The Plasmodium parasite—a ‘new’ challenge for insect innate immunity

• Published in: International journal for parasitology Vol. 34; no. 13; pp. 1473 - 1482
• Main Authors: Meister, S., Koutsos, A.C., Christophides, G.K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2004
• Subjects: Animals; Anopheles; Anopheles - immunology; Anopheles - parasitology; CTL4; Culicidae; disease transmission; Drosophila melanogaster; Host-Parasite Interactions; immune response; immune system; Immunity, Innate; infection; Innate immunity; insect immunity; insect vectors; Insect Vectors - immunology; Insect Vectors - parasitology; literature reviews; LRIM1; Malaria; Malaria - transmission; Plasmodium; Plasmodium - immunology; Plasmodium; Innate immunity; Anopheles; LRIM1; Malaria; CTL4

Though lacking adaptive immunity, insects possess a powerful innate immune system, a genome-encoded defence machinery used to confront infections. Studies in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster revealed a remarkable capacity of the innate immune system to differentiate between and subsequently res...