RNA interference directs innate immunity against viruses in adult Drosophila.
Innate immunity against bacterial and fungal pathogens is mediated by Toll and immune deficiency (Imd) pathways, but little is known about the antiviral response in Drosophila. Here, we demonstrate that an RNA interference pathway protects adult flies from infection by two evolutionarily diverse viruses. Our work also describes a molecular framework for the viral immunity, in which viral double-stranded RNA produced during infection acts as the pathogen trigger whereas Drosophila Dicer-2 and Argonaute-2 act as host sensor and effector, respectively. These findings establish a Drosophila model for studying the innate immunity against viruses in animals.
Graduate Program for Microbiology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
Xiao-Hong
XH
Wang
Roghiyh
R
Aliyari
Wan-Xiang
WX
Li
Hong-Wei
HW
Li
Kevin
K
Kim
Richard
R
Carthew
Peter
P
Atkinson
Shou-Wei
SW
Ding
D000818:Animals; D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D002460:Cell Line; D029721:Drosophila Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000821:virology*; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007304:Insect Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016982:Micrococcus luteus / Q000502:physiology; D009154:Mutation; D030381:Nodaviridae / Q000502:physiology*; D020365:RNA Helicases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000378:metabolism; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D043244:Ribonuclease III; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors / Q000502:physiology; D014162:Transfection; D014779:Virus Replication
C433807:AGO2 protein, Drosophila; D060565:Argonaute Proteins; D029721:Drosophila Proteins; C478068:R2D2 protein, Drosophila; D012330:RNA, Double-Stranded; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012367:RNA, Viral; D016601:RNA-Binding Proteins; D034743:RNA-Induced Silencing Complex; C068721:Tl protein, Drosophila; D051193:Toll-Like Receptors; C439909:imd protein, Drosophila; C478069:DCR-2 protein, Drosophila; D043244:Ribonuclease III; D020365:RNA Helicases