biostudies-literatureShaw DKNIAID NIH HHS14401https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC5316886biostudies-literatureUnknown8The insect immune deficiency (IMD) pathway resembles the tumour necrosis factor receptor network in mammals and senses diaminopimelic-type peptidoglycans present in Gram-negative bacteria. Whether unidentified chemical moieties activate the IMD signalling cascade remains unknown. Here, we show that infection-derived lipids 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (POPG) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl diacylglycerol (PODAG) stimulate the IMD pathway of ticks. The tick IMD network protects against colonization by three distinct bacteria, that is the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi and the rickettsial agents Anaplasma phagocytophilum and A. marginale. Cell signalling ensues in the absence of transmembrane peptidoglycan recognition proteins and the adaptor molecules Fas-associaNature communicationsInfection-derived lipids elicit an immune deficiency circuit in arthropods.PMC5316886R01 AI093653R01 AI116523T32 AI007540T32 AI095190Chavez ASBoradia VMErnst RKFikrig EReif KELiu LPal UScott AJPedra JHSnyder GAMcClure EEDePonte KVillar MSundberg EJde la Fuente JBrown LJSmith AAShaw DKWang XHammond HLUeti MWfalseInfection-derived lipids elicit an immune deficiency circuit in arthropods.The insect immune deficiency (IMD) pathway resembles the tumour necrosis factor receptor network in mammals and senses diaminopimelic-type peptidoglycans present in Gram-negative bacteria. Whether unidentified chemical moieties activate the IMD signalling cascade remains unknown. Here, we show that infection-derived lipids 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoglycerol (POPG) and 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl diacylglycerol (PODAG) stimulate the IMD pathway of ticks. The tick IMD network protects against colonization by three distinct bacteria, that is the Lyme disease spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi and the rickettsial agents Anaplasma phagocytophilum and A. marginale. Cell signalling ensues in the absence of transmembrane peptidoglycan recognition proteins and the adaptor molecules Fas-associa2017-01-01T00:00:00Z2017 Feb2026-04-14T09:40:13.441Z2019-03-27T02:36:54ZS-EPMC53168862819515810.1038/ncomms14401