Exploring pathophysiology in long-lived fly populations reared on two diets
Authors: Utsav Nyachhyon; Thomas Rundell; Laura Musselman
Affiliation: Binghamton University
Keywords: b. metabolism; o. obesity
Overnutrition in Drosophila melanogaster and in humans causes pathophysiology including increased infection susceptibility, heart failure, insulin resistance, hyperglycemia, and reduced lifespan that are associated with obesity and other markers of metabolic disease. We used Drosophila as a model organism to identify genes that contribute to fitness and longevity during overnutrition. A large outbred population was selected for the ability of flies to survive chronic overnutrition conditions of high-sugar feeding. Every generation, half of the population that survived were bred to produce the next generation. Over time, the lifespan of high-calorie-adapted flies was extended, compared to those fed control diets. We hypothesize that improved heart function and/or immunity of the high-calorie-adapted flies might contribute to their increased survival. To test this hypothesis, these adapted flies are being subjected to cardiac stress and infection studies. In cardiac pacing, the flies are electrically stimulated to quantify the rate of heart failure and recovery. In infection studies, the flies are inoculated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa to quantify their infection susceptibility. Heart and immune function are being examined in control and adapted populations to search for mechanisms by which increases in the lifespan and healthspan may have occurred during selection. Significant changes in pathophysiology of adapted populations in comparison to control populations will be explored further by the ID of genes associated with these changes. Future studies will test the role of these genes which may be novel, conserved regulators of fitness during overnutrition in animals.