Data from: The route of infection determines Wolbachia antibacterial protection in Drosophila

Bacterial symbionts are widespread among metazoans and provide a range of
beneficial functions. Wolbachia-mediated protection against viral
infection has been extensively demonstrated in Drosophila. In mosquitoes
that are artificially transinfected with Drosophila melanogaster Wolbachia
(wMel), protection from both viral and bacterial infections has been
demonstrated. However, no evidence for Wolbachia-mediated antibacterial
protection has been demonstrated in Drosophila to date. Here, we show that
the route of infection is key for Wolbachia-mediated antibacterial
protection. Drosophila melanogaster carrying Wolbachia showed reduced
mortality during enteric—but not systemic—infection with the opportunist
pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Wolbachia-mediated protection was more
pronounced in male flies and is associated with increased early expression
of the antimicrobial peptide Attacin A, and also increased expression of a
reactive oxygen species detoxification gene (Gst D8). These results
highlight that the route of infection is important for symbiont-mediated
protection from infection, that Wolbachia can protect hosts by eliciting a
combination of resistance and disease tolerance mechanisms, and that these
effects are sexually dimorphic. We discuss the importance of using
ecologically relevant routes of infection to gain a better understanding
of symbiont-mediated protection.