The immune response of Drosophila melanogaster

The response of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to various microorganism infections relies on a multilayered defense. The epithelia constitute a first and efficient barrier. Innate immunity is activated when microorganisms succeed in entering the body cavity of the fly. Invading microorganisms...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Immunological reviews 2004-04, Vol.198 (1), p.59-71
Main Authors: Leclerc, Vincent, Reichhart, Jean-Marc
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila melanogaster - immunology
Drosophila melanogaster - metabolism
Drosophila melanogaster - microbiology
Drosophila Proteins - metabolism
Immunity, Innate
Models, Immunological
Receptors, Cell Surface - metabolism
Signal Transduction
Toll-Like Receptors
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Summary:The response of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster to various microorganism infections relies on a multilayered defense. The epithelia constitute a first and efficient barrier. Innate immunity is activated when microorganisms succeed in entering the body cavity of the fly. Invading microorganisms are killed by the combined action of cellular and humoral processes. They are phagocytosed by specialized blood cells, surrounded by toxic melanin, or lysed by antibacterial peptides secreted into the hemolymph by fat body cells. During the last few years, research has focused on the mechanisms of microbial recognition by various pattern recognition receptors and of the subsequent induction of antimicrobial peptide expression. The cellular arm of the Drosophila innate immune system, which was somehow neglected, now constitutes the new frontier.
ISSN:0105-2896
1600-065X
DOI:10.1111/j.0105-2896.2004.0130.x