Drosophila RNAi Screen Reveals CD36 Family Member Required for Mycobacterial Infection

JA Philips, EJ Rubin, N Perrimon - Science, 2005 - science.org
JA Philips, EJ Rubin, N Perrimon
Science, 2005science.org
Certain pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, survive within the hostile
intracellular environment of a macrophage. To identify host factors required for
mycobacterial entry and survival within macrophages, we performed a genomewide RNA
interference screen in Drosophila macrophage-like cells, using Mycobacterium fortuitum. We
identified factors required for general phagocytosis, as well as those needed specifically for
mycobacterial infection. One specific factor, Peste (Pes), is a CD36 family member required …
Certain pathogens, such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, survive within the hostile intracellular environment of a macrophage. To identify host factors required for mycobacterial entry and survival within macrophages, we performed a genomewide RNA interference screen in Drosophila macrophage-like cells, using Mycobacterium fortuitum. We identified factors required for general phagocytosis, as well as those needed specifically for mycobacterial infection. One specific factor, Peste (Pes), is a CD36 family member required for uptake of mycobacteria, but not Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus. Moreover, mammalian class B scavenger receptors (SRs) conferred uptake of bacteria into nonphagocytic cells, with SR-BI and SR-BII uniquely mediating uptake of M. fortuitum, which suggests a conserved role for class B SRs in pattern recognition and innate immunity.
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