A parental transcriptional response to microsporidia infection induces inherited immunity in offspring
Alexandra R. Willis, Winnie Zhao, Ronesh Sukhdeo, Lina Wadi, Hala Tamim El Jarkass, Julie M. Claycomb, Aaron W. Reinke
Abstract
We demonstrate that immunity is induced by the parental transcriptional response to infection, which can be mimicked through maternal somatic depletion of PALS-22 and the retinoblastoma protein ortholog, LIN-35. We find that other biotic and abiotic stresses (viral infection and cadmium exposure) that induce a similar transcriptional response as microsporidia also induce immunity in progeny. Together, our results reveal how a parental transcriptional signal can be induced by distinct stimuli and protect offspring against multiple classes of pathogens.
Topics & Concepts
BiologyImmunityOffspringImmune systemCaenorhabditis elegansAcquired immune systemMicrosporidiaIntracellular parasiteMaternal effectGeneticsImmunologyMicrobiologyGeneSporePregnancyGenetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model OrganismsCRISPR and Genetic EngineeringParasites and Host Interactions