Nodulation: an unexplored cellular defense mechanism in insects

Nodulation is a highly conserved process that involves aggregation of cells around microorganisms, leading to their entrapment with the help of cellular milieu. In insects upon infection, the humoral and cellular arms of the innate immune system orchestrate recognition of pathogens facilitating effector responses through various signaling pathways. Existing data suggests a wide range of immune functions for multiple pattern recognition molecules but their role in nodulation is not known. Hence, an in-depth knowledge of components implicated in the signaling pathways across diverse species is crucial for understanding their evolutionary conservation. Here, we attempted to consolidate available information on the nodulation response in insects and made an analogy with other known systems.