Deficiency of Innate Immunity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Enhances Behavioral Avoidance via the HECW-1/NPR-1 Module in Caenorhabditis elegans

Abstract

To antagonize infection of pathogenic bacteria in soil and confer increased survival, Caenorhabditis elegans employs innate immunity and behavioral avoidance synchronously as the two main defensive strategies. Although both biological processes and their individual signaling pathways have been partially elucidated, knowledge of their interrelationship remains limited. The current study reveals that deficiency of innate immunity triggered by mutation of the classic immune gene pmk-1 promotes avoidance behavior in C. elegans and vice versa.