RNA-Sequencing analysis of the Drosophila transcriptomic response to infection by entomopathogenic nematodes and their mutualistic bacteria

We report the application of next generation RNA sequencing to analyze the transcriptional response of Drosophila adult flies to infection by the insect pathogenic nematodes Heterorhabditis bacteriophora and their mutualistic bacteria Photorhabdus luminescens, either separately or together. We find that Heterorhabditis and Photorhabdus differentially modulate a large number of genes, many of which participate in metabolic functions, stress responses, repression of gene transcription and neuronal activities. We have also identified Drosophila genes with potential role in nematode recognition and others with putative anti-nematode properties. These findings generate novel insights into how the host immune function is shaped to respond against nematode parasites and their associated bacteria.