The paper describes activities, and results of four partner groups working on a joint research project within the national scientific program "Biological resource, biotechnology and food-quality and safety" of the National Science Fund. The project is directed towards development of biotechnology for reproductive production of biologically active compounds of Rapana thomasiana hemocyanin (RtH) and their application as safety immunomodulators in laboratory and clinical practice. For elucidation of the relationship between the biological function of invertebrate dioxygen-transporting proteins and their structure, new experimental data on the structure and properties are obtained. The involment of glycan structures present on the protein in the antigenicity of RtH is revealed. The immunization with RtH or its subunits in mouse experimental models resulted in strong immune response in vivo. Common epitope of influenza A virus hemagglutinin jointed to RtH resulted in generation of molecule with increased immuno-genicity. Our results are the first demonstration that RtH and/or its subunits could be used in different immunization protocols as an adjuvant or as a protein-carrier. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]