Zanette, R.A., Santurio, J.M., Loreto, E.S., Alves, S.H., Kontoyiannis, D.P. (2013). Toll-deficient Drosophila is susceptible to Pythium insidiosum infection.  Microbiol. Immunol. 57(10): 732--735.

FBrf0222960

Research paper

There is a paucity of animal models of pythiosis, a life-threatening disease of humans and animals, the immunopathogenesis of which is poorly understood. A pythiosis model was developed by injecting Toll (Tl)-deficient Drosophila melanogaster flies with Pythium insidiosum zoospores. The infected Tl mutant flies had significantly lower survival rates (73.7%) than did control flies. This study reveals the important role of Tl pathway activation in fly immune response to pythiosis.