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A polymorphism in npr-1 is a behavioral determinant of pathogen susceptibility in C. elegans.

ABSTRACT: The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans responds to pathogenic bacteria with conserved innate immune responses and pathogen avoidance behaviors. We investigated natural variation in C. elegans resistance to pathogen infection. With the use of quantitative genetic analysis, we determined that the pathogen susceptibility difference between the laboratory wild-type strain N2 and the wild isolate CB4856 is caused by a polymorphism in the npr-1 gene, which encodes a homolog of the mammalian neuropeptide Y receptor. We show that the mechanism of NPR-1-mediated pathogen resistance is through oxygen-dependent behavioral avoidance rather than direct regulation of innate immunity. For C. elegans, bacteria represent food but also a potential source of infection. Our data underscore the importance of behavioral responses to oxygen levels in finding an optimal balance between these potentially conflicting cues.

SUBMITTER: Reddy KC

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2748219 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A polymorphism in npr-1 is a behavioral determinant of pathogen susceptibility in C. elegans.

Reddy Kirthi C KC Andersen Erik C EC Kruglyak Leonid L Kim Dennis H DH

Science (New York, N.Y.) 20090101 5912

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans responds to pathogenic bacteria with conserved innate immune responses and pathogen avoidance behaviors. We investigated natural variation in C. elegans resistance to pathogen infection. With the use of quantitative genetic analysis, we determined that the pathogen susceptibility difference between the laboratory wild-type strain N2 and the wild isolate CB4856 is caused by a polymorphism in the npr-1 gene, which encodes a homolog of the mammalian neuropeptide ...[more]

PMID: 19150845

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Project description:The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans feeds on microbes in its natural environment. Some of these microbes are pathogenic and thus harmful to C. elegans. To minimize resulting fitness reductions, C. elegans has evolved various defence mechanisms including behavioural responses (e.g. avoidance behaviour) that reduce contact with the infectious microbes. In this study, we characterized the genetic architecture of natural variation in C. elegans avoidance behaviour against the infectious stages of the Gram-positive bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis. We performed an analysis of quantitative trait loci (QTLs) using recombinant inbred lines (RILs) and introgression lines (ILs) generated from a cross of two genetically as well as phenotypically distinct natural isolates N2 and CB4856. The analysis identified several QTLs that underlie variation in the behavioural response to pathogenic and/or non-pathogenic bacteria. One of the candidates is the npr-1 gene. This gene encodes a homolog of the mammalian neuropeptide receptor. Npr-1 was previously indicated to fully contribute to behavioural defence against the Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa and food patch-leaving behaviour on Escherichia coli. Interestingly, in our study, npr-1 is not the only gene mediating avoidance behaviour toward Bacillus thuringiensis. Moreover, our functional analyses show that npr-1 alleles appear to influence survival and avoidance behaviour toward Bacillus thuringiensis in exactly the opposite way than toward Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Our findings highlight the role of npr-1 in fine-tuning nematode behaviour in an ecological context depending on the microbe to which C. elegans is exposed. These opposite phenotypes reflect the diversity in innate immunity to pathogens. To understand the mechanism involved in these opposite phenotypes, we carried out a whole-genome transcriptomics study by RNA-Sequencing. This study includes two pathogens: Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 and Bacillus thuringiensis B-18247 (BT247), two strains: N2 and npr-1 (ur89), two time points (12 and 24h) and standard lab food E. coli OP50 as control. mRNA profiles of wild type (WT) and npr-1 (ur89) C.elegans exposed to either Bacillus thuringiensis B-18247, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA14 or standard lab food E. coli OP50 at 12h or 24h were generated by deep sequencing, in double or triplicate, using Illumina HiSeq2000.

Dataset Information

A polymorphism in npr-1 is a behavioral determinant of pathogen susceptibility in C. elegans.

Publications

A polymorphism in npr-1 is a behavioral determinant of pathogen susceptibility in C. elegans.

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