Search results for "immunological loitering"

Insect immunity: oral exposure to a bacterial pathogen elicits free radical response and protects from a recurring infection

2014

Background: Previous exposure to a pathogen can help organisms cope with recurring infection. This is widely recognised in vertebrates, but increasing occasions are also being reported in invertebrates where this phenomenon is referred to as immune priming. However, the mechanisms that allow acquired pathogen resistance in insects remain largely unknown. Results: We studied the priming of bacterial resi stance in the larvae of the tiger moth, Parasemia plantaginis using two gram-negative bacteria, a pathogenic Serratia marcescens and a non-pathogenic control, Escherichia coli. Asublethaloraldoseof S. marcescens provided the larvae with effective protection against an otherwise lethal septic…