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Effect of pre-incubation temperature on susceptibility of Galleria mellonella larvae to infection by Candida albicans

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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.

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Abbreviations

AMP:

Anti-microbial peptide(s)

IMPI:

Inducible metalloproteinase inhibitor

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by funding from the Higher Education Authority of Ireland through the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutes III (2002–2007).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Mycology Unit, NICB, Department of Biology, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland

    Peter Mowlds & Kevin Kavanagh

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  1. Peter Mowlds
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  2. Kevin Kavanagh
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Correspondence to Kevin Kavanagh.

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Mowlds, P., Kavanagh, K. Effect of pre-incubation temperature on susceptibility of Galleria mellonella larvae to infection by Candida albicans . Mycopathologia 165, 5–12 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-007-9069-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-007-9069-9

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