The sialic acid specific humoral lectin, Pjlec of the freshwater crab Paratelphusa jacquemontii was investigated for its opsonin function with rabbit erythrocyte as target cell for phagocytosis by the crab's hemocyte. The untreated or trypsin treated erythrocyte induced lectin response after challenge however failed when treated with neuraminidase evidently indicating glycan dependency for elic...

Pseudothelphusidae is a well diversified group of Neotropical freshwater crabs currently comprising 40 genera and at least 255 species and subspecies. The biology of these crabs has been an active field of research in the last 20 years. The aim of the present contribution is to discuss the significance of the new knowledge on the biology of these freshwater crabs after September 1992, to stress...

The prophenoloxidase activating system (proPO-AS) in fresh water crab, Barytelphusa cunicularis is localized in the hemocytes. Using anticoagulant (EDTA-Citrate buffer) it was possible to isolate intact hemocytes without causing extensive degranulation & subsequent clotting. Activation and conversion of prophenoloxidase to phenoloxidase(PO) was carried out by serine proteinase. PO was found to ...

In recent years~ severaL species of crab have come under increasing study by scientists. Fluctuations in populations of important commercial species (the blue crab) and the commercial potential of others (the rock crab and deep sea red crab) have led t o this increased attention. But in lab situations, researchers have had problems keeping their specimens alive and healthy for long periods. It ...

This study examined the effects of sub- and supercritical water pretreatments on the physicochemical properties of crab shell α-chitin and its enzymatic degradation to obtain N,N'-diacetylchitobiose (GlcNAc)2. Following sub- and supercritical water pretreatments, the protein in the crab shell was removed and the residue of crab shell contained α-chitin and CaCO3. Prolonged pretreatment led to α...