Cell Biology

Immunity

The body cavity of H. leucospilota contains five types of coelomocytes or free cells (Xing, Leung & Chia 1998).  These most commonly contain phagocytic amebocytes, which are important mechanisms for immune response (Xing, Leung & Chia 1998).  Phagocytosis is the first line of defence for H. leucospilota, as in the majority of animals.  Ambeocytes are one of the six blood cell types found in echinoderms.  The other types include spherule cells, vibratile cells, crystal cells and progenitor cells, as well as haemocytes (Xing, Leung & Chia 1998).  Immune defence is very important in species which live in benthic habitats, including for H. leucospilota, because they spend prolonged periods living in a bacterium rich environment (Xing, Leung & Chia 1998).