Galleria mellonella as an Invertebrate Model for Studying Fungal Infections

Autor(es)

Marena, Gabriel Davi ; Thomaz, Luciana ; Nosanchuk, Joshua Daniel ; Taborda, Carlos Pelleschi

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: JOURNAL OF FUNGI; v. 11, n. 2, p. 30-pg., 2025-02-01.

Resumo

The incidence of fungal infections continues to increase and one of the factors responsible for these high rates is the emergence of multi-resistant species, hospitalizations, inappropriate or prolonged use of medications, and pandemics, such as the ongoing HIV/AIDS pandemic. The recent pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome virus (SARS-CoV-2) has led to a significant increase in fungal infections, especially systemic mycoses caused by opportunistic fungi. There is a growing and urgent need to better understand how these microorganisms cause infection and develop resistance as well as to develop new therapeutic strategies to combat the diverse diseases caused by fungi. Non-mammalian hosts are increasingly used as alternative models to study microbial infections. Due to their low cost, simplicity of care, conserved innate immunity and reduced ethical issues, the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella is an excellent model host for studying fungal infections and it is currently widely used to study fungal pathogenesis and develop innovative strategies to mitigate the mycoses studied. G. mellonella can grow at 37 degrees C, which is similar to the mammalian temperature, and the anatomy of the larvae allows researchers to easily deliver pathogens, biological products, compounds and drugs. The aim of this review is to describe how G. mellonella is being used as a model system to study fungal infections as well as the importance of this model in evaluating the antifungal profile of potential drug candidates or new therapies against fungi. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 24/07461-8 - Nanoterapia para o controle da transmissão e infecção sistêmica por Candida auris: estudos in vitro e in vivo
• Beneficiário: Gabriel Davi Marena
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 15/06547-7 - Desenvolvimento de modelos alternativos, na paracoccidioidomicose experimental, para avaliação da patogenicidade e tratamento com anticorpos monoclonais em Galleria mellonella
• Beneficiário: Luciana Thomaz
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado