An integrated view of innate immune mechanismsinC.elegans

The simple notion'infection causes an immune response'is being progressively refinedas it becomes clear that immune mechanisms cannot be understood in isolation, butneed to be considered in a more global context with other cellular and physiological pro-cesses. In part, this reflects the deployment by pathogens of virulence factors that targetdiverse cellular processes, such as translation or mitochondrial respiration, often withgreat molecular specificity. It also reflects molecular cross-talk between a broad range ofhost signalling pathways. Studies with the model animalC. eleganshave uncovered arange of examples wherein innate immune responses are intimately connected with differ-ent homeostatic mechanisms, and can influence reproduction, ageing and neurodegen-eration, as well as various other aspects of its biology. Here we provide a short overviewof a number of such connections, highlighting recent discoveries that further the con-struction of a fully integrated view of innate immunity

Automated summary

The simple notion that infection causes an immune response is being refined as immune mechanisms are recognized to be interrelated with other cellular and physiological processes. Pathogens deploy virulence factors targeting various cellular processes with molecular specificity, leading to molecular cross-talk between host signaling pathways. Studies with the model animal C. elegans reveal intimate connections between innate immune responses and different homeostatic mechanisms, affecting reproduction, aging, neurodegeneration, and other aspects of biology.