Kenneth Söderhäll talks
with ScienceWatch.com and answers a few questions
about this month's Fast Moving Fronts paper in the field of
Immunology.
Article: The prophenoloxidase-activating system in
invertebrates
Authors: Cerenius, L;Soderhall, K
Journal: IMMUNOL REV, 198: 116-126 APR, 2004
Addresses: Uppsala Univ, Dept Comparat Physiol, Evolutionary
Biol Ctr, Norbyvagen 18 A, S-75236 Uppsala, Sweden.
Uppsala Univ, Dept Comparat Physiol, Evolutionary Biol Ctr,
S-75236 Uppsala, Sweden.
Why do you think your paper is highly
cited?/ Does it describe a new discovery, methodology, or synthesis of
knowledge?
This paper is a review summarizing the research on one important innate
immune process in invertebrates, namely the so-called melanization
reaction, which involves the synthesis of melanin to encapsulate pathogens.
This reaction in invertebrates has received interest because it is very
easy to observe in, for example, insects, as a response to pathogens.
Recent research has shown that this reaction is an important innate immune
response in many invertebrates.
Since our article summarizes and synthesizes the knowledge about the system
it has received several citations.
Would you summarize the significance of your paper
in layman's terms?
This reaction also is present in mammals; for example, it is responsible
for the darkening of skin. It is also important in the eye and the brain.
We hope that our article will have induced more interest and more research
on this melanization reaction in mammals, which, in our opinion, needs much
more attention because of its tentative importance in mammals.
Kenneth Söderhäll
Professor
Department of Comparative Physiology
Uppsala University
Uppsala, Sweden Web