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A directed miniscreen for genes involved in the Drosophila anti-parasitoid immune response

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Abstract

Drosophila larvae react against eggs from the endoparasitoid wasp Leptopilina boulardi by surrounding them in a multilayered cellular capsule. Once a wasp egg is recognized as foreign, circulating macrophage-like cells, known as plasmatocytes, adhere to the invader. After spreading around the wasp egg, plasmatocytes form cellular junctions between the cells, effectively separating the egg from the hemocoel. Next, a second sub-type of circulating immunosurveillance cell (hemocyte), known as lamellocytes, adhere to either the wasp egg or more likely the plasmatocytes surrounding the egg. From these events, it is obvious that adhesion and cell shape change are an essential part of Drosophila's cellular immune response against parasitoid wasp eggs. To date, very few genes have been described as being necessary for a proper anti-parasitization response in Drosophila. With this in mind, we performed a directed genetic miniscreen to discover new genes required for this response. Many of the genes with an encapsulation defect have mammalian homologues involved in cellular adhesion, wound healing, and thrombosis, including extracellular matrix proteins, cellular adhesion molecules, and small GTPases.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. John B. Thomas (The Salk Institute) for his generous gift of the Eph x652 flies. This work was partially supported by funds from the BBSRC, the Royal Society, the Wellcome Trust, the University of Aberdeen, and the University of Edinburgh.

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Author notes

  1. Ekin Bolukbasi

    Present address: UCL Institute of Healthy Ageing Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK

  2. Miguel J. Xavier & Michael J. Williams

    Present address: Department of Neuroscience, Functional Pharmacology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue, Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK

    Laura Howell, Christopher J. Sampson, Miguel J. Xavier & Michael J. Williams

  2. Queen’s Medical Research Institute, Centre for Cardiovascular Science, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK

    Ekin Bolukbasi & Margarete M. S. Heck

Authors
  1. Laura Howell
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  2. Christopher J. Sampson
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  3. Miguel J. Xavier
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  4. Ekin Bolukbasi
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  5. Margarete M. S. Heck
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  6. Michael J. Williams
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Michael J. Williams.

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Howell, L., Sampson, C.J., Xavier, M.J. et al. A directed miniscreen for genes involved in the Drosophila anti-parasitoid immune response. Immunogenetics 64, 155–161 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00251-011-0571-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00251-011-0571-3

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