Lepidopteran insects: emerging model organisms to study infection by enteropathogens

Ahlawat, Shruti; Sharma, Krishna Kant

doi:10.1007/s12223-022-01014-y

Cited by 4 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 96 publications

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“…However, the respective role(s) of the Stx toxins, AE lesion, and pS88-encoded properties in their pathogenicity have not been confirmed by in vivo studies yet. Following the 3R policy (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) [ 23 ], insects have been recommended and have been used for some years as a first step for in vivo testing of pathogenic bacterial species [ 24 , 25 ]. Thus, the main purpose of this study was to assess larvae of the G. mellonella moth [ 24 , 25 , 27 ] as a model to study and compare the virulence of different AE-STEC and EPEC O80:H2 isolated from calves in Belgium [ 21 ], and the respective roles of the pS88-like ColV plasmid and STX2d phage.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The pS88 plasmid conjugation strategy was based on the presence of the ColV-encoding cva operon on the pS88 plasmid of bovine AE-STEC and EPEC O80:H2 [ 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 34 , 35 , 36 ]. The recipient strain was the E. coli K12 DH10B strain harboring the recombinant plasmid pAuto-ColV-Switch1.0 carrying a synthetic ColV-encoding locus (received from Syngulon Company, Seraing, Belgium; ).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…No in vivo study has so far been performed to compare the respective role(s) of the AE lesion, Stx toxin, and pS88-encoded properties in the pathogenicity of AE-STEC and EPEC O80:H2 in humans and calves. Following the 3R policy (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) [ 23 ], insects have been proposed as infectious models to replace mammals and birds for in vivo testing of not only virulence, but also therapy and prophylaxis of bacterial and viral pathogens [ 24 , 25 ]. Of them, larvae of the Galleria mellonella moth are frequently used to study bacterial species, including different pathotypes of E. coli [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Following the 3R policy (Replacement, Reduction and Refinement) [ 23 ], insects have been proposed as infectious models to replace mammals and birds for in vivo testing of not only virulence, but also therapy and prophylaxis of bacterial and viral pathogens [ 24 , 25 ]. Of them, larvae of the Galleria mellonella moth are frequently used to study bacterial species, including different pathotypes of E. coli [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. Besides their low cost and the possibility of testing multiple groups of larvae in a short time, G. mellonella larvae possess an innate immune system similar to mammals and can be maintained at 37 °C, like the bacterial pathogens of mammals [ 25 , 29 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Of them, larvae of the Galleria mellonella moth are frequently used to study bacterial species, including different pathotypes of E. coli [ 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. Besides their low cost and the possibility of testing multiple groups of larvae in a short time, G. mellonella larvae possess an innate immune system similar to mammals and can be maintained at 37 °C, like the bacterial pathogens of mammals [ 25 , 29 ]. So, it was recently observed that the STX2d phage and the type 3 secretion system (T3SS) contribute to the virulence of AE-STEC O80:H2 and EPEC O127:H6, respectively, in G. mellonella larvae [ 25 , 30 , 31 ], while the contribution of the T3SS to the virulence of AE-STEC O157:H7 is less clear [ 32 , 33 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Virulence of Shigatoxigenic and Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli O80:H2 in Galleria mellonella Larvae: Comparison of the Roles of the pS88 Plasmids and STX2d Phage

Ikeda,

Laforêt,

Antoine

et al. 2023

Veterinary Sciences

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The invasiveness properties of Shigatoxigenic and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (STEC and EPEC) O80:H2 in humans and calves are encoded by genes located on a pS88-like ColV conjugative plasmid. The main objectives of this study in larvae of the Galleria mellonella moth were therefore to compare the virulence of eight bovine STEC and EPEC O80:H2, of two E. coli pS88 plasmid transconjugant and STX2d phage transductant K12 DH10B, of four E. coli O80:non-H2, and of the laboratory E. coli K12 DH10B strains. Thirty larvae per strain were inoculated in the last proleg with 10 μL of tenfold dilutions of each bacterial culture corresponding to 10 to 106 colony-forming units (CFUs). The larvae were kept at 37 °C and their mortality rate was followed daily for four days. The main results were that: (i) not only the STEC and EPEC O80:H2, but also different E. coli O80:non-H2 were lethal for the larvae at high concentrations (from 104 to 106 CFU) with some variation according to the strain; (ii) the Stx2d toxin and partially the pS88 plasmid were responsible for the lethality caused by the E. coli O80:H2; (iii) the virulence factors of E. coli O80:non-H2 were not identified. The general conclusions are that, although the Galleria mellonella larvae represent a useful first-line model to study the virulence of bacterial pathogens, they are more limited in identifying their actual virulence properties.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Virulence of Shigatoxigenic and Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli O80:H2 in Galleria mellonella Larvae: Comparison of the Roles of the pS88 Plasmids and STX2d Phage

Ikeda,

Laforêt,

Antoine

et al. 2023

Veterinary Sciences

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Galleria mellonella Invertebrate Model Mirrors the Pathogenic Potential of Mycoplasma alligatoris within the Natural Host

Burne,

Richey,

Schoeb

et al. 2024

Transboundary and Emerging Diseases

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Most mycoplasmal infections result in chronic, clinically silent disease. In direct contrast, Mycoplasma alligatoris elicits a fulminant, multisystem disease in the natural host, Alligator mississippiensis (American alligator). The goals of the study were to better understand the disease in the natural host and to determine if the invertebrate model G. mellonella could serve as a surrogate alternate host. The survival of alligators infected intratracheally was dose dependent (p=0.0003), ranging from no mortality (102 CFU) to 100% mortality (108 CFU), with 60% mortality at the 104 and 105 CFU infectious dose. Microbial load in blood, joints, and brain was dose dependent, regardless of whether alligators were infected intratracheally or intravenously (p <0.002). Weight loss was similarly impacted (p <0.001). Experimental infection of the invertebrate Galleria mellonella mirrored the result in the natural host. In a dose response infection study, both larval survival curves and successful pupation curves were significantly different (p≤0.0001) and dose dependent. Infected insects did not emerge as moths (p <0.0001). Here, we describe the first study investigating G. mellonella as a surrogate model to assess the pathogenic potential of M. alligatoris. G. mellonella survival was dose dependent and impacted life stage outcome.

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Lipids as a key element of insect defense systems

Wrońska¹,

Kaczmarek²,

Boguś³

et al. 2023

Front. Genet.

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The relationship between insect pathogenic fungi and their insect hosts is a classic example of a co-evolutionary arms race between pathogen and target host: parasites evolve towards mechanisms that increase their advantage over the host, and the host increasingly strengthens its defenses. The present review summarizes the literature data describing the direct and indirect role of lipids as an important defense mechanism during fungal infection. Insect defense mechanisms comprise anatomical and physiological barriers, and cellular and humoral response mechanisms. The entomopathogenic fungi have the unique ability to digest the insect cuticle by producing hydrolytic enzymes with chitin-, lipo- and proteolytic activity; besides the oral tract, cuticle pays the way for fungal entry within the host. The key factor in insect resistance to fungal infection is the presence of certain types of lipids (free fatty acids, waxes or hydrocarbons) which can promote or inhibit fungal attachment to cuticle, and might also have antifungal activity. Lipids are considered as an important source of energy, and as triglycerides are stored in the fat body, a structure analogous to the liver and adipose tissue in vertebrates. In addition, the fat body plays a key role in innate humoral immunity by producing a range of bactericidal proteins and polypeptides, one of which is lysozyme. Energy derived from lipid metabolism is used by hemocytes to migrate to the site of fungal infection, and for phagocytosis, nodulation and encapsulation. One polyunsaturated fatty acid, arachidonic acid, is used in the synthesis of eicosanoids, which play several crucial roles in insect physiology and immunology. Apolipoprotein III is important compound with antifungal activity, which can modulate insect cellular response and is considered as important signal molecule.

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Lepidopteran insects: emerging model organisms to study infection by enteropathogens

Cited by 4 publications

References 96 publications

Virulence of Shigatoxigenic and Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli O80:H2 in Galleria mellonella Larvae: Comparison of the Roles of the pS88 Plasmids and STX2d Phage

Virulence of Shigatoxigenic and Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli O80:H2 in Galleria mellonella Larvae: Comparison of the Roles of the pS88 Plasmids and STX2d Phage

Galleria mellonella Invertebrate Model Mirrors the Pathogenic Potential of Mycoplasma alligatoris within the Natural Host

Lipids as a key element of insect defense systems

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