A key immune signaling pathway needed in specific tissues of C. elegans to respond to Yersinia pestis infection

A full-genome microarray analysis reveals enrichment in immune response genes in Caenorhabditis elegans infected with Yersinia pestis.

• The expression of innate immune response genes is regulated by the PMK-1/p38 MAPK pathway.
• Mutation or RNA interference that inhibits PMK-1/p38 increases susceptibility to Y. pestis.
• Specific inhibition or overexpression of PMK-1/p38 in tissues suggests it controls immune gene expression at the cellular level.
• The findings indicate that PMK-1/p38 MAPK may have a role in the immune response against Y. pestis in natural hosts.

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