scholarly journals Culture Degeneration Reduces Sex-Related Gene Expression, Alters Metabolite Production and Reduces Insect Pathogenic Response in Cordyceps militaris

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1559
Author(s):  
Peter A. D. Wellham ◽  
Abdul Hafeez ◽  
Andrej Gregori ◽  
Matthias Brock ◽  
Dong-Hyun Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Metabolite ◽  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Cordyceps Militaris ◽  
Insect Immunity ◽  
Pharmacological Activities ◽  
Metabolite Production ◽  
Expression Of Genes ◽  
Greater Wax Moth ◽  
Wax Moth

Cordyceps militaris is an entomopathogenic ascomycete, known primarily for infecting lepidopteran larval (caterpillars) and pupal hosts. Cordycepin, a secondary metabolite produced by this fungus has anti-inflammatory properties and other pharmacological activities. However, little is known about the biological role of this adenosine derivate and its stabilising compound pentostatin in the context of insect infection the life cycle of C. militaris. During repeated subcultivation under laboratory conditions a degeneration of C. militaris marked by decreasing levels of cordycepin production can occur. Here, using degenerated and parental control strains of an isolate of C. militaris, we found that lower cordycepin production coincides with the decline in the production of various other metabolites as well as the reduced expression of genes related to sexual development. Additionally, infection of Galleria mellonella (greater wax moth) caterpillars indicated that cordycepin inhibits the immune response in host haemocytes. Accordingly, the pathogenic response to the degenerated strain was reduced. These data indicate that there are simultaneous changes in sexual reproduction, secondary metabolite production, insect immunity and infection by C. militaris. This study may have implications for biological control of insect crop pests by fungi.

scholarly journals The greater wax moth Galleria mellonella: biology and use in immune studies

2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (9) ◽  
Author(s):  
Iwona Wojda ◽  
Bernard Staniec ◽  
Michał Sułek ◽  
Jakub Kordaczuk
Keyword(s):  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Scientific Research ◽  
Model Organism ◽  
Insect Immunity ◽  
Adaptive Plasticity ◽  
Development Cycle ◽  
Short Development Cycle ◽  
Greater Wax Moth ◽  
Wax Moth

ABSTRACT The greater wax moth Galleria mellonella is an invertebrate that is increasingly being used in scientific research. Its ease of reproduction, numerous offspring, short development cycle, and finally, its known genome and immune-related transcriptome provide a convenient research model for investigation of insect immunity at biochemical and molecular levels. Galleria immunity, consisting of only innate mechanisms, shows adaptive plasticity, which has recently become the subject of intensive scientific research. This insect serves as a mini host in studies of the pathogenicity of microorganisms and in vivo tests of the effectiveness of single virulence factors as well as new antimicrobial compounds. Certainly, the Galleria mellonella species deserves our attention and appreciation for its contribution to the development of research on innate immune mechanisms. In this review article, we describe the biology of the greater wax moth, summarise the main advantages of using it as a model organism and present some of the main techniques facilitating work with this insect

scholarly journals Establishing an invertebrate Galleria mellonella greater wax moth larval model of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection

Virulence ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1900-1920
Author(s):  
Aiste Dijokaite ◽  
Maria Victoria Humbert ◽  
Emma Borkowski ◽  
Roberto M La Ragione ◽  
Myron Christodoulides
Keyword(s):  
Neisseria Gonorrhoeae ◽  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Greater Wax Moth ◽  
Wax Moth

Transgenic expression of gallerimycin, a novel antifungal insect defensin from the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella, confers resistance to pathogenic fungi in tobacco

2006 ◽  
Vol 387 (5) ◽  
pp. 549-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregor Langen ◽  
Jafargholi Imani ◽  
Boran Altincicek ◽  
Gernot Kieseritzky ◽  
Karl-Heinz Kogel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transgenic Tobacco ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Transgenic Expression ◽  
Greater Wax Moth ◽  
Insect Defensin ◽  
Wax Moth

Abstract A cDNA encoding gallerimycin, a novel antifungal peptide from the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella, was isolated from a cDNA library of genes expressed during innate immune response in the caterpillars. Upon ectopic expression of gallerimycin in tobacco, using Agrobacterium tumefaciens as a vector, gallerimycin conferred resistance to the fungal pathogens Erysiphe cichoracearum and Sclerotinia minor. Quantification of gallerimycin mRNA in transgenic tobacco by real-time PCR confirmed transgenic expression under control of the inducible mannopine synthase promoter. Leaf sap and intercellular washing fluid from transgenic tobacco inhibited in vitro germination and growth of the fungal pathogens, demonstrating that gallerimycin is secreted into intercellular spaces. The feasibility of the use of gallerimycin to counteract fungal diseases in crop plants is discussed.

Greater wax moth Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) as a resistant model host for Nosema pyrausta (Microsporidia: Nosematidae)

2018 ◽  
Vol 157 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuri S. Tokarev ◽  
Ekaterina V. Grizanova ◽  
Anastasia N. Ignatieva ◽  
Ivan M. Dubovskiy
Keyword(s):  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Greater Wax Moth ◽  
Lepidoptera Pyralidae ◽  
Wax Moth
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document