Unveiling Mucorales infections: A cutting-edge longitudinal imaging approach for real-time infection and host-response monitoring in Galleria mellonella and mouse models
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Mucormycosis, a disease encompassing life-threatening fungal infections by members of the Mucorales group, is characterized by significant heterogeneity, poor clinical outcomes, and globally rising incidences. Although showing clear outbreak potential, the disease remains poorly understood. Mucorales infections are characterized by rapid progression and extensive tissue destruction, often requiring disfiguring surgical interventions. Moreover, intrinsic resistance and high drug tolerance limit antifungal effectiveness, contributing to the disease’s high mortality. To overcome the challenges associated with these infections, a deeper understanding of mucormycosis is urgently needed. Valuable translational insights traditionally derive from in vivo host models. However, current systems are limited by single-endpoint invasive analysis, offering only a narrow view of infection progression and treatment effects. To address these critical shortcomings and enhance experimental models, bioluminescent Mucor lusitanicus reporter strains were generated to establish models that allow for real-time, longitudinal monitoring of infection in individual animals. Codon optimization, targeted integration of the firefly luciferase gene, and control of expression using highly active promoters resulted in the successful establishment of two mucormycosis models: Galleria mellonella larvae as an intermediate infection model and a translational mouse model. In the murine model, the integration of micro-CT imaging further enhanced the characterization of host-pathogen interactions by enabling noninvasive assessment of tissue responses over time. Overall, our approach enables enhanced temporal resolution for quantitative assessment of fungal burden and host responses. Using M. lusitanicus as a model organism, this methodology establishes a foundation and technical expertise for application toward clinically relevant Mucorales infection and antifungal research.
Source: Virulence
Authors: Agustin Resendiz-Sharpe, Carmen Kandelbauer, Maria Isabel Navarro Mendoza, Giel Lemmens, Jakob Scheler, Ingo Bauer, Eliane Vanhoffelen, Laura Seldeslachts, Lander de Herdt, Lauren Michiels, Flore Belmans, Francisco E. Nicolás, Cornelia Lass-Flörl, Katrien Lagrou, Victoriano Garre, Ulrike Binder, Greetje Vande Velde
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,557
Awards: The road to host-directed immunotherapy: mapping immunomodulatory targets in Influenza-Associated Pulmonary Aspergillosis, Unravelling dynamic host-pathogen interactions of influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis with advanced optical imaging in precision-cut lung slices, G2950392445, G3216010260, G328901495, G3480869486, G3546128903, Multimodal imaging of pulmonary mycoses: preclinical investigation of pathogenesis and treatment response, Unravelling the pathogenic mechanism behind influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis, G6033112984, Unravelling the pathogenic mechanism behind influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis., G7084143925, G7434936867, G748215894, G8328269740, G8434245223, G8440055670
OpenAlex ID: W7169494875