Infection-related declines in chill coma recovery and negative geotaxis in Drosophila melanogaster.

ABSTRACT: Studies of infection in Drosophila melanogaster provide insight into both mechanisms of host resistance and tolerance of pathogens. However, research into the pathways involved in these processes has been limited by the relatively few metrics that can be used to measure sickness and health throughout the course of infection. Here we report measurements of infection-related declines in flies' performance on two different behavioral assays. D. melanogaster are slower to recover from a chill-induced coma during infection with either Listeria monocytogenes or Streptococcus pneumoniae. L. monocytogenes infection also impacts flies' performance during a negative geotaxis assay, revealing a decline in their rate of climbing as part of their innate escape response after startle. In addition to pro

SUBMITTER: Linderman JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3441536 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature