b-Glucan in invertebrates

Abstract

b-Glucans, as biologically active polysaccharides, have been used for decades but only recentlyhave become a focus of evolutionary studies. As b-glucans are shown to be active in all animalspecies studied - from earthworms to humans - we can safely conclude that b-glucanimmunostimulation is one of the first defensive mechanisms active across the entire evolutionaryspectrum. The recognition of b-glucans as major components of yeast, fungal, and bacterial cell wallsbelongs to the first defense mechanisms that evolved during phylogenetic processes.

Keywords

• glucan
• invertebrates
• immunity
• PPO