[Cellular defence reactions and their depression in insects]

Abstract

In insects the main cellular defence reactions are phagocytosis and encapsulation of foreign bodies. Free cells of haemolymph called haemocytes are the effectors of these reactions. They are achieved under the control of humoral factors of the plasma or of the serum. Humoral factors are able to enhance or to decrease the cellular defence reactions. As in mammals, potential parasites or pathogens need to avoid or to inhibit the defence reactions before developing inside the insect body. As an example of the depression of immunity induced by a parasite we will study the relationships between an insect and a nematobacterial complex.