Macrophage-mediated phagocytosis and cytokine production represent the front lines of resistance to bacterial invaders. A key feature of this pro-inflammatory response in mammals is the complex remodeling of cellular metabolism towards aerobic glycolysis. Although the function of bactericidal macrophages is highly conserved, the metabolic remodeling of insect macrophages remains poorly understood.

In this project, we showed that immune cells of Drosophila undergo HIF1α-induced metabolic polarization toward aerobic glycolysis upon baterial infection, resembling thus M1 metabolic polarization described in mammalian systems. Moreover, such cellular metabolic switch is connected with systemic metabolic adjustment and both processes are essential for resistence to infection.