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Updated: May 9, 2026
Drosophila melanogaster Larva Injection Protocol
Published on: October 19, 2021
Toll-deficient Drosophila is susceptible to Pythium insidiosum infection
Régis A Zanette1, Janio M Santurio, Érico S Loreto
1Graduate Program in Pharmacology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Avenida Roraima, 1000, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil; Department of Infectious Diseases, Infection Control and Employee Health, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
Abstract:
There is a paucity of animal models of pythiosis, a life-threatening disease of humans and animals, the immunopathogenesis of which is poorly understood. A pythiosis model was developed by injecting Toll (Tl)-deficient Drosophila melanogaster flies with Pythium insidiosum zoospores. The infected Tl mutant flies had significantly lower survival rates (73.7%) than did control flies. This study reveals the important role of Tl pathway activation in fly immune response to pythiosis.
