Insects emerge as valuable model hosts to explore virulence

Vilcinskas, Andreas

doi:10.4161/viru.2.5.18289

Cited by 22 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Our results support the suitability of G. mellonella as a model host for human pathogens and as a valid whole animal-high-through-put system for testing of antimicrobial drugs 12 , 36 . In addition, we report for the first time its applicability for pathogens capable to penetrate the blood-brain-barrier and to reproduce in the brain.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Brain infection and activation of neuronal repair mechanisms by the human pathogenListeria monocytogenesin the lepidopteran model hostGalleria mellonella

et al. 2013

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Listeria monocytogenes the causative agent of the foodborne disease listeriosis in humans often involves fatal brainstem infections leading to meningitis and meningoencephalitis. We recently established the larvae of the greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) as a model host for the investigation of L. monocytogenes pathogenesis and as a source of peptides exhibiting anti-Listeria-activity. Here we show that G. mellonella can be used to study brain infection and its impact on larval development as well as the activation of stress responses and neuronal repair mechanisms. The infection of G. mellonella larvae with L. monocytogenes elicits a cellular immune response involving the formation of melanized cellular aggregates (nodules) containing entrapped bacteria. These form under the integument and in the brain, resembling the symptoms found in human patients. We screened the G. mellonella transcriptome with marker genes representing stress responses and neuronal repair, and identified several modulated genes including those encoding heat shock proteins, growth factors, and regulators of neuronal stress. Remarkably, we discovered that L. monocytogenes infection leads to developmental shift in larvae and also modulates the expression of genes involved in the regulation of endocrine functions. We demonstrated that L. monocytogenes pathogenesis can be prevented by treating G. mellonella larvae with signaling inhibitors such as diclofenac, arachidonic acid, and rapamycin. Our data extend the utility of G. mellonella larvae as an ideal model for the high-throughput in vivo testing of potential compounds against listeriosis.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 80%

Brain infection and activation of neuronal repair mechanisms by the human pathogenListeria monocytogenesin the lepidopteran model hostGalleria mellonella

et al. 2013

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“…Following parasite recognition, the host responds by activating its defense systems. Here in particular, the elevated expression of IMPI following the detection of B. bassiana is interesting because IMPI may inhibit the fungal metalloproteases produced during the course of infection (Vilcinskas, 2011b). The latter would indicate that the coevolution of fungal proteinases and insect proteinase inhibitors is a major component of the dynamics between the virulence of fungal parasites and insect host resistance.…”

Section: G Mellonella Is Susceptible To Entomopathogenic Fungi and mentioning

confidence: 97%

“…All three serine proteinase inhibitors inhibit the trypsin-like proteinase (Pr2) produced by M. anisopliae, and one is also active against the chymoelastase produced by the same species (Vilcinskas and Wedde, 1997;Fröbius et al, 2000;Vilcinskas, 2011b).…”

Section: Coevolution Of Fungal Proteinases As Virulence Factors and Omentioning

confidence: 99%

Coevolution of parasitic fungi and insect hosts

Joop

Vilcinskas

2016

Zoology

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Parasitic fungi and their insect hosts provide an intriguing model system for dissecting the complex co-evolutionary processes, which result in Red Queen dynamics. To explore the genetic basis behind host-parasite coevolution we chose two parasitic fungi (Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, representing the most important entomopathogenic fungi used in the biological control of pest or vector insects) and two established insect model hosts (the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella and the red flour beetle Tribolium castaneum) for which sequenced genomes or comprehensive transcriptomes are available. Focusing on these model organisms, we review the knowledge about the interactions between fungal molecules operating as virulence factors and insect host-derived defense molecules mediating antifungal immunity. Particularly the study of the intimate interactions between fungal proteinases and corresponding host-derived proteinase inhibitors elucidated novel coevolutionary mechanisms such as functional shifts or diversification of involved effector molecules. Complementarily, we compared the outcome of coevolution experiments using the parasitic fungus B. bassiana and two different insect hosts which were initially either susceptible (Galleria mellonella) or resistant (Tribolium castaneum). Taking a snapshot of host-parasite coevolution, we show that parasitic fungi can overcome host barriers such as external antimicrobial secretions just as hosts can build new barriers, both within a relatively short time of coevolution.

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“…Rodentler (genellikle fare ve sıçanlar) insandaki enfeksiyon sürecini taklit etmek için uygun bir anatomik ve biyolojik model olması, enfeksiyon ajanlarına duyarlılık ve immün yanıt açısından benzerlik göstermesi nedeniyle sıklık-la tercih edilmektedir (1) . Ancak son yıllarda özel-likle memeli modelleri konusunda etik kaygıla-rın giderek artması, altyapı donanımı ve teçhizat açısından kapsamlı laboratuvarlara, tecrübeli bakıcı-teknik elemanlara gereksinim duyulması bu modeller konusunda alternatif arayışlarını doğurmuştur (2,3) . Omurgasız hayvanlar filogenetik olarak alt sıralarda yer almaları nedeniyle (4) .…”

Section: Dokuz Eylül üNiversitesi Tıp Fakültesi Tıbbi Mikrobiyoloji unclassified

The Rising Star of In-Vivo Infection Models: Galleria mellonella Larvae

Karaman¹

2016

TMCD

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In Vivo Enfeksiyon Modellerinin Yükselen Yıldızı: Galleria mellonella Larvası GİRİŞEnfeksiyon hastalıklarının patogenezinin ve etkili tedavi protokollerinin araştırılmasında, in vitro modeller her zaman tatmin edici sonuçlar vermemekte, konakçı olarak canlı bir organizmaya gereksinim duyulmaktadır. Hayvan modelleri, in vitro çalışmalardan kliniğe uzanan süreç-te yol gösterici bir basamak olarak kullanılmak-tadır. Rodentler (genellikle fare ve sıçanlar) insandaki enfeksiyon sürecini taklit etmek için uygun bir anatomik ve biyolojik model olması, enfeksiyon ajanlarına duyarlılık ve immün yanıt açısından benzerlik göstermesi nedeniyle sıklık-la tercih edilmektedir (1) . Ancak son yıllarda özel-likle memeli modelleri konusunda etik kaygıla-rın giderek artması, altyapı donanımı ve teçhizat açısından kapsamlı laboratuvarlara, tecrübeli bakıcı-teknik elemanlara gereksinim duyulması bu modeller konusunda alternatif arayışlarını doğurmuştur (2,3) . Omurgasız hayvanlar filogenetik olarak alt sıralarda yer almaları nedeniyle

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Insects emerge as valuable model hosts to explore virulence

Cited by 22 publications

References 32 publications

Brain infection and activation of neuronal repair mechanisms by the human pathogenListeria monocytogenesin the lepidopteran model hostGalleria mellonella

Brain infection and activation of neuronal repair mechanisms by the human pathogenListeria monocytogenesin the lepidopteran model hostGalleria mellonella

Coevolution of parasitic fungi and insect hosts

The Rising Star of In-Vivo Infection Models: Galleria mellonella Larvae

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