U.S.-Korea Cooperative Research: The Insect Pathogen Xenorhabdus Nematophilus depresses Host Immunity by Inhibiting Eicosanoid Biosynthesis

University Of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln NE

Investigators

Abstract

INT-0201376 David Stanley University of Nebraska-Lincolnl The project is about international collaboration with researchers in Korea, focusing on insect immunity: The insect pathogen Xenorhabdus nematophilus depresses host immunity by inhibiting eicosanoid biosynthesis. Insects are the most successful group of animals and the only serious biological competitor with humans. Insects exert tremendous economic and public health impacts on human life and life quality. The development of effective and environmentally compatible insect management strategies is necessary. The earlier collaboration study shows that a bacterial factor which is present in the organic fraction of the bacterial culture medium inhibits cellular immune reactions. The proposed study is to identify the bacterial factor responsible for inhibiting eicosanoid biosynthesis and to determine the influence of this factor on bacterial pathogenesis.