Project description:We are utilizing an adult penetrating traumatic brain injury (PTBI) model in Drosophila to investigate early regenerative mechanisms after damage to the central brain. Here we incorporate RNA-seq analyses to identify candidate pathways that may trigger cell proliferation following PTBI. We find that transcript levels for components of both Toll and Immune Deficiency (Imd) innate immunity pathways are rapidly and highly upregulated post-PTBI. We then tested mutants for the NF-κB transcription factors of the Toll and Imd pathways, Dorsal-related immunity factor (Dif) and Relish (Rel) respectively. Induction of transcripts for antimicrobial peptide (AMP) levels are substantially elevated after PTBI, however their levels revert to near baseline within 24 hours. These results indicate that the innate immunity pathways play an integral role in the regenerative response. Innate immunity previously has been implicated as both a potentiator and an inhibitor of regeneration. Our work suggests that modulation of innate immunity may be essential to prevent adverse outcomes.
Project description:To examine the Ten-Eleven Translocation (TET) proteins and their role in tumorigenesis in hemocytes and heads in Drosophila melanogaster. To identify the transcriptomic profile of wild type mTET2 versus mTET2 mutants (catalytic versus non-catalytic) to investigate TET2 role in normal central nervous system (CNS) function and innate immunity.
Project description:Alphaviruses establish a persistent infection in arthropod vectors, which is essential for effective transmission of the virus to vertebrate hosts. The development of persistence in insects is not well understood, although it is thought to involve the innate immune response. Using a transgenic fly system (SINrep) expressing a self-replicating viral genome, we have previously demonstrated the antiviral response of the Drosophila Imd (Immune Deficiency) and Jak-STAT innate immunity pathways. In the current study, microarray analysis of SINrep flies in comparison to control GFP flies aims to detect genes that are sensitive to Sindbis viral RNA replication. Both SINrep and GFP adult flies were harvested 3 days post eclosion for RNA extraction and hybridization on Affymetrix microarrays. We look for genes significantly altered in the presence of viral RNA replication.
