Differential expression of immune defences is associated with specific host-parasite interactions in insects.
Recent ecological studies in invertebrates show that the outcome of an infection is dependent on the specific pairing of host and parasite. Such specificity contrasts the long-held view that invertebrate innate immunity depends on a broad-spectrum recognition system. An important question is whether this specificity is due to the immune response rather than some other interplay between host and parasite genotypes. By measuring the expression of putative bumblebee homologues of antimicrobial peptides in response to infection by their gut trypanosome Crithidia bombi, we demonstrate that expression differences are associated with the specific interactions.
Department of Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom.
Carolyn
C
Riddell
Sally
S
Adams
Paul
P
Schmid-Hempel
Eamonn B
EB
Mallon
D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000737:chemistry; D018076:DNA, Complementary / Q000378:metabolism; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006790:Host-Parasite Interactions / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D007107:Immune System; D007113:Immunity, Innate; D007313:Insecta / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D008957:Models, Genetic; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism
D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D012313:RNA