Characterisation of the cellular and proteomic response of Galleria mellonella larvae to the development of invasive aspergillosis.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Galleria mellonella larvae were infected with conidia of Aspergillus fumigatus and the cellular and humoral immune responses of larvae to the pathogen were characterized as invasive aspergillosis developed.

RESULTS:

At 2 h post-infection there was an increase in hemocyte density to 7.43 ± 0.50 × 106/ml from 0.98 ± 0.08 × 106/ml at 0 h. Hemocytes from larvae immune primed for 6 h with heat killed A. fumigatus conidia displayed superior anti-fungal activity. Examination of the spread of the fungus by Cryo-imaging and fluorescent microscopy revealed dissemination of the fungus through the larvae by 6 h and the formation of distinct nodules in tissue. By 24 h a range of nodules were visible at the site of infection and at sites distant from that indicating invasion of tissue. Proteomic analysis of larvae infected with viable conidia for 6 h demonstrated an increase in the abundance of gustatory receptor candidate 25 (37 fold), gloverin-like protein (14 fold), cecropin-A (11 fold). At 24 h post-infection gustatory receptor candidate 25 (126 fold), moricin-like peptide D (33 fold) and muscle protein 20-like protein (12 fold) were increased in abundance. Proteins decreased in abundance included fibrohexamerin (13 fold) and dimeric dihydrodiol dehydrogenase (8 fold).

CONCLUSION:

The results presented here indicate that G. mellonella larvae may be a convenient model for studying the stages in the development of invasive aspergillosis and may offer an insight into this process in mammals.

• Authors: Gerard Sheehan, Gráinne Clarke, Kevin Kavanagh
• Journal: BMC microbiology (BMC Microbiol) Vol. 18 Issue 1 Pg. 63 (06 28 2018) ISSN: 1471-2180 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 29954319 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Insect Proteins

Topics

• Animals
• Aspergillosis (immunology, metabolism, microbiology, pathology)
• Aspergillus fumigatus (immunology, physiology)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Disease Progression
• Hemocytes (immunology)
• Host-Pathogen Interactions (immunology)
• Insect Proteins (metabolism)
• Larva (immunology, microbiology)
• Moths (immunology, microbiology)
• Proteomics
• Spores, Fungal (immunology, physiology)