IMD-mediated innate immune priming increases Drosophila survival and reduces pathogen transmission.

ABSTRACT: Invertebrates lack the immune machinery underlying vertebrate-like acquired immunity. However, in many insects past infection by the same pathogen can 'prime' the immune response, resulting in improved survival upon reinfection. Here, we investigated the mechanistic basis and epidemiological consequences of innate immune priming in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster when infected with the gram-negative bacterial pathogen Providencia rettgeri. We find that priming in response to P. rettgeri infection is a long-lasting and sexually dimorphic response. We further explore the epidemiological consequences of immune priming and find it has the potential to curtail pathogen transmission by reducing pathogen shedding and spread. The enhanced survival of individuals previously exposed to a non-l

SUBMITTER: Prakash A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11192365 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature