recognition receptor (Beschin et al., 1998). Moreover, CCF acts as an
opsonin in the coelomic fluid (Bilej et al., 1995). The range of
recognition of various pathogen-associated molecular patterns
(PAMPs) is given by the presence of two distinct lectin-like domains
in the CCF molecule, allowing the recognition of yeast, Gramnegative
bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria (Bilej et al., 2001). It
was also shown that CCF triggers the activation of the prophenoloxidase
cascade (Beschin et al., 1998), which is a basic defense
mechanism in many invertebrate species. Further, the mRNA level
of CCF in coelomocytes was shown to be upregulated upon the
injection of microorganisms into the coelomic cavity (Kohlerova €
et al., 2004).