Wolbachia limits pathogen infections through induction of host innate immune responses.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Wolbachia has been reported to suppress a variety of pathogen infections in mosquitoes, but the mechanism is undefined. Two possibilities have been proposed. One is that Wolbachia activates host immune responses, and the other one is that Wolbachia competes with pathogens for limited nutrients.

Methodology/principal findings

In this study, we compared host immune responses and the densities of two different strains of Wolbachia in naturally occurring parental and artificially created hybrid host genetic backgrounds. No significant difference in Wolbachia density was found between these hosts. We found that Wolbachia could activate host innate immune responses when the host genetic profile was different from that of its natural host. When these hosts were challenge

SUBMITTER: Zhang D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7032688 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature