Abstract
BackgroundBacterial and fungal infections induce a potent immune response in Drosophila melanogaster, but it is unclear whether viral infections induce an antiviral immune response. Using microarrays, we examined the changes in gene expression in Drosophila that occur in response to infection with the sigma virus, a negative-stranded RNA virus (Rhabdoviridae) that occurs in wild populations of D. melanogaster.Principal FindingsWe detected many changes in gene expression in infected flies, but found no evidence for the activation of the Toll, IMD or Jak-STAT pathways, which control immune responses against bacteria and fungi. We identified a number of functional categories of genes, including serine proteases, ribosomal proteins and chorion proteins that were overrepresented among the differentially expressed genes. We also found that the sigma virus alters the expression of many more genes in males than in females.ConclusionsThese data suggest that either Drosophila do not mount an immune response against the sigma virus, or that the immune response is not controlled by known immune pathways. If the latter is true, the genes that we identified as differentially expressed after infection are promising candidates for controlling the host's response to the sigma virus.
Highlights
Viral infections in arthropods are widespread and are of considerable economic and medical importance
These data suggest that either Drosophila do not mount an immune response against the sigma virus, or that the immune response is not controlled by known immune pathways
If the latter is true, the genes that we identified as differentially expressed after infection are promising candidates for controlling the host’s response to the sigma virus
Summary
Viral infections in arthropods are widespread and are of considerable economic and medical importance. Many studies have examined Drosophila’s defenses against bacterial and fungal infections, relatively little is known about antiviral defenses. This is despite D. melanogaster being infected with a diverse range of viruses, including positive-stranded RNA viruses (several picornaviruses, including the Drosophila C virus), a negative-stranded RNA virus (sigma virus; Rhabdoviridae), and a double-stranded RNA virus (DFV; Reoviridae) [4]. We examined the changes in gene expression in Drosophila that occur in response to infection with the sigma virus, a negative-stranded RNA virus (Rhabdoviridae) that occurs in wild populations of D. melanogaster
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