RNA sequencing to identify immunity-regulated genes in C. elegans defense against pathogen infection

To understand the molecular mechanism of C. elegans innate immunity, we used RNA sequencing to profile gene expression in wild-type animals with or without P. aeruginosa (PA14) infection. We found that a bZIP transcription factor ZIP-11 is dramatically induced in wild-type worm upon PA14 infection. And ZIP-11 promotes innate immunity through activating PMK-1/p38 pathway and interacting with a CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein CEBP-2. Three replicates of two groups of RNA samples (wild-type L4-stage animals with or without exposure to P. aeruginosa for 24 hrs) were sequenced. Gene expression was compared between groups to identify differentially expressed genes under uninfection or infection conditions.