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The culture of pelagic marine invertebrates, especially the ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi, has been demonstrated in past studies dating back to the 1960s; however, the mass culture of delicate pelagic invertebrates has remained elusive. By using a pair of acrylic tubes and enabling water diffusion between them, we have been able to reliably and cost effectively mass culture several genera of ctenophores (Pleurobrachia, Hormiphora, Bolinopsis, Mnemiopsis and Leucothea), one species of siphonophore (Nanomia) and one species of larvacean (Oikopleura). The simple, compact method is effective enough to support two permanent exhibits of ctenophores at the Monterey Bay Aquarium while minimizing live food culture requirements with the potential to support further investigation of pelagic marine invertebrate ontogeny, ecology and genomics.

Innate immunity is an ancient physiological response critical for protecting metazoans from invading pathogens. It is the primary pathogen defense mechanism among invertebrates. While innate immunity has been studied extensively in diverse invertebrate taxa, including mollusks, crustaceans, and cnidarians, this system has not been well characterized in ctenophores. The ctenophores comprise an exclusively marine, non-bilaterian lineage that diverged early during metazoan diversification. The phylogenetic position of ctenophore lineage suggests that characterization of the ctenophore innate immune system will reveal important features associated with the early evolution of the metazoan innate immune system. Here, we review current understanding of the ctenophore immune repertoire and identify innate immunity genes recovered from three ctenophore species. We also isolate and characterize Mnemiopsis leidyi cells that display macrophage-like behavior when challenged with bacteria. Our results indicate that ctenophores possess cells capable of phagocytosing microbes and that two distantly related ctenophores, M. leidyi and Hormiphora californiensis, possess many candidate innate immunity proteins.

Hormiphora plumosa L. Agassiz, 1860 Distribution in South America: Pacific Ocean, Peru, at 10.2��S 78.9��W (IMARPE database); Atlantic Ocean, Brazil, at about 3��N, from 20.5��S to 24��S (Harbison et al. 1978; Mianzan 1999; Oliveira et al. 2007; Bonecker et al. 2014). Habitat: epipelagic species (Harbison et al. 1978; Bonecker et al. 2014)., Published as part of M. P. Oliveira 1,16, S P. Miranda 2, *,, Es W. Mianzan 10,, Ro E. Migotto 11,, Ne B. Nascimento 2,11, Eli Nogueira J��nior 12,, Er Qui��ones 13,, Izio Scarabino 14,, T��n Schiariti 10,, Io N. Stampar 15,, Tronolone 2, , Qu��ria B. & Onio C. Marques 2,11, 2016, Census of Cnidaria (Medusozoa) and Ctenophora from South American marine waters, pp. 1-256 in Zootaxa 4194 (1) on page 214, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.4194.1.1