RESUMO
The present investigation aims to substantiate that serum from the hemolymph of anomuran crab Albunea symmysta encompasses multiple immunological reactions in in vitro condition. The serum highly agglutinated human O erythrocytes in the presence of Ba2+. Distinct and unique sugar binding capacity of serum towards laminarin, N-acetyl sugars and higher binding specificity towards a glycoprotein, fetuin was inferred. In vitro enhancement of melanin synthesis due to enhanced oxidation of 3, 4-dihydroxy-dl-phenylalanine (dl-DOPA) by preincubation of nonself molecules with serum phenoloxidase (PO) was documented. Similarly, dl-DOPA oxidation by serum PO was reduced when preincubated with chemical inhibitors and copper chelators. Further, the crab serum lysed the vertebrate erythrocytes with maximum hemolysis against chicken and it unveiled dependency on divalent cation, serum concentration, ionic strength, pH, temperature and time interval. Occurrence of maximum hemolysis at a concentration of 30 µl, pH 8.0, temperature 37 °C and time interval of 60 min in the presence of Ba2+ were documented. Interestingly, serum hemolysis was reduced by different osmoprotectants suggesting a colloid-osmotic mechanism involving in hemolysis. It was observed that A. symmysta serum had antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and fungal pathogen Candida albicans. The serum showed higher glycan content, potent lysozyme and free radical scavenging activity suggesting the existence of potential immune molecules of therapeutic use. These results clearly demonstrated the diversified immunogenicity of A. symmysta serum confirming a highly conserved non-specific immunity of crustaceans.