Larval host gene expression study in Drosophila post parasitic wasp-infection

Upon pathogenic infection, drosophila larval host mounts an immune response. Parasitic wasps inject venom that contain virulence factors during oviposition, which can elicit host immune response, and in some cases, suppress host immune responses altogether. Several microarray experiments have been performed on different classes of parasitic wasps. We wanted to compare how Ganaspis xanthopoda-infected hosts respond compared to other classes of parasitic wasps. Third instar y w larvae from a 2-day egglay were infected with G. xanthopoda for three and six hours, respectively, by introducing waps in petri-dish containing larvae. Controls were handled side-by-side without introducing wasps. Host larvae were immediately dissected, infection confirmed by presence of wasp egg, and frozen in liquid nitrogen and ground in Trizol. RNA was isolated and checked by agarose gel-electrophoresis. Samples were then sent to the Microarray Core Facility at Weill Cornell Medical College.