Host-pathogen interactions: proline gives insect pathogens the green light.
How does a quiescent symbiont of a nematode worm know when to turn nasty? Metabolic analysis and genetic knockouts confirm that model insect pathogens can sense L-proline in insect blood. This not only serves as a wake-up call, activating secondary metabolite virulence factors, but also provides an energy source for a metabolic shift appropriate for adaptation to the host environment.
Waterfield
Nick
N
Department of Biology and Biochemistry, The University of Bath, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AY, UK. bssnw@bath.ac.uk
D000818:Animals; D006434:Hemocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D054884:Host-Pathogen Interactions / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007313:Insecta / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000382:microbiology*; D020637:Photorhabdus / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011392:Proline / Q000378:metabolism*; D014774:Virulence / Q000502:physiology; D020593:Xenorhabdus / Q000472:pathogenicity
D011392:Proline