Springer Protocols: Abstract: Models of Caenorhabditis elegans Infection by Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens

Models of Caenorhabditis elegans Infection by Bacterial and Fungal Pathogens

By: Jennifer R. Powell^{2 3}, Frederick M. Ausubel^{2 3}

Abstract

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The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans is a simple model host for studying the relationship between the animal innate immune system and a variety of bacterial and fungal pathogens. Extensive genetic and molecular tools are available in C. elegans, facilitating an in-depth analysis of host defense factors and pathogen virulence factors. Many of these factors are conserved in insects and mammals, indicating the relevance of the nematode model to the vertebrate innate immune response. Here, we describe pathogen assays for a selection of the most commonly studied bacterial and fungal pathogens using the C. elegans model system.

Affiliation(s): (2) Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
(3) Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

Book Title: Innate Immunity

Series: Methods in Molecular Biology | Volume: 415 | Pub. Date: Nov-19-2007 | Page Range: 403-427 | DOI: 10.1007/978-1-59745-570-1_24

Subject: Immunology

Key Words: Caenorhabditis elegans - innate immunity - pathogenesis - Cryptococcus neoformans - Drechmeria coniospora - Enterococcus faecalis - Microbacterium nematophilum - Pseudomonas aeruginosa - Salmonella enterica - Serratia marcescens - Staphylococcus aureus - Yersinia pestis - Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.

References

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