Blaberus Giganteus - Defense Against Fungal Infection

Defense Against Fungal Infection

When exposed to infection or invasion of various microorganisms, insects have two general responses of their immune systems. In B. giganteus, such an invasion will elicit a humoral response, where specific proteins are produced or activated by the existence of a pathogen. The fat body, which is usually associated with storing and releasing energy depending on demands, will induce several novel proteins when confronted with fungal cell walls. Of interest is that the giant cockroach exhibits adaptive humoral responses. That means their immune response has a specific memory similar to what can be found in mammalian immune systems. This is beneficial for long-lived individuals, as they have increased chances of encountering the same infection numerous times. The biological significance of these proteins has yet to be determined, but they are known to play a role in defense against fungal infections.