Ehrlichia chaffeensis replication sites in adult Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract Ehrlichia chaffeensis is a Gram-negative, obligate intracellular bacterium which causes the tick-borne disease human monocytic ehrlichiosis. In vertebrates, E. chaffeensis replicates in monocytes and macrophages. However, no clear cell or tissue tropism has been defined in arthropods. Our g...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of medical microbiology 2013-01, Vol.303 (1), p.40-49
Main Authors: Drolia, Rishi, Von Ohlen, Tonia, Chapes, Stephen K
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Arthropoda
Cell Line
Dogs
Drosophila melanogaster
Drosophila melanogaster - enzymology
Drosophila melanogaster - genetics
Drosophila melanogaster - microbiology
Drosophila Proteins - genetics
Ehrlichia chaffeensis
Ehrlichia chaffeensis - genetics
Ehrlichia chaffeensis - growth & development
Ehrlichia chaffeensis - physiology
Ehrlichiosis - microbiology
Eye - microbiology
Fat Body - microbiology
Female
Gene Silencing
Hemocytes
Hemocytes - microbiology
Host-bacteria interactions
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Humans
Infectious Disease
Intracellular bacteria
Macrophages - microbiology
Male
Medical Education
Monocytes - microbiology
Organ Specificity
RNA Interference
RNA, Bacterial - genetics
RNAi
Survival Analysis
Uridine Kinase - genetics
Wings, Animal - microbiology
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Summary:Abstract Ehrlichia chaffeensis is a Gram-negative, obligate intracellular bacterium which causes the tick-borne disease human monocytic ehrlichiosis. In vertebrates, E. chaffeensis replicates in monocytes and macrophages. However, no clear cell or tissue tropism has been defined in arthropods. Our group identified two host genes that control E. chaffeensis replication and infection in vivo in Drosophila , Uridine cytidine kinase and separation anxiety . Using the UAS-GAL4 RNAi system, we generated F1 flies ( UAS-gene of interestRNAi x tissue-GAL4 flies) that have Uck2 or san silenced in ubiquitous or tissue-specific fashion. When Uck2 or san were suppressed in the hemocytes or in the fat body, E. chaffeensis replicated poorly and caused significantly less severe infections. Silencing of these genes in the eyes, wings, or the salivary glands did not impact fly susceptibility or bacterial replication. Our data suggest that in Drosophila , E. chaffeensis replicates within the hemocytes, the insect homolog of mammalian macrophages, and in the fat body, the liver homolog of mammals.
ISSN:1438-4221
1618-0607
DOI:10.1016/j.ijmm.2012.12.002