In vivo distribution of immune protein scolexin in bacteria-injected Manduca sexta larvae

The Manduca sexta larva-specific immune protein, scolexin, was isolated and (14)CH(3)-labelled by reductive alkylation. The influence of the bacterium Streptococcus faecalis on the hemocoelic distribution of the labelled scolexin was then analyzed. During bacterial challenge, most of the scolexin signal was detected in association with the hemocyte aggregations and nodules which formed; in this respect the protein sometimes appeared to be associated with hemocytes which had phagocytized bacteria, while at other times it was most concentrated in the nodule-associated, and free, coagulum. Areas of high scolexin activity were sometimes detected at various sites on the surface of the fat body. The scolexin did not appear to bind directly to bacterial cells. Up to 24 hr following the injection of S. faecalis, the larvae were still carrying out the formation of nodules; unlike the nodules of the 3 and 6 hr intervals, the nodules observed at 21-24 hr were covered with an apparently humorally derived, coagular capsule.