The tracheal immune system of insects- A blueprint for understanding epithelial immunity

The unique design of respiratory organs in multicellular organisms makes them prone to infection by pathogens. To cope with this vulnerability, highly effective local immune systems evolved that are also operative in the tracheal system of insects. Many pathogens and parasites (including viruses, bacteria, fungi, and metazoan parasites) colonize the trachea or invade the host via this route. Currently, only two modules of the tracheal immune system have been characterized in depth: 1) Immune deficiency pathway-mediated activation of anti-microbial peptide gene expression and 2) local melanization processes that protect the structure from wounding. There is an urgent need to increase our understanding of the architecture of tracheal immune systems, especially regarding those mechanisms that enable the maintenance of immune homeostasis. This need for new studies is particularly exigent for species other than Drosophila.

Automated summary

The unique design of respiratory organs in multicellular organisms makes them vulnerable to infection by pathogens. Insects have evolved highly effective local immune systems in their tracheal system to cope with this vulnerability. Further research is needed to understand the architecture of tracheal immune systems and mechanisms that maintain immune homeostasis, especially in species other than Drosophila.