DNase II deficiency impairs innate immune function in Drosophila

DNase II deficiency impairs innate immune function in Drosophila.

DNase II enzymes are highly conserved proteins that are required for the degradation of DNA within phagolysosomes. Engulfment of apoptotic cells and/or bacteria by phagocytic cells requires the function of DNase II to completely destroy ingested DNA. Mutation of the dnase II gene results in an increase of undegraded apoptotic DNA within phagocytic cells in mice and nematodes. Additionally, redu...

The Drosophila protein mustard tailors the innate immune response activated by the immune deficiency pathway.

In this study, we describe a Drosophila melanogaster transposon insertion mutant with tolerance to Vibrio cholerae infection and markedly decreased transcription of diptericin as well as other genes regulated by the immune deficiency innate immunity signaling pathway. We present genetic evidence that this insertion affects a locus previously implicated in pupal eclosion. This genetic locus, whi...

5-Lipoxygenase Deficiency Impairs Innate and Adaptive Immune Responses during Fungal Infection

5-Lipoxygenase-derived products have been implicated in both the inhibition and promotion of chronic infection. Here, we sought to investigate the roles of endogenous 5-lipoxygenase products and exogenous leukotrienes during Histoplasma capsulatum infection in vivo and in vitro. 5-LO deficiency led to increased lung CFU, decreased nitric oxide production and a deficient primary immune response ...

Immune Response in Infected Epithelial Impairs the Innate Chlamydia pneumoniae

Parasitoid-induced cellular immune deficiency in Drosophila.

L. heterotoma females inject VLPs along with their eggs into the hemocoel of the Drosophila larva. The VLPs destroy lamellocytes that are potentially harmful for the parasite eggs, but the other types of host hemocytes retain their functions. The parasitized third instar Drosophila larvae continue to grow and pupariate, showing no outward adverse effects. Minimum disruption to the growth and de...