It has been shown that fungal infection triggers the immune system of a fruit fly to destroy the brain cells that lead to signs of neurodegeneration, according to a new study.
The article published in PLOS BIOLOGY Today he discovered that a fungus called Beauveria Bassiana He could cause the innate immune system of the fly to trig control living for almost 50 days.
In experiments carried out by a team of academics from the University of Birmingham, the fruit flies were exposed to B.Bassiana In infection chambers. After three days of exposure, the fungus had penetrated the blood brain barrier and had reached the central brain.
The scientists discovered that the fungus is able to deceive the agents of the immune system of the fly called toll receptors to release two different responses. The Toll-1 receiver triggered the release of antimicrobial peptides (AMP) as expected, that attack and try to kill pathogens. However, the fungus also caused Toll-1 to trigger the production of another molecule called SARM, which suppresses the immune response and kills brain cells.
Alicia Hidalgo, a professor of neurogenetics at the University of Birmingham and the corresponding author of the study said:
“We have shown a process of how fungi have evolved to deceive the immune system so that they get into the brain. The receiver detects the fungus that makes a normal process to induce innate immunity, but in the brain this can also unleash an immunomune – Via of evasion that induces cell death in the brain of the host.
“The key antagonist in the immune process is SARM, A call master of destruction, which is causing cell death in the brain. The ability to B. Bassiana To deceive the immune system of the fruit fly to activate the Master of SARM destruction and murderous cells allow the spores to overcome the blood brain barrier and start feeding with brain cells. “
Dr. Deepanshu Singh, who worked in the study for his doctorate conducted at the University of Birmingham, and is now Postdoc at Manchester, said:
“From an evolutionary perspective, these findings highlight the ongoing arms race between hosts and pathogens, where hosts improve their immune mechanisms, while pathogens evolve new strategies to evade immunity.
“It is important to emphasize that B. Bassiana It cannot affect humans. Some fungi have evolved together with the host, so they will infect only particular hosts. B. Bassiana Infect multiple species of insects, but not mammals. However, in principle, this study shows that other fungal infections could affect the human brain analogously. “
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