Nociceptor activity is required for a robust immune response in Drosophila larvae

The nervous system and the immune system play a shared role in defending Drosophila larvae against injury and infection. Potentially harmful stimuli are detected by nociceptive neurons that trigger escape behaviors, while wounds and foreign invaders are sealed or killed by immune cells called lamellocytes. In this study we replicated a previous finding that silencing nociceptor output reduces the production of lamellocytes following infection by parasitoid wasps. We also investigated the timecourse of lamellocyte production to determine optional experimental time points which can be used in future investigations into the mechanism of communication between nociceptors and immune cells.