The small interfering RNA pathway is not essential for Wolbachia-mediated antiviral protection in Drosophila melanogaster.
Wolbachia pipientis delays RNA virus-induced mortality in Drosophila spp. We investigated whether Wolbachia-mediated protection was dependent on the small interfering RNA (siRNA) pathway, a key antiviral defense. Compared to Wolbachia-free flies, virus-induced mortality was delayed in Wolbachia-infected flies with loss-of-function of siRNA pathway components, indicating that Wolbachia-mediated protection functions in the absence of the canonical siRNA pathway.
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Lauren M
LM
Hedges
Ryuichi
R
Yamada
Scott L
SL
O'Neill
Karyn N
KN
Johnson
D000818:Animals; D004331:Drosophila melanogaster / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000502:physiology*; D053858:Metabolic Networks and Pathways; D012328:RNA Viruses / Q000276:immunology; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D020577:Wolbachia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D034741:RNA, Small Interfering