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A Planarian Model System to Study Host-Pathogen Interactions

Eli Isael Maciel1,2, Ashley Valle Arevalo1,2, Clarissa J Nobile3,4

  • 1Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, CA, USA.

Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|July 10, 2023
PubMed

Insights

This study details a new planarian infection model for studying fungal pathogens like Candida albicans. This reproducible system allows quick visualization of host-pathogen interactions and tissue damage.

Area of Science:

  • * Infectious disease research
  • * Model organism studies
  • * Mycology

Background:

  • * Understanding host-pathogen interactions is crucial for developing treatments against fungal infections.
  • * Planarians offer a unique, regenerative model system for biological research.
  • * A need exists for accessible models to study fungal pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To describe a protocol for infecting planarians with Candida albicans.
  • * To establish a reproducible model for studying host-pathogen interactions in fungal infections.
  • * To enable rapid visualization of tissue damage during infection.

Main Methods:

  • * Infection of the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea with Candida albicans.
  • * Detailed protocol for setting up and maintaining the infection model.
  • * Observation of tissue damage at various infection timepoints.

Main Results:

  • * The planarian infection model provides a simple and reproducible system.
  • * Rapid visualization of tissue damage caused by Candida albicans is achievable.
  • * The model system is optimized for Candida albicans but adaptable for other pathogens.

Conclusions:

  • * The described planarian infection model is effective for studying host-pathogen interactions.
  • * This model facilitates the study of fungal infections, specifically with Candida albicans.
  • * The system's adaptability suggests broad utility for studying various pathogens.
Keywords:
Candida albicansFungal infectionsHost-pathogen interactionsInfection model systemsPlanarians

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