Perturbation of gut bacteria induces a coordinated cellular immune response in the purple sea urchin larva.

ABSTRACT: The purple sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) genome sequence contains a complex repertoire of genes encoding innate immune recognition proteins and homologs of important vertebrate immune regulatory factors. To characterize how this immune system is deployed within an experimentally tractable, intact animal, we investigate the immune capability of the larval stage. Sea urchin embryos and larvae are morphologically simple and transparent, providing an organism-wide model to view immune response at cellular resolution. Here we present evidence for immune function in five mesenchymal cell types based on morphology, behavior and gene expression. Two cell types are phagocytic; the others interact at sites of microbial detection or injury. We characterize immune-associated gene markers

SUBMITTER: Ch Ho E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5073156 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature