RRC ID 76034
Author Prakash D, Ms A, Radhika B, Venkatesan R, Chalasani SH, Singh V.
Title 1-Undecene from Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an olfactory signal for flight-or-fight response in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Journal EMBO J
Abstract Animals possess conserved mechanisms to detect pathogens and to improve survival in their presence by altering their own behavior and physiology. Here, we utilize Caenorhabditis elegans as a model host to ask whether bacterial volatiles constitute microbe-associated molecular patterns. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, we identify six prominent volatiles released by the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa. We show that a specific volatile, 1-undecene, activates nematode odor sensory neurons inducing both flight and fight responses in worms. Using behavioral assays, we show that worms are repelled by 1-undecene and that this aversion response is driven by the detection of this volatile through AWB odor sensory neurons. Furthermore, we find that 1-undecene odor can induce immune effectors specific to P. aeruginosa via AWB neurons and that brief pre-exposure of worms to the odor enhances their survival upon subsequent bacterial infection. These results show that 1-undecene derived from P. aeruginosa serves as a pathogen-associated molecular pattern for the induction of protective responses in C. elegans.
Volume 40(13)
Pages e106938
Published 2021-7-1
DOI 10.15252/embj.2020106938
PMID 34086368
PMC PMC8246062
MeSH Animals Caenorhabditis elegans / metabolism* Caenorhabditis elegans / physiology* Caenorhabditis elegans Proteins / metabolism* Host-Pathogen Interactions / physiology Odorants Pseudomonas aeruginosa / metabolism* Sensory Receptor Cells / metabolism Sensory Receptor Cells / physiology Signal Transduction / physiology
Resource
C.elegans tm4248