Drosophila S2 Cells
Drosophila S2 Cells - Related Videos
09:39
Preparation of Drosophila S2 cells for Light Microscopy
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Cited by 24 •
2010
Drosophila Schneider (S2) cells are an increasingly popular system for the discovery and functional analysis of genes. Our goal is to describe some of the microscopic techniques that make S2 cells such an increasingly important experimental system.
11:09
Generating a "Humanized" Drosophila S2 Cell Line Sensitive to Pharmacological Inhibition of Kinesin-5
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Cited by 2 •
2016
This protocol describes how to generate a Drosophila S2 cell line that is sensitive to small molecule inhibitors of kinesin-5. The use of these cells in a cell-based error correction assay is also outlined.
10:08
Organelle Transport in Cultured Drosophila Cells: S2 Cell Line and Primary Neurons.
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Cited by 22 •
2013
Drosophila S2 cells and cultured neurons are great systems for imaging of motor-driven organelle transport in vivo. Here we describe detailed protocols for culturing both cell types, their imaging and analysis of transport.
00:06
Use of Drosophila S2 Cells for Live Imaging of Cell Division
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Cited by 1 •
2019
Cell divisions can be visualized in real time using fluorescently tagged proteins and time-lapse microscopy. Using the protocol presented here, users can analyze cell division timing dynamics, mitotic spindle assembly, and chromosome congression and segregation. Defects in these events following RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated gene knockdown can be assessed and quantified.
03:23
Assay to Determine the Virus Infectious Dose of Drosophila C Virus in Cultured Insect Cells
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2025
In this video, we demonstrate the cytopathic effect assay to determine the tissue culture infective viral dose of Drosophila C virus on Drosophila S2* cells. A range of viral concentrations are used to infect the cultured cells. The proportion of cells exhibiting structural changes is determined, and this data is used to calculate the tissue culture infective dose.
FAQs
Toll and IMD signaling connect detection of microbial components with downstream cellular defenses. Their activation can promote expression of antimicrobial genes, allowing researchers to examine how infection-related signals are converted into measurable immune responses. Comparing these pathways helps clarify how distinct signaling routes contribute to cellular immunity and which components may be conserved across species.
Phagocytosis and antimicrobial gene expression represent complementary immune outcomes. Phagocytosis reflects the cell’s ability to engulf microbial material, whereas antimicrobial gene expression indicates activation of a broader defensive program. Assessing both responses can distinguish defects in cellular uptake from defects in signaling or gene regulation, producing a more informative view of host-pathogen interactions.
Double-stranded RNA can be introduced to silence a selected gene in Drosophila S2 Cells. Researchers then examine whether immune responses change after that gene is reduced, such as altered antimicrobial gene expression or infection-related behavior. This loss-of-function approach helps test whether a candidate gene contributes to cellular defense rather than merely correlating with it.
Suspension growth allows Drosophila S2 Cells to be maintained as a dispersed population, which supports experimental manipulation of many cells under comparable culture conditions. This property is useful when researchers introduce pathogens, immune proteins, or double-stranded RNA and then assess population-level responses. It also complements genetic manipulation for systematically testing immune mechanisms.
A typical study may expose the cells to pathogens or microbial components, express a selected immune protein, or introduce double-stranded RNA for targeted gene silencing. Researchers can then evaluate outcomes such as phagocytosis or antimicrobial gene expression. Combining these manipulations with pathway analysis helps connect a specific factor to a defined stage of the immune response.
They are useful when researchers want to investigate cellular immunity and infection in a genetically manipulable system. Results can clarify how host cells respond to pathogens, identify components of conserved defense mechanisms, and suggest targets for further infectious disease research across species. Their value lies in linking controlled genetic experiments with measurable immune outcomes.