Graduation Term
2023
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
School of Biological Sciences
Committee Chair
Rebekka Darner
Abstract
A functional immune response is essential for the survival of all living organisms. The fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster is a well-established model for studying host immunity as well as metabolic regulation during an immune response. Fruit fly larvae, in nature, are commonly infected by parasitoid wasps whose survival is dependent on the successful parasitization of their host. The immune response that the fly elicits toward the wasp egg is a primitive yet effective process. I characterized the genes induced by a host during infection, identified metabolites present in a host during infection, investigated the role of Ab in the cellular immune response, and demonstrated the relevance of this research in a biomedically relevant CURE.
Access Type
Dissertation-Open Access
Recommended Citation
Waring-Sparks, Ashley, "Molecular Mechanisms Underlying Host Immunity in the Drosophila-parasitoid System and Its Application in a Course-Based Research Experience" (2023). Theses and Dissertations. 1874.
https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/etd/1874
DOI
https://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2023.20240124055108547902.999975