Research interests

Our research is focused on the mechanisms of innate immunity, using Drosophila as a model system. This organism lacks lymphocytes and an acquired immune response, but has a well developed innate immune system. Studies of Drosophila have already contributed significantly to our understanding of innate immunity in humans. In addition, insect immunity is of great theoretical and practical importance in its own right, not least because insects are vectors for serious human diseases, and because insect pathogens are increasingly used to control agricultural pests.

The antibacterial response. When infected, insects synthesize a powerful set of antibacterial proteins and peptides such as the cecropins, first discovered in the cecropia moth. They provide a rapid broad-spectrum protection against bacteria as well as fungi. Genes for many of the antibacterial peptides in Drosophila, and for the control of their induction, have previously been characterized in our lab.

The cellular response. We now focus our attention on the recognition and signaling events that lead to the induction of a different aspect of the innate immune response, the cellular response. Blood cells, called hemocytes, patrol the hemocoel in Drosophila. They phagocytize bacteria and other foreign particles, and they form capsules around parasites. They are also involved in the deposition of black melanin in the capsules and at wound sites. We are interested in the interactions between hemocytes and pathogenic organisms, and in how the encapsulation response is controlled.

Dan Hultmarks group in Sweden:Dan Hultmark/UCMP