Mosquito innate immunity: involvement of β 1,3-glucan recognition protein in melanotic encapsulation immune responses in Armigeres subalbatus

The importance of transcriptional regulation of host genes in innate immunity against viral infection has been widely recognized. More recently, post-transcriptional regulatory mechanisms have gained appreciation as an additional and important layer of regulation to fine-tune host immune responses. Here, we review the functional significance of alternative splicing in innate immune responses to viral infection. We describe how several central components of the Type I and III interferon pathways encode spliced isoforms to regulate IFN activation and function. Additionally, the functional roles of splicing factors and modulators in antiviral immunity are discussed. Lastly, we discuss how cell death pathways are regulated by alternative splicing as well as the potential role of this regulation on host immunity and viral infection. Altogether, these studies highlight the importance of RNA splicing in regulating host–virus interactions and suggest a role in downregulating antiviral innate immunity; this may be critical to prevent pathological inflammation.

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β-Catenin Is Required for the cGAS/STING Signaling Pathway but Antagonized by the Herpes Simplex Virus 1 US3 Protein

Journal of Virology ◽

10.1128/jvi.01847-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 94 (5) ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Hongjuan You ◽

Yingying Lin ◽

Feng Lin ◽

Mingyue Yang ◽

Jiahui Li ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Innate Immunity ◽

Herpes Simplex ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Signaling Pathway ◽

Kinase Activity ◽

Dna Virus ◽

Host Immune Responses ◽

Simplex Virus ◽

Antiviral Innate Immunity ◽

Hsv 1

ABSTRACT The cGAS/STING-mediated DNA-sensing signaling pathway is crucial for interferon (IFN) production and host antiviral responses. Herpes simplex virus I (HSV-1) is a DNA virus that has evolved multiple strategies to evade host immune responses. Here, we demonstrate that the highly conserved β-catenin protein in the Wnt signaling pathway is an important factor to enhance the transcription of type I interferon (IFN-I) in the cGAS/STING signaling pathway, and the production of IFN-I mediated by β-catenin was antagonized by HSV-1 US3 protein via its kinase activity. Infection by US3-deficienct HSV-1 and its kinase-dead variants failed to downregulate IFN-I and IFN-stimulated gene (ISG) production induced by β-catenin. Consistent with this, absence of β-catenin enhanced the replication of US3-deficienct HSV-1, but not wild-type HSV-1. The underlying mechanism was the interaction of US3 with β-catenin and its hyperphosphorylation of β-catenin at Thr556 to block its nuclear translocation. For the first time, HSV-1 US3 has been shown to inhibit IFN-I production through hyperphosphorylation of β-catenin and to subvert host antiviral innate immunity. IMPORTANCE Although increasing evidence has demonstrated that HSV-1 subverts host immune responses and establishes lifelong latent infection, the molecular mechanisms by which HSV-1 interrupts antiviral innate immunity, especially the cGAS/STING-mediated cellular DNA-sensing signaling pathway, have not been fully explored. Here, we show that β-catenin promotes cGAS/STING-mediated activation of the IFN pathway, which is important for cellular innate immune responses and intrinsic resistance to DNA virus infection. The protein kinase US3 antagonizes the production of IFN by targeting β-catenin via its kinase activity. The findings in this study reveal a novel mechanism for HSV-1 to evade host antiviral immunity and add new knowledge to help in understanding the interaction between the host and HSV-1 infection.

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Sex differences in melanotic encapsulation responses (immunocompetence) in the damselfly Lestes forcipatus Rambur

Canadian Journal of Zoology ◽

10.1139/z02-159 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 80 (9) ◽

pp. 1578-1583 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Christopher P Yourth ◽

Mark R Forbes ◽

Robert L Baker

Keyword(s):

Sex Differences ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Life Histories ◽

Mass Gain ◽

Sexually Dimorphic ◽

Foreign Objects ◽

Males And Females ◽

And Gender ◽

Parasitic Mites ◽

Melanotic Encapsulation

A few studies have shown that male and female invertebrates differ in immunity and that these differences appear related to differences in sexual dimorphism and gender differences in life histories. Melanotic encapsulation of foreign objects in insects is one form of immunity. The damselfly Lestes forcipatus Rambur is moderately sexually dimorphic, and much is known about patterns of mass gain in congeners relating to differences in life history between males and females. In this study, females were more immunoresponsive than males under controlled temperatures, following emergence, and at a time when parasitic mites were challenging these hosts. However, males and females that overlapped in mass at emergence did not differ in their immune responses. Males in better condition at emergence were more immunoresponsive than lighter males, but this relation was not found in females. Sex differences in immune expression may have implications for how females versus males are able to deal with challenges from parasites, under varying environmental conditions.

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The DBL-1/TGF-β signaling pathway regulates pathogen-specific innate immune responses in C. elegans

10.1101/2021.03.30.437693 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Bhoomi Madhu ◽

Tina L. Gumienny

Keyword(s):

Innate Immunity ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Signaling Pathway ◽

Defense Responses ◽

C Elegans ◽

Host Immune Responses ◽

Wide Range ◽

Independent Functions ◽

Multiple Cell

Innate immunity in animals is orchestrated by multiple cell signaling pathways, including the TGF-β; superfamily pathway. While the role of TGF-β signaling in innate immunity has been clearly identified, the requirement for this pathway in generating specific, robust responses to different bacterial challenges has not been characterized. Here, we address the role of DBL-1/TGF-β in regulating signature host defense responses to a wide range of bacteria in C. elegans. This work reveals a role of DBL-1/TGF-β in animal survival, organismal behaviors, and molecular responses in different environments. Additionally, we identify a novel role for SMA-4/Smad that suggests both DBL-1/TGF-β-dependent and -independent functions in host avoidance responses. RNA-seq analyses and immunity reporter studies indicate DBL-1/TGF-β differentially regulates target gene expression upon exposure to different bacteria. Furthermore, the DBL-1/TGF-β pathway is itself differentially affected by the bacteria exposure. Collectively, these findings demonstrate bacteria-specific host immune responses regulated by the DBL-1/TGF-β signaling pathway.

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The neuropeptide receptor NMUR-1 regulates the specificity of C. elegans innate immunity against pathogen infection

10.1101/2021.05.06.442992 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Phillip Wibisono ◽

Shawndra Wibisono ◽

Jan Watteyne ◽

Chia-Hui Chen ◽

Durai Sellegounder ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Innate Immunity ◽

Immune System ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Adaptive Immune System ◽

Innate Immune ◽

Innate Immune Responses ◽

Immune Genes ◽

C Elegans ◽

Adaptive Immune ◽

Functional Assays

A key question in current immunology is how the innate immune system generates high levels of specificity. Like most invertebrates, Caenorhabditis elegans does not have an adaptive immune system and relies solely on innate immunity to defend itself against pathogen attacks, yet it can still differentiate different pathogens and launch distinct innate immune responses. Here, we have found that functional loss of NMUR-1, a neuronal GPCR homologous to mammalian receptors for the neuropeptide neuromedin U, has diverse effects on C. elegans survival against various bacterial pathogens. Transcriptomic analyses and functional assays revealed that NMUR-1 modulates C. elegans transcription activity by regulating the expression of transcription factors, which, in turn, controls the expression of distinct immune genes in response to different pathogens. Our study has uncovered a molecular basis for the specificity of C. elegans innate immunity that could provide mechanistic insights into understanding the specificity of vertebrate innate immunity.

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Innate immunity and the pneumococcus

Microbiology ◽

10.1099/mic.0.28551-0 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 152 (2) ◽

pp. 285-293 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Gavin K. Paterson ◽

Tim J. Mitchell

Keyword(s):

Innate Immunity ◽

Immune System ◽

Streptococcus Pneumoniae ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Innate Immune System ◽

Innate Immune ◽

First Line ◽

Adaptive Immune Responses ◽

Adaptive Immune ◽

Made In

The innate immune system provides a non-specific first line of defence against microbes and is crucial both in the development and effector stages of subsequent adaptive immune responses. Consistent with its importance, study of the innate immune system is a broad and fast-moving field. Here we provide an overview of the recent key advances made in this area with relation to the important pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus).

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Box C/D Small Nucleolar Ribonucleoproteins Regulate Mitochondrial Surveillance and Innate Immunity

10.1101/2021.04.28.441759 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Elissa Tjahjono ◽

Alexey V. Revtovich ◽

Natalia V. Kirienko

Keyword(s):

Innate Immunity ◽

Quality Control ◽

Caenorhabditis Elegans ◽

Immune Responses ◽

Molecular Switch ◽

Mitochondrial Stress ◽

Core Proteins ◽

Mitochondrial Functions ◽

Protective Genes ◽

Retrograde Response

AbstractMonitoring of mitochondrial functions is crucial for organismal survival. This task is performed by mitochondrial surveillance or quality control pathways, which are activated by signals originating from mitochondria and relayed to the nucleus (retrograde response) to start the transcription of protective genes. In Caenorhabditis elegans, several systems exist, including the UPRmt, MAPKmt, and the ESRE pathway. These pathways are highly conserved and their loss results in compromised survival following mitochondrial stress.In this study, we found a novel interaction between the box C/D snoRNA core proteins (snoRNPs) and mitochondrial surveillance and innate immunity pathways. We showed that C/D snoRNPs are required for the full expressions of UPRmt and ESRE upon stress. Meanwhile, we found that the loss of C/D snoRNPs increased immune responses. Understanding the “molecular switch” mechanisms of interplay between these pathways may be important for understanding of multifactorial processes, including response to infection or aging.

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