Immunorecognition and immunoreceptors in the Cnidaria [For this article an Erratum has been published]

Abstract

Recent studies that are focused on cnidarians as model systems for cell biology are offering key
insight into the complexities of higher metazoan biology. The innate immune system of these basal
invertebrates is one of the cellular processes that until recently, was undescribed. The knowledge
regarding both innate immunity and other cellular processes in cnidarians is far from complete.
However, the evidence acquired so far, suggests highly conserved components of these cellular
processes are more closely related to vertebrate homologues than more complex, but divergent
invertebrate model systems. This review examines the immunorecognition and receptors that have
been identified within the cnidarians so far. The complement of receptors and pathways already
identified indicates that these basal invertebrates are far from “simple” in the array of methods they
possess for dealing with potential invading microbes and pathogens.