A Two-Gene Balance Regulates Salmonella Typhimurium Tolerance in the Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
2011

Two-Gene Balance Regulates Salmonella Tolerance in C. elegans

Sample size: 106 publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Marsh Elizabeth K., van den Berg Maaike C. W., May Robin C.

Primary Institution: School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham

Hypothesis

Does the lysozyme LYS-7 play a role in mediating resistance to C. neoformans and susceptibility to Salmonella Typhimurium in C. elegans?

Conclusion

The study found that the loss of LYS-7 increases resistance to Salmonella Typhimurium while making C. elegans more susceptible to C. neoformans.

Supporting Evidence

  • LYS-7 knockout animals are hypersusceptible to C. neoformans.
  • LYS-7 knockout animals exhibit enhanced resistance to S. Typhimurium.
  • The resistance to S. Typhimurium is mediated by genetic compensation involving other genes.

Takeaway

This study shows that a gene in worms helps them fight off one germ but makes them more vulnerable to another, showing a trade-off in their immune system.

Methodology

The researchers used knockout strains of C. elegans to assess survival against different pathogens and measured gene expression changes.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.0001

Statistical Significance

p<0.0001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0016839

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