Prof. Jorge Contreras Garduno, UNAM Mexico, Morenia

What factors contribute to the variable occurrence of specific immune memory in invertebrates, and what are the implications of this phenomenon?

The existence of immune memory in invertebrates was overlooked for a considerable period of time. However, it is now widely acknowledged that certain species within the groups of Ctenophora, Cnidaria, Nematoda, Mollusca, and Arthropoda exhibit specific immune protection, leading to enhanced survival, immune response, and reduced infection following an initial exposure. Interestingly, not all studies provide support for, or only partially support, this phenomenon (22.33% out of 103 studies). Furthermore, in invertebrates, the biphasic immune response, which is typically associated with the adaptive immune memory of vertebrates, exhibits variation both within and between species. Subsequent immune challenges can result in a decrease, enhancement, or alteration compared to the initial encounter. In this talk, I aim to show that the occurrence of specific immune memory and the kinetics of the immune response can be explained by factors such as the trade-off between memory and reproduction, the influence of parasites, and sexual maturity. I will discuss that investigating the variability of specific immune memory in invertebrates will yield substantial implications for comprehending the adaptive immune memory observed in vertebrates. By gaining insights into the dynamics of specific immune memory, we can further expand our knowledge to improve the development and efficacy of vaccines for invertebrate species.