are discussed in detail, and the role of cells in cellular defense, transplantation, and humoral defenses is explained. The importance of annelids and their defense reaction from the phylogenetic standpoint is examined in a chapter comparing vertebrate and invertebrate defense strategies. Immunology of Annelids is a practical reference for cell biologists, immunologists, evolutionary and developmental biologists, and other researchers who need insight into the development and hierarchy of immune reactions.

This work is the first book-length publication on the topic of insect immunology since 1991, complementing earlier works by offering a fresh perspective on current research. Interactions of host immune systems with both parasites and pathogens are presented in detail, as well as the genomics and proteomics, approaches which have been lacking in other publications. Beckage provides comprehensive coverage of topics important to medical researchers, including Drosophila as a model for studying cellular and humoral immune mechanisms, biochemical mediators of immunity, and insect blood cells and their functions. - Encompasses the most important topics of insect immunology including mechanisms, genes, proteins, evolution and phylogeny - Provides comprehensive coverage of topics important to medical researchers including Drosophila as a model for studying cellular and humoral immune mechanisms, biochemical mediators of immunity, and insect blood cells and their functions - Most up-to-date information published with contributions from international leaders in the field

The biological bases of invertebrate immune responses have interested scientists for decades, from the first relevant observation by E. Metchnikoff in 1882, who discovered phagocytosis while studying starfish larvae. Invertebrate immunology first began to be appre ciated as an important field in the late 1960s and 1970s. However, in the following years there was much controversy regarding the question: do invertebrates offer insight into the origin of the sophisticated immune responses of the vertebrates? There are several reasons why progress in research on invertebrate immune competence has been painfully slow. One of the main impediments to the progress, as compared to the fast development of knowledge in the vertebrate systems, was the fact that most of the studies concentrated on "whole organism" assays, mainly on grafting tissues between allogeneic partners. Only in the last few years have more and more aspects of invertebrate immunity been investigated on the cellular, biochemical and molecular levels. These studies led to discoveries of novel defense reactions, new pathways of effector mechanisms which are elicited after recognition of "nonself', and complex, sometimes highly polymorphic genetic elements that control invertebrate immune reactions. The importance of invertebrate immunity for understanding "immunology" as a whole, despite the conflicting models and hypotheses, is now much more recognized than before. Although most of the 20 phyla belonging to the inver tebrates have different modes of life, body organizations, habitats occupied, and biochemical patterns, they show striking aspects of exceptional precision for discriminating between self and nonself.

This book provides an overview of our current understanding of polyembryony in insects. The study of polyembronic insects has advanced considerably over the last several decades.The book shows the exciting potential of polyembryonic insects and their impact on life sciences. It describes the mechanisms of polyembryogenesis; tissue-compatible invasion of the host, which is the first case of compatible cellular interaction between phylogenetically distant organisms without rejection; the sex differences in defense; and the environmental regulation of caste structure. The first book devoted to polyembryony in insects, it draws on the author’s research on polyembryonic wasps from 1990 to the present day, covering various topics such as polyembryogenesis in vitro, host-parasite interaction, sex differences in soldier function/humoral toxic factor, and the transcription analysis of polyembryogenesis.It is intended not only for researchers in the field of entomology, parasitology, ontogeny, reproductive biology, developmental biology, sociobiology, and evolutionary developmental biology (Evo-Devo), but also for postgraduate students in these fields.

Both volumes of Parasites and Pathogens of Insects provide in-depth coverage of the interface between insect parasites and pathogens and hosts, and explore the relationships between these partners. They emphasize biochemical and molecular interactions, basic biology, and the roles of hormones, receptors, and other cellular components in modulating interactions between host insects and attacking agents. These topics also are assessed in relation to biotechnology and biological control.In the short term, these volumes fill a void in current literature by emphasizing basic interactions at the biochemical and molecular levels. In the long term, these interactions may provide avenues for exploitation to enhance the rate of "beneficial" parasitism or to reduce the rates of disease transmission and infection of vertebrate hosts. - Presents the latest information on insect parasites and pathogens - Describes biochemical and molecular host-parasite and host-pathogen relationships - Covers mechanisms of insect pathogenicity and resistance - Provides exceptional breadth of coverage and authoritative reviews - Special topics - Transposable elements in insect pathogens - Co-evolution and gene transfer between hosts and invaders - Biological control

Studies the physiology of haemolymph innon-diapausing and diapausing generation of A. mylitta in its ontogenticstages. A. mylitta is a widelyexploited wild sericigenous insects, but little was known about itshaematological aspects. It was further noticed that A. mylitta shows a wide range of variation in haemocytes picture and haemolymph compositionin different insect species. Hence the need for this study.

This textbook contains important, comprehensive and in-depth account of all aspects of insect physiology, providing wherever necessary also the fundamental knowledge of the various systems. Although it is aimed as a resource material for postgraduate students of entomology, it would serve as an essential reference source for invertebrate physiologists and neurologists, entomologists, zoologists and insect biochemists. To achieve this goal, extensive references have been made to several textbooks and reviews, to a few research papers dealing with applied aspects of insect physiology and the resources available over the net. The first chapter deals with the anatomical and physiological attributes of the integument conferring insect success with a discussion on the use of the chemical properties of the cuticle to design novel molecules to control insect pests. The chapter also indicates that the structural design of the cuticle could itself be applied in the field of material science to develop hard structures which can withstand the harshness of the environment. Chapter two discusses the diversity in growth and life cycle patterns in insects. Chapters three and six deals with the digestive and excretory systems as potential targets for pest management. Aspects of the circulatory system of insects are presented along with an account on the new frontiers in insect immunity in chapter four. This would appraise the reader on the possible improved use of entomopathogens in biological control, in the discovery of antimicrobial molecules that can be exploited by humans, and of new strategies for management of insect vectors of human and animal disease. While the dynamism of the respiratory system (Chapter five) is presented as a key to their success, the use of the knowledge thus gained in fluid dynamics and biomechanical research is mentioned. An up to date account on the insect nervous system is presented in Chapter seven, together with a note on learning, memory and intelligence in insects. Chapter eight deals with the reproductive system of insects while chapter nine deals with hormones and regulation of metabolism, moulting and diapause. General protein, carbohydrate and lipid metabolism and their energetic are presented in chapter ten along with the physiology of regulation in cold hardiness and flight. Chapter eleven deals with muscular coordination while an in depth account on the sensory physiology and behaviour is presented in chapter twelve.