A Streptococcus pneumoniae infection model in larvae of the wax moth Galleria mellonella

Evans, B A ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6849-9758 and Rozen, D E (2012) A Streptococcus pneumoniae infection model in larvae of the wax moth Galleria mellonella. European Journal of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases, 31 (10). pp. 2653-2660. ISSN 0934-9723

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Abstract

The bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae is a leading human opportunistic pathogen. The limitations of the current vaccine have led to increased recognition of the need to understand bacterial behaviour and competitive dynamics using in vivo models of infection. Here, we investigate the potential application of the larvae of the wax moth Galleria mellonella as an informative infection model. Larvae were challenged with a range of doses of S. pneumoniae isolates differing in known virulence factors to determine the LD(50) values. Infection dynamics were determined by obtaining bacterial counts from larvae over a time course. Differences in virulence between serotypes could be distinguished in this host. Infection with strains differing in known virulence factors demonstrated predicted differences in virulence. Acapsulate and pneumolysin-negative strains were less virulent than their respective wild types. A large reduction in virulence was seen in strains lacking cell wall D-alanylation. The mortality of G. mellonella larvae is attributable to bacterial growth within larvae, while surviving larvae are able to clear infections by reducing bacterial numbers. These data demonstrate that G. mellonella larvae represent an in vivo infection model with applications for investigating aspects of bacterial-host interactions such as the role of antimicrobial peptide activity and resistance.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: animals,bacterial load,bacterial proteins,disease models, animal,genes, bacterial,host-pathogen interactions,larva,lethal dose 50,moths,pneumococcal infections,species specificity,streptococcus pneumoniae,streptolysins,virulence factors,sdg 3 - good health and well-being ,/dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Gastroenterology and Gut Biology
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Centres > Metabolic Health
Depositing User: Pure Connector
Date Deposited: 24 Sep 2016 00:09
Last Modified: 19 Oct 2023 01:44
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/59865
DOI: 10.1007/s10096-012-1609-7

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