Drosophila host defense: Differential induction of antimicrobial peptide genes after infection by various classes of microorganisms
- Institut de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Unité Propre de Recherche 9022 du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, 15 rue René Descartes, 67084 Strasbourg Cedex, France
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Edited by John H. Law, University of Arizona, Tuscon AZ, and approved October 21, 1997 (received for review September 3, 1997)
Abstract
Insects respond to microbial infection by the rapid and transient expression of several genes encoding potent antimicrobial peptides. Herein we demonstrate that this antimicrobial response of Drosophila is not aspecific but can discriminate between various classes of microorganisms. We first observe that the genes encoding antibacterial and antifungal peptides are differentially expressed after injection of distinct microorganisms. More strikingly, Drosophila that are naturally infected by entomopathogenic fungi exhibit an adapted response by producing only peptides with antifungal activities. This response is mediated through the selective activation of the Toll pathway.
Footnotes
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↵ * To whom reprint requests should be addressed. e-mail: hoffmann{at}ibmc.u-strasbg.fr.
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This paper was submitted directly (Track II) to the Proceedings Office.
- Copyright © 1997, The National Academy of Sciences of the USA
