Analysis of immune-related genes during Nora virus infection of Drosophila melanogaster using next generation sequencing

• Published in: AIMS microbiology Vol. 4; no. 1; pp. 123 - 139
• Main Authors: Lopez, Wilfredo, Page, Alexis M, Carlson, Darby J, Ericson, Brad L, Cserhati, Matyas F, Guda, Chittibabu, Carlson, Kimberly A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States AIMS Press 01-01-2018
• Subjects: Drosophila melanogaster; immune-related genes; immunity; next generation sequencing; Nora virus; RNA seq; RNA seq; immunity; immune-related genes; Drosophila melanogaster; next generation sequencing; Nora virus
• ISSN: 2471-1888; 2471-1888
• DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2018.1.123

depends upon the innate immune system to regulate and combat viral infection. This is a complex, yet widely conserved process that involves a number of immune pathways and gene interactions. In addition, expression of genes involved in immunity are differentially regulated as the organism ages. This is particularly true for viruses that demonstrate chronic infection, as is seen with Nora virus. Nora virus is a persistent non-pathogenic virus that replicates in a horizontal manner in
. The genes involved in the regulation of the immune response to Nora virus infection are largely unknown. In addition, the temporal response of immune response genes as a result of infection has not been examined. In this study,
either infected with Nora virus or left uninfected were aged for 2, 10, 20 and 30 days. The RNA from these samples was analyzed by next generation sequencing (NGS) and the resulting immune-related genes evaluated by utilizing both the PANTHER and DAVID databases, as well as comparison to lists of immune related genes and FlyBase. The data demonstrate that Nora virus infected
exhibit an increase in immune related gene expression over time. In addition, at day 30, the data demonstrate that a persistent immune response may occur leading to an upregulation of specific immune response genes. These results demonstrate the utility of NGS in determining the potential immune system genes involved in Nora virus replication, chronic infection and involvement of antiviral pathways.