THE IMMUNE SYSTEM OF HERMETIA ILLUCENS' LARVAE (DIPTERA: STRATIOMYIDAE)

• Main Author: Phelia Amadea Manurung, Allegra
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Ilmu hayati ; Biologi
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/80026
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Organic waste dominated up to 60% of the whole waste produced in Indonesia. Black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens), known as a decomposer insect that can reduce and convert organic materal into more valuable products like animal feed and fertilizer. Despite being in a pathogenic environment, Hermetia illucens can live and reproduce well. Allegedly, these insects have an efficient immune system. Hemocyte, insect’s celluler element, has important roles related to humoral immune response such as phenoloxidase activity. This study aims to observe various types of hemocyte cells and analyze the quantitative parameter, including total hemocyte counts (THC) and differential hemocyte counts (DHC). Also, to examine its cellular and humoral immune response to Bacillus cereus. Observations of various types of cells were carried out by observing the cells directly under a light microscope (M400x) and showed that there were 4 types of hemocyte : plasmatocyte, granulocyte, oenocytoid, and prohemocyte. Using Neubauer hemocytometer, its THC counts at 236,4 ± 157,41 cells/mm3 hemolymph. The DHC for plasmatocyte, granulocyte, oenocytoid, and prohemocyte in order are 51,88%, 45,74%, 1,19%, and 0,79%. Each one has function for phagocytosis, encapsulation, melanisation, and differentiation. Monolayer preparate indicates the phagocytic process by the formation of phagosome during incubation, and filopodia projection at external membrane of hemocyte. For phenoloxidase activity, absorbation at 490 nm wavelength shows the effect of B. cereus in increasing the graph compared with control. Phenoloxidase activity involved in melanisation which included the hemocyte. From the research conducted, it can be concluded that Hermetia illucens has a cellular and a humoral immune system that can support its survival in a contaminated environment.