Work

Galleria mellonella as a versatile model for investigating Candida glabrata virulence and antifungal resistance

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Candida glabrata is an opportunistic fungal pathogen and a leading cause of invasive candidiasis, particularly in immunocompromised patients, where treatment is increasingly compromised by intrinsic and acquired antifungal resistance. Despite lacking morphological plasticity, C. glabrata employs distinct virulence strategies, including adhesin-mediated host colonization, intracellular survival within phagocytes, stress tolerance, iron acquisition and biofilm formation. This review synthesizes current knowledge of C. glabrata virulence and antifungal resistance mechanisms, with a particular focus on azole and echinocandin resistance driven by efflux pump regulation and FKS mutations. We critically evaluate the greater wax moth larva, Galleria mellonella , as a non-mammalian in vivo model for studying C. glabrata pathogenesis, host–pathogen interactions and antifungal efficacy. Evidence demonstrating concordance between G. mellonella , murine models and clinical outcomes is discussed, alongside the model’s limitations, including the absence of adaptive immunity. Collectively, this review highlights G. mellonella as a robust, cost-effective platform for dissecting C. glabrata virulence traits and for preclinical screening of antifungal therapies, supporting its growing role in translational fungal research.

Source: Journal of Medical Microbiology

DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.002127

Authors: Charlie J. D. Holt, Catrin C. Wiliams, Jane Usher

Institutions: University of Exeter, MRC Centre for Medical Mycology

Language: English

Topic: Antifungal resistance and susceptibility

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council