"we have now characterized all six lysozyme genes in the cloned part of the lysozyme locus at 61F, and a seventh gene that maps to the same chromosomal location"

"four closely related genes, LysB, C, D and E, are all strongly expressed in the midgut of larvae and adults"

"None of the genes is expressed in the fat body or haemocytes"

"The LysD-like genes and LysS are strongly repressed in artificially infected animals"

"rather than being a component of the haemolymph, the Drosophila lysozymes are found mainly in the digestive tract"

"probably involved in the digestion of bacteria in the food"

"Furthermore all genes, except LysP, encode acidic proteins, in contrast to the strongly basic "typical" lysozymes"

"highly reminiscent of the situation in ruminants, where the lysozymes have been recruited for the digestion of symbiotic bacteria in the stomach"

"engineered deletion (LysB-PD) removing LysC and four gut-expressed lysozyme genes (including LysB) reduced ex vivo lysozyme activity (peptidoglycan digestion)"

"loss of lysozymes (LysB-PD deletion removing LysB, LysD, LysE, LysP, LysC) increased stochasticity and altered community structure"

"total bacterial load changes were not significant, indicating lysozymes contribute primarily to composition control rather than bulk bacterial burden"

"lysozymes, while secondary to AMPs in effect size, are necessary to stabilize gut community structure"

"gut colonization by microbiota induces gut lysozyme expression, aligning them with epithelial homeostasis rather than systemic acute-phase effectors"