TM9SF4¹ mutants show reduced survival compared to control flies after infection with one of K.pneumoniae or E.cloacae by septic injury.

Mutants show reduced survival compared to control flies after oral infection with P.aeruginosa.

Mutants show normal sensitivity to infection with E.faecalis, S.aureus or M.luteus.

TM9SF4¹/Df(2L)b82a2 mutants show reduced survival compared to control flies after infection with K.pneumoniae by septic injury.

Sessile clustered hemocytes of TM9SF4¹ adults show reduced engulfment of bacteria compared to control flies after infection with K.pneumoniae. Circulating plasmatocytes from TM9SF4¹ third instar larvae phagocytose latex beads and E.coli two times less efficiently than wild-type cells, whereas phagocytosis of S.aureus is unaffected. The mutant circulating plasmatocyte cells show irregular spreading on glass coverslips, and although large lamellipodium protrusions are clearly visible, the adhesive belt is absent or severely disrupted. The mutant cells have a larger surface area than controls and differentiate long actin-stained filopodia.

Only 48% of TM9SF4¹ larvae properly encapsulate and melanise eggs of the L.boulardi parasitic wasp strain G486 at 24[o]C (in contrast to approximately control larvae which encapsulate approximately 80% of G486 strain eggs).