Senior Project Advisor
Adrienne Wang
Document Type
Project - Campus-only Access
Publication Date
Fall 2024
Keywords
Innate Immunity, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, mtDNA, Imd, Antimicrobial Peptides, Diptericin
Abstract
Age has long been linked to mitochondrial function. As we age, mitochondrial integrity declines, resulting in inefficient respiration, decreased membrane potential and “leakage” of mitochondrial components into the cytoplasm. Aging has also been linked to dysregulation of innate immune signaling, leading to inflammation and a reduction in response to acute infection. More recently, research has implicated mtDNA as a potential upstream signal for innate immune responses, suggesting a link between these two processes thought to drive aging. Preliminary data from the Wang lab has shown that in Drosophila, mtDNA depletion leads to upregulation of the innate immune response. Here, we are validating those findings in a fly that induces mtDNA depletion in a heat-controlled manner, using RT-qPCR to measure expression of Diptericin—an antimicrobial peptide whose expression increases during the fruit fly innate immune response.
Department
Biology
Recommended Citation
Bloom, Susannah, "Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Innate Immunity in Drosophila melanogaster" (2024). WWU Honors College Senior Projects. 907.
https://cedar.wwu.edu/wwu_honors/907
Type
Text
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author’s written permission.
Language
English
Format
application/pdf