A Planarian Model System to Study Host-Pathogen Interactions

Eli Isael Maciel; Ashley Valle Arevalo; Clarissa J Nobile; Néstor J Oviedo

doi:10.1007/978-1-0716-3275-8_14

A Planarian Model System to Study Host-Pathogen Interactions

Methods Mol Biol. 2023:2680:231-244. doi: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3275-8_14.

Authors

Eli Isael Maciel^{1

2}, Ashley Valle Arevalo^{1

2}, Clarissa J Nobile^{3

4}, Néstor J Oviedo^{5

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, CA, USA.
² Quantitative and Systems Biology Graduate Program, University of California, Merced, CA, USA.
³ Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, CA, USA. cnobile@ucmerced.edu.
⁴ Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California, Merced, CA, USA. cnobile@ucmerced.edu.
⁵ Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of California, Merced, CA, USA. noviedo2@ucmerced.edu.
⁶ Health Sciences Research Institute, University of California, Merced, CA, USA. noviedo2@ucmerced.edu.

Abstract

This protocol is focused on using the recently established planarian infection model system to study host-pathogen interactions during fungal infection. Here, we describe in detail the infection of the planarian Schmidtea mediterranea with the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. This simple and reproducible model system allows for rapid visualization of tissue damage throughout different infection timepoints. We note that this model system has been optimized for use with C. albicans, but should also be applicable for use with other pathogens of interest.

Keywords: Candida albicans; Fungal infections; Host-pathogen interactions; Infection model systems; Planarians.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

Animals
Candida albicans
Host-Pathogen Interactions
Humans
Models, Biological
Planarians*

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding