Identification of Drosophila genes involved in recovery from infection using an inducible RNAi system. Karla L. Lightfield, David S. Schneider. Microgiology and Immunology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.

   The ability of a host to survive infection is dependent upon a variety of host (and microbial) physiologies and responses, however current research tends to focus more on immune effectors and the destruction of the invading pathogen. The host must also cope with the damage that is caused by the pathogen and the resultant immune response in addition to returning host physiologies to normal (healthy) levels during the recovery process. The goal of this project is to identify genes involved in regulating recovery from infection. To this end we use an inducible RNAi system that allows us to knock down gene expression during the recovery process while limiting developmental influences. We are currently screening a variety of genes by infecting RNAi mutant Drosophila with Listeria monocytogenes, allowing the infection to proceed as normal for 48 hours, then treating the flies with ampicillin, which in normal flies cures the infection. Flies that are not able to clear the infection after ampicillin treatment will be studied further.