Mowlds, Peter and Kavanagh, Kevin (2008) Effect of pre-incubation temperature on susceptibility of Galleria mellonella larvae to infection by Candida albicans. Mycopathologia, 165. pp. 5-12.

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Abstract

The use of insects for evaluating the virulence of microbial pathogens and for determining the efficacy of antimicrobial drugs is increasing. When larvae of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella were incubated at 4 or 37°C for 24 h. prior to infection, they manifested increased resistance to infection by the yeast Candida albicans compared to larvae that had been pre-incubated for 24 h at 30°C. Incubation at 4 or 37°C led to an increase in haemocyte density and the expression of genes coding for gallerimycin, transferrin, an inducible metalloproteinase inhibitor (IMPI) and galiomicin. Peak expression of these genes was recorded at approximately 24 h after the commencement of the 4 or 37°C incubation. These results indicate that exposure of larvae to mild thermal shock conditions induces a protective cellular and humoral immune response mediated by increased numbers of haemocytes and elevated expression of antimicrobial peptides.

Item Type:	Article
Keywords:	Anti microbial peptides; Cellular response ; Galleria mellonella ; Gene expression ; Haemocytes ; Host defence ; Humoral response;
Academic Unit:	Faculty of Science and Engineering > Biology
Item ID:	907
Depositing User:	Dr. Kevin Kavanagh
Date Deposited:	21 Feb 2008
Journal or Publication Title:	Mycopathologia
Publisher:	Springer
Refereed:	Yes
URI:	http://www.springerlink.com/content/0301...
Use Licence:	This item is available under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial Share Alike Licence (CC BY-NC-SA). Details of this licence are available here

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