Protecting early embryos from bacteria
Development of early embryos involves exposure to harmful environment like bacteria. The surface epithelium of early embryos (trophectoderm in mammals) can phagocytose defective pluripotent cells.
The researchers evaluated interactions between bacteria and early embryos and they show that early zebrafish embryos detect, engulf, and destroy commensal and pathogenic bacteria.
They also demonstrate that the clearance is performed by epithelial cells via actin-dependent zippering protrusions and the phagocytosis of bacteria is conserved in mouse and human embryos.
Thus, the bacteria can induce an immune program on epithelial cells crucial for normal development.
https://www.cell.com/cell-host-microbe/fulltext/S1931-3128(25)00208-2
