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Comparative analysis of innate immune related transcriptional responses to pathogens in Caenorhabditis elegans
Author(s) -
Balamurugan Krishnaswamy,
Karuthapandian Shanmugiahthevar
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.1012.4
Subject(s) - biology , innate immune system , caenorhabditis elegans , microbiology and biotechnology , pathogen , vibrio parahaemolyticus , shigella flexneri , immune system , salmonella , pseudomonas aeruginosa , immunity , antimicrobial , shigella , pathogenic bacteria , human pathogen , gene , bacteria , escherichia coli , immunology , genetics
Caenorhabditis elegans responds to infection with a simple innate immune system, allows the nematode to be used as a tractable model host for infectious disease and for host‐pathogen interactions related innate immunity studies. Salmonella typhi, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Shigella flexneri and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are gram‐negative pathogenic bacteria which causes several infections to humans. The feeding based pathogenicity liquid‐assay facilitates comparative physiological/transcriptional analysis. Kinetic studies revealed the LT50 varied significantly for each pathogens‐mediated infection to the animals. CFU assay revealed the multiplication pathogens inside C. elegans after infections. Less than 6 hr of pathogens exposed animals indicated the impact of food source after infections. Solid assays showed pathogen avoidance behavior. Total RNA isolated from pathogens exposed and control animals showed the initial burst at the level of expression of few putative antimicrobial genes. RT‐PCR was done for different time periods. The 4–24 hr pathogen exposed C. elegans were analyzed for the expression of many genes including Clec‐60, Lys‐7 and Scl‐2 . Some of the putative antimicrobial genes such as lysozymes and C‐type lectins appear to be upregulated in C. elegans infected with pathogens during the initial hours of exposure. The kinetic studies are currently underway.