An invertebrate model using Galleria mellonella to study the innate immune response to Staphylococcus haemolyticus
Year: 2023
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Staphylococcus haemolyticus is a normal inhabitant of healthy skin and is also an emerging cause of nosocomial infections in the immunocompromised. S. haemolyticus infections often lead to bacteremia, septicemia, peritonitis, endocarditis and various other outcomes. The goal of this project was to establish an invertebrate infection model for studying the innate immune response to Staphylococcus haemolyticus infections using the wax moth larva (Galleria mellonella). We have found that injecting wax worm larvae with 106 to 107 cfu/μL of S. haemolyticus consistently induced a rapid response and larval death within 24 hours at the higher dose range. We have characterized the general histopathological changes associated with infection and have started to characterize the general innate immune response as well as the hemocyte response to S. haemolyticus. Our findings support the usefulness of this model as an initial screening tool for systemic microbial infections. Supported by grants from the Research Council and the College of Arts & Sciences at Texas A&M University-San Antonio.
Source: The Journal of Immunology
Institution: Texas A&M University
Language: English
Subfield: Immunology
Field: Immunology and Microbiology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W4385687289