99th Dahlem Conference on Infection, Inflammation and Chronic Inflammatory Disorders

Caenorhabditis elegansas a model to study tissues involved in host immunity and microbial pathogenesis

  • Irazoqui, J. E.
  • Ausubel, F. M.

  • Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School and Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA

Accepted for publication 18 January 2010

Correspondence: J. E. Irazoqui, Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School and Department of Molecular Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA. E-mail: [email protected]

*Current address: Program in Developmental Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School and Department of Pediatrics, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA.

Clinical & Experimental Immunology 160(1):p 48-57, April 2010. | DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2249.2010.04122.x

Summary

The molecular mechanisms involved in host–microbe interactions during the initial stages of infection are poorly understood. The bacteria-eating nematodeCaenorhabditis elegansprovides an opportunity to dissect host–microbe interactions in the context of the whole organism, using powerful genomic, genetic and cell-biological tools. Because of the evolutionary conservation of ancient innate host defences and bacterial virulence mechanisms, studies inC. eleganshold great promise to shed light on defences in higher organisms, including mammals. Additionally,C. eleganspathogenesis models provide a platform for the identification of novel classes of anti-infective compounds with therapeutic value.

Copyright © 2010 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.