Staphylococcus aureus-induced degeneration of nociceptive neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The nervous system senses microbial signals to influence host defense. Pain-sensing nociceptor neurons are key regulators of the host response to infection, but how they perceive infections is not well understood. Using Caenorhabditis elegans as a tractable model host that shares many features with mammalian systems, we investigated the effects of infection on nociceptor function in vivo.

Results

In vivo intracellular Ca²⁺ imaging of C. elegans nociceptor ASH neurons revealed a drastic reduction in ASH responses to aversive stimuli in Staphylococcus aureus-infected animals compared to noninfected controls. Morphological examination revealed that ASH neurons lost integrity in the sensory processes reaching the mouth. Neighboring neurons did not show this

SUBMITTER: DiLoreto EM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12777361 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature