Neurotransmitter Signaling in Molecular and Behavioral Immune Responses to Pathogens in C. elegans

Authors

Benson Otarigho
Alejandro Aballay

Language

English

Publication Date

9-11-2025

Journal

Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews

DOI

10.1128/mmbr.00064-25

PMID

40932387

Abstract

Neurotransmitter signaling pathways play major roles in both molecular and behavioral defenses against pathogen invasion, shaping the ability of Caenorhabditis elegans to sense and respond to environmental challenges. Given the conservation of neurotransmitter signaling pathways, their understanding may not only provide insights into the neurobiology of C. elegans but also has broader implications for our understanding of neural-immune interactions and host defense mechanisms in higher organisms. In this review, we discussed the literature on various neurotransmitter signaling pathways, including serotonergic, dopaminergic/octopaminergic, GABAergic, and glutamatergic pathways, and how these pathways modulate molecular and behavioral immune defense against pathogens.

Keywords

GABAergic, avoidance behavior, dopaminergic, glutamatergic signaling, immunity, neurotransmitters, serotonergic

Published Open-Access

no

Recommended Citation

Benson Otarigho and Alejandro Aballay, "Neurotransmitter Signaling in Molecular and Behavioral Immune Responses to Pathogens in C. elegans" (2025). Faculty, Staff and Student Publications. 4859.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/uthgsbs_docs/4859