Circadian fluctuation in fly immune defense

Abstract

We investigated if the immune response in Drosophila melanogaster varies as a function of time-of-infection, and if yes the does this rhythm change in flies which have been selected for improved post-infection survivorship for over 70 generations. To investigate this, we used an outbred selection line from the lab- EPN. We checked this phenomenon in both the sexes. Our results show that there isn’t any robust circadian pattern in determining mortality both in males and females. Although it was observed that female flies are more resistant to night time infections than infections done during daytime.