https://doi.org/doi:10.1073/pnas.2602167123
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42127107/
#Drosophila #Immunity

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Background Viruses are ubiquitous and can spread in two main ways: vertically, which involves transmission through or associated with gametes, and horizontally, which occurs through direct contact, airborne transmission, or indirect contact, such as through ingestion. Vertically transmitted, low virulence viruses can go undetected by both the immune system and researchers, and cause chronic, asymptomatic infections. In many Drosophila studies, researchers are unaware or ambivalent about the fact that the flies used may be infected with persistent viruses. Although they often have minimal or no observable fitness costs in laboratory fly samples, recent studies suggest that an increase in viral titer is associated with a decrease in lifespan. Results In this study, we explored cell-type tropism and changes in gene expression associated with these cryptic virus infections. To achieve this, we utilized a publicly accessible single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) data of the Drosophila fat body, where we detected persistent infections of Nora and Drosophila A virus. We observed that Nora virus and Drosophila A virus may exhibit broad cell-type tropism in the Drosophila fat body, and when coinfected, Drosophila A virus may show higher viral titer and cell infection rate. Transcriptomic analyses showed substantial immune pathway alterations: Nora virus is broadly associated with upregulation of immune pathways (IMD, Toll), whereas Drosophila A virus is associated with downregulation of specific Toll pathway effector genes. Additionally, the expression of somatic transposable element (TE) transcripts was associated with viral infection, showing mating status-dependent patterns with downregulation in Nora virus-infected virgin flies and upregulation in mated flies for both viruses. Conclusions Overall, we hypothesize that cryptic and persistent viral infections in Drosophila elicit transcriptional changes in the fat body, including activation of immune responses, and dysregulation TE activity in somatic fat body cells in association with these viral infections.

Aging has effects on the immune system that are similar in men and women, but also reshapes their immune systems in unique, sex-specific ways, however these differences are rarely taken into consideration. This Essay argues that accounting for both sex and age is essential to advance personalized medicine.
Maternal helminths rewire the #microbiota to promote offspring antiviral #immunity.
Maternal helminths reshape microbiota to boost offspring antiviral immunity via indole-3-propionic acid (IPA)‑driven IFN‑I protection.
https://davidojcius.blogspot.com/2026/05/maternal-helminths-rewire-microbiota-to.html