Ehrlichia chaffeensis replication sites in adult Drosophila melanogaster

dc.contributor.authorDrolia, Rishi
dc.date.accessioned2012-06-07T15:04:08Z
dc.date.available2012-06-07T15:04:08Z
dc.date.graduationmonthAugust
dc.date.issued2012-06-07
dc.date.published2012
dc.description.abstractEhrlichia chaffeensis is a Gram-negative, obligatorily intracytoplasmic bacterium and the causative agent of a tick-borne disease, human monocytic ehrlichiosis. In vertebrates, E. chaffeensis exhibits tropism for monocytes /macrophages. However, no clear requirements for cell tropism have been defined in ticks. Previously, our group identified two host genes that control E. chaffeensis replication in vivo in Drosophila. We used these two genes, CG6364 and separation anxiety (san) to test the hypothesis that E. chaffeensis replicates in arthropod hemocytes. Using the UAS/GAL4 RNAi system, we generated F1 flies (RNAi flies) and confirmed ubiquitous-or tissue-specific reduction in the transcript levels of the targeted genes. When RNAi flies were screened for Ehrlichia infections, we found that when either CG6364 or san were specifically suppressed in the hemocytes or in the fat body E. chaffeensis failed to replicate or cause infection. Deletion of these genes in the eyes, wings or the salivary glands did not impact fly susceptibility or bacterial replication within these organs. Our data demonstrate that in Drosophila, E. chaffeensis replicates within the hemocytes, the insect homolog of mammalian macrophages, and in the fat body, the liver homolog of mammals. This study provides insights about replication sites of E. chaffeensis in arthropods.
dc.description.advisorS. K. Chapes
dc.description.degreeMaster of Science
dc.description.departmentDepartment of Biology
dc.description.levelMasters
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2097/13920
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherKansas State University
dc.rights© the author. This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/
dc.subjectEhrlichia chaffeensis
dc.subjectDrosophila melanogaster
dc.subject.umiBiology (0306)
dc.titleEhrlichia chaffeensis replication sites in adult Drosophila melanogaster
dc.typeThesis

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