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

Kirthi C. Reddy; Erik C. Andersen; Leonid Kruglyak; Dennis H. Kim

doi:10.1126/science.1166527

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

Kirthi C. Reddy, Erik C. Andersen, Leonid Kruglyak^*, Dennis H. Kim

^*Corresponding author for this work

Molecular Biosciences

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

183 Scopus citations

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.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	382-384
Number of pages	3
Journal	Science
Volume	323
Issue number	5912
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1166527
State	Published - Jan 16 2009

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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.",

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AU - Kruglyak, Leonid

AU - Kim, Dennis H.

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AB - 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.

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

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