The role of innate immunity in the protection conferred by a bacterial infection against cancer: study of an invertebrate model.

ABSTRACT: All multicellular organisms are exposed to a diversity of infectious agents and to the emergence and proliferation of malignant cells. The protection conferred by some infections against cancer has been recently linked to the production of acquired immunity effectors such as antibodies. However, the evolution of innate immunity as a mechanism to prevent cancer and how it is jeopardized by infections remain poorly investigated. Here, we explored this question by performing experimental infections in two genetically modified invertebrate models (Drosophila melanogaster) that develop invasive or non-invasive neoplastic brain tumors. After quantifying tumor size and antimicrobial peptide gene expression, we found that Drosophila larvae infected with a naturally occurring bacterium had smaller

SUBMITTER: Jacqueline C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7308315 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature