title: Mode of bacterial pathogenesis determines phenotype in elt-2 and elt-7 RNAi Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: Caenorhabditis elegans has become a useful model for studying innate immunity. ELT-2, which is homologous to human GATA-4, -5 and -6, is considered the primary GATA transcription factor controlling intestinal immunity in C. elegans. In this study, we characterize the timeline of intestinal distension in nematodes where ELT-2 and another intestinal GATA transcription factor, ELT-7, are abrogated by RNAi using two different models: colonization and toxin-based infections by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We show that both ELT-2 and ELT-7 are important for survival of C. elegans exposed to P. aeruginosa. Intestinal distension is accelerated in elt-2 RNAi nematodes, and is observed in colonization but not toxin-based Pseudomonas infection. Upon onset of intestinal distension, nematodes die within 24 h, regardless of experimental treatment. These data provide new insight into the role of ELT-2 and ELT-7 in protecting C. elegans against P. aeruginosa infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, St. Mary's College of Maryland, 18952 East Fisher Road, St. Mary's City, MD 20686, USA. slelliott@smcm.edu
authors.forename: Samantha L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Elliott
authors.forename: Craig R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Sturgeon
authors.forename: Deborah M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Travers
authors.forename: Madeline C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Montgomery
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D050980:GATA Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa; D034622:RNA Interference
chemical_list: D029742:Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins; C094134:ELT-2 protein, C elegans; C553682:ELT-7 protein, C elegans; D050980:GATA Transcription Factors