title: Genes that fight infection: what the Drosophila genome says about animal immunity.
abstract: From deciphering the principles of heredity to identifying the genes that control development, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is being used to deconstruct an increasing number of biological processes. Genetic studies of Drosophila responses to microbial infection have identified regulators of innate immunity that are functionally conserved in mammals. These recent findings highlight the ancient origins of animal immune responses and demonstrate the potential of Drosophila for dissecting host-pathogen interactions. The sequencing of the Drosophila genome both enhances genetic approaches and provides new clues for the identification of key components of innate immunity. This article summarizes how information gained from genomic analysis contributes to our understanding of how animals cope with infectious disease.
authors.affiliation: Centre de Génétique Moléculaire, CNRS, 91198, Gif-sur-Yvette, France.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Khush
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lemaitre
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000235:genetics; D000828:Animal Population Groups / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000276:immunology; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D016207:Cytokines / Q000502:physiology; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D010450:Endopeptidases / Q000502:physiology; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007109:Immunity / Q000235:genetics*; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology; D010587:Phagocytosis; D017434:Protein Structure, Tertiary; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D016207:Cytokines; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; D019476:Insect Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D011956:Receptors, Cell Surface; C068721:Tl protein, Drosophila; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; D010450:Endopeptidases