TY - JOUR
T1 - A directed miniscreen for genes involved in the Drosophila anti-parasitoid immune response
AU - Howell, Laura
AU - Sampson, Christopher J.
AU - Xavier, Miguel J.
AU - Bolukbasi, Ekin
AU - Heck, Margarete M. S.
AU - Williams, Michael J.
PY - 2012/2
Y1 - 2012/2
N2 - Drosophila larvae react against eggs from the endoparasitoid wasp Leptopilina boulardi by surrounding them in a multilayered cellular capsule. Once a wasp egg is recognized as foreign, circulating macrophage-like cells, known as plasmatocytes, adhere to the invader. After spreading around the wasp egg, plasmatocytes form cellular junctions between the cells, effectively separating the egg from the hemocoel. Next, a second sub-type of circulating immunosurveillance cell (hemocyte), known as lamellocytes, adhere to either the wasp egg or more likely the plasmatocytes surrounding the egg. From these events, it is obvious that adhesion and cell shape change are an essential part of Drosophila's cellular immune response against parasitoid wasp eggs. To date, very few genes have been described as being necessary for a proper anti-parasitization response in Drosophila. With this in mind, we performed a directed genetic miniscreen to discover new genes required for this response. Many of the genes with an encapsulation defect have mammalian homologues involved in cellular adhesion, wound healing, and thrombosis, including extracellular matrix proteins, cellular adhesion molecules, and small GTPases.
AB - Drosophila larvae react against eggs from the endoparasitoid wasp Leptopilina boulardi by surrounding them in a multilayered cellular capsule. Once a wasp egg is recognized as foreign, circulating macrophage-like cells, known as plasmatocytes, adhere to the invader. After spreading around the wasp egg, plasmatocytes form cellular junctions between the cells, effectively separating the egg from the hemocoel. Next, a second sub-type of circulating immunosurveillance cell (hemocyte), known as lamellocytes, adhere to either the wasp egg or more likely the plasmatocytes surrounding the egg. From these events, it is obvious that adhesion and cell shape change are an essential part of Drosophila's cellular immune response against parasitoid wasp eggs. To date, very few genes have been described as being necessary for a proper anti-parasitization response in Drosophila. With this in mind, we performed a directed genetic miniscreen to discover new genes required for this response. Many of the genes with an encapsulation defect have mammalian homologues involved in cellular adhesion, wound healing, and thrombosis, including extracellular matrix proteins, cellular adhesion molecules, and small GTPases.
KW - Thrombosis
KW - Innate immunity
KW - Rho GTPase
KW - Cellular adhesion
KW - Hemocyte
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84857361066&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00251-011-0571-3
DO - 10.1007/s00251-011-0571-3
M3 - Article
VL - 64
SP - 155
EP - 161
JO - Immunogenetics
JF - Immunogenetics
SN - 0093-7711
IS - 2
ER -