Characterization of a novel immune deficiency gene of Macrobrachium rosenbergii reveals antibacterial and antiviral defenses.

Objective: We sought to identify and characterize an immune deficiency (IMD) homolog from the giant freshwater prawn (also known as the giant river prawn) Macrobrachium rosenbergii. The IMD is a death-domain-containing protein that plays a crucial role as an adaptor protein in the IMD pathway-one of the most important response mechanisms to viral and bacterial invasion of invertebrates.

Methods: An IMD homolog gene from M.