Abstract
Until very recently it was not known whether the invertebrate Caenorhabditis elegans was capable of mounting a specific immune response to protect itself from pathogens. It has only just become clear that this simple nematode in fact possesses a complex innate immune system, involving multiple signalling pathways and an armoury of antimicrobial proteins and peptides. Genetic and microarray approaches are now revealing the molecular cross-talk that exists between the different signalling cascades.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Caenorhabditis elegans / immunology*
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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Immune System / immunology
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Immunity, Innate*
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / physiology
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Receptor, Insulin / physiology
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Signal Transduction
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Transforming Growth Factor beta / physiology
Substances
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Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins
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Transforming Growth Factor beta
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DAF-2 protein, C elegans
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Receptor, Insulin
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Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases