This is a report collecting publications that describe Drosophila models of infection by prokaryotic pathogens that can infect humans. There are detailed reports available for Drosophila models of infection by specific prokaryotes, see the 'Related Diseases' section below.
There are two prevalent methods to study infection using Drosophila: direct infection and transgenic expression of pathogenic proteins. For a review of fly models using transgenic expression of pathogenic proteins see Harnish et al., 2021 (FBrf0248558).
This report does not cover interactions of non-pathogenic bacteria with Drosophila, such as Wolbachia or commensal bacteria that compose the Drosophila microbiome, nor the mechanics of the innate immune system response in general, rather than in response to a bacterial pathogen.
[updated May 2021 by FlyBase; FBrf0222196]
In Drosophila, microbial challenge leads to the rapid and robust production of a battery of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), a defense initiated by the fly's innate immune system. Several families of AMPs have been described in Drosophila, with antifungal and antibacterial (both anti-Gram-negative or anti-Gram-positive) activities. Some of these AMPs appear to be unique to insects, e.g., Diptericin, while others have homologs in mammals, e.g., Defensins, Cecropins and Drosomycin. (Adapted from Silverman et al. 2009 and references therein, FBrf0215549. See FlyBase Gene Group FBgg0001101 for information on specific AMPs.)
