C. elegans: model host and tool for antimicrobial drug discovery.
Dis Model Mech
; 4(3): 300-4, 2011 May.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-21504910
ABSTRACT
For almost four decades, the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans has been of great value in many fields of biological research. It is now used extensively in studies of microbial pathogenesis and innate immunity. The worm lacks an adaptive immune system and relies solely on its innate immune defences to cope with pathogen attack. Infectious microbes, many of which are of clinical interest, trigger specific mechanisms of innate immunity, and provoke the expression of antifungal or antibacterial polypeptides. In this review, we highlight some of these families of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and proteins that are candidates for the development of novel antibiotics. In addition, we describe how systems of C. elegans infection provide an increasing number of possibilities for large-scale in vivo screens for the discovery of new antimicrobial drugs. These systems open promising perspectives for innovative human therapies.
Full text:
1
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Caenorhabditis elegans
/
Models, Animal
/
Drug Discovery
/
Anti-Infective Agents
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
En
Journal:
Dis Model Mech
Journal subject:
MEDICINA
Year:
2011
Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
France