Abstract
Pneumocystis spp. are significant pathogens in a variety of mammals. We tried to establish a Drosophila model of pneumocystosis using either P. murina or P. carinii. Whereas the pathogens were competent in susceptible mice, no infection could be established even in corticosteroid-treated Toll-deficient flies. This further substantiates the tropism described for mammalian hosts.
MeSH terms
-
Animals
-
Drosophila Proteins / genetics
-
Drosophila melanogaster / genetics
-
Drosophila melanogaster / growth & development
-
Drosophila melanogaster / immunology*
-
Drosophila melanogaster / microbiology*
-
Host Specificity
-
Immunity, Innate*
-
Lung / immunology
-
Lung / microbiology
-
Mice
-
Pneumocystis / pathogenicity*
-
Toll-Like Receptors / deficiency
-
Toll-Like Receptors / genetics*
Substances
-
Drosophila Proteins
-
Toll-Like Receptors