**10. In-vitro model of epidemic and pandemic infectious disease**

Using drosophila S2 cell model a study showed that intercellular *Mycobacterium smegmatis* growth inside the host phagosomes is restricted by Rab7, CG8743, and the ESCRT factors [109]. *Cryptococcus neoformans* a fungi responsible for meningoencephalitis infection, S2 cells infected by this fungus up-regulates autophagy initiating proteins like Atg2a, Atg5 and Atg9a beside lysosomal markers like LAMP-1 and cathepsin D [110]. The hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) coded by S gene was transfected in S2 cell line gave rise to no variation in expressed protein suggesting S2 cells useful for expression system [111]. The *Plasmodium falciparum* reticulocyte-binding protein homolog 5 (PfRH5) was expressed in S2 cells of Drosophila to produce non-glycosylated variants capable of binding to its receptor in rabbits resulted in IgG production against PfRH5 protein [112]. Highly potential vaccine VAR2CSA against malaria was successfully produced in S2 cells of *Drosophila melanogaster* [113].

**117**

Drosophila melanogaster: *A Robust Tool to Study Candidate Drug against Epidemic…*

**11. Viral meningitis, encephalitis and hemorrhagic fever S2 cell line** 

Herpes simplex virus was studied in Drosophila S2 cells where transfection of two viral proteins PILRα and gB responsible for binding to mammalian cells were expressed found to be poorly glycosylated [114]. The RNAi pathway was indulged by host cells to inhibit the Dengue virus (Flavivirus family) infection, by knocking down Argonaute (Ago1/2) and Dicer (Dcr1/2) showed sustained viral infection, currently clinical trial is underway NCT00936429 [115, 116]. Japanese encephalitis virus envelope glycoprotein E transfected in Drosophila S2 cells resulted in stable protein expression, this glycoprotein exposure in mice led antibody production against it [117]. Infection of Sindbis virus in live flies led activation of Notch, Jak– STAT and ImD pathway to intervene viral invasion [54]. Notch pathway mediated assimilation of ankyrin, plap, syx13, unc-13, csp, rab1 and rab8 during Sindbis virus infection in S2 cells [115]. The human antibody MR191 specific against Marburg virus was fused with recombinant RAVV GP ectodomain produced in S2 cell line [118]. The Zika virus structural envelope (E) protein were efficiently produced and secreted from transfected Drosophila S2 cell line model [119]. Flies produces RNAi against west Nile virus infection as a result of innate immune response similarly it was seen in S2 cell line, S2 cell lines were used for WNV infection, currently vaccine development NCT01477580 and NCT00707642 is underway [116, 120]. In a study mice were injected with glycoprotein GP of Ebola virus expressed in Drosophila S2 cell line found to produce antibodies against the infused antigen [121] (**Table 1**).

**Microbes Vaccine/Drugs screened or** 

Flu Influenza A Amantidine [56] Cholera *Vibrio cholera* Clotrimazole [61]

Hepatitis Hepatitis A and B HBsAg expressed in S2 cell line [111]

Dengue Fever Dengue Virus DEN1-80E expressed in S2 cells [115, 116]

line

Zika Fever Zika virus Structural envelope (E) protein

HIV/AIDS Human Immuno virus Leptomycin B (In-Vitro)

*pneumoniae*

*tuberculosis*

SARS SARS Corona virus — MERS MERS corona virus — Measles Rubeola virus — Typhoid Salmonella typhi —

Small pox Variola virus —

*falciparum*

**in-vivo)**

**derived out of fly model (in-vitro/**

Unapproved under clinical trials Zidovudine, lamivudine, stavudine,

VAR2CSA/PfRH5 viral protein expressed in S2 cell line

JEV E protein expression in S2 cell

expressed in S2 cells

Tetracycline [92]

Rifampicin, Tigecycline + Linezolid [100, 101]

didanosine, Abacavir

**References**

[76, 77] [78, 79]

[112, 113]

[119]

[117]

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.90073*

**model**

**Epidemic/ Pandemic Disease**

Pneumonia *Streptococcus* 

Tuberculosis *Mycobacterium* 

Malaria *Plasmodium* 

Encephalitis Japanese encephalitis virus
