A direct role for dual oxidase in Drosophila gut immunity

Eun Mi Ha, Chun Taek Oh, Yun Soo Bae, Won Jae Lee

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

654 Scopus citations

Abstract

Because the mucosal epithelia are in constant contact with large numbers of microorganisms, these surfaces must be armed with efficient microbial control systems. Here, we show that the Drosophila nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase enzyme, dual oxidase (dDuox), is indispensable for gut antimicrobial activities. Adult flies in which dDuox expression is silenced showed a marked increase in mortality rate even after a minor infection through ingestion of microbe-contaminated food. This could be restored by the specific reintroduction of dDuox, demonstrating that this oxidase generates a unique epithelial oxidative burst that limits microbial proliferation in the gut. Thus, oxidant-mediated antimicrobial responses are not restricted to the phagocytes, but rather are used more broadly, including in mucosal barrier epithelia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)847-850
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume310
Issue number5749
DOIs
StatePublished - 4 Nov 2005

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