Mutations in TGF-beta signaling pathway components regulate the lifespan.

The evolutionary conserved transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway participates in the regulation of several cellular functions and tissue homeostasis. In the model , the two TGF-β signaling pathway branches Bone Morphogenic Protein (BMP) and Activin are involved in important developmental and immune processes. Here we examine the effect of mutations in various BMP and Activin signaling molecules on the fly lifespan.

A model of proximate protection against pathogenic infection through shared immunity.

exhibits innate immune priming, a mechanism leading to protection upon repeated challenge with a given pathogen. However, whether immunological priming can be propagated from a challenged host to naive bystanders is unknown. Here, we show that priming half a vial of adult flies with non-pathogenic bacteria leads to protection of the whole vial from a lethal dose of the insect pathogen, .

endosymbionts in regulate the resistance to Zika virus infection in a sex dependent manner.

has been used extensively for dissecting the genetic and functional bases of host innate antiviral immunity and virus-induced pathology. Previous studies have shown that the presence of endosymbionts in confers resistance to infection by certain viral pathogens. Zika virus is an important vector-borne pathogen that has recently expanded its range due to the wide geographical distribution of the mosquito vector.