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Galleria mellonellaas an infection model for the virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosisH37Rv

Authors :
Asai, Masanori
Li, Yanwen
Spiropoulos, John
Cooley, William
Everest, David J.
Kendall, Sharon L.
Martín, Carlos
Robertson, Brian D.
Langford, Paul R.
Newton, Sandra M.
Source :
Virulence; December 2022, Vol. 13 Issue: 1 p1543-1557, 15p
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

ABSTRACTTuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis(MTB), is a leading cause of infectious disease mortality. Animal infection models have contributed substantially to our understanding of TB, yet their biological and non-biological limitations are a research bottleneck. There is a need for more ethically acceptable, economical, and reproducible TB infection models capable of mimicking key aspects of disease. Here, we demonstrate and present a basic description of how Galleria mellonella(the greater wax moth, Gm) larvae can be used as a low cost, rapid, and ethically more acceptable model for TB research. This is the first study to infect Gmwith the fully virulent MTBH37Rv, the most widely used strain in research. Infection of Gmwith MTBresulted in a symptomatic lethal infection, the virulence of which differed from both attenuated Mycobacterium bovisBCG and auxotrophic MTBstrains. The Gm-MTBmodel can also be used for anti-TB drug screening, although CFU enumeration from Gmis necessary for confirmation of mycobacterial load reducing activity of the tested compound. Furthermore, comparative virulence of MTBisogenic mutants can be determined in Gm. However, comparison of mutant phenotypes in Gmagainst conventional models must consider the limitations of innate immunity. Our findings indicate that Gmwill be a practical, valuable, and advantageous additional model to be used alongside existing models to advance tuberculosis research.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
21505594 and 21505608
Volume :
13
Issue :
1
Database :
Supplemental Index
Journal :
Virulence
Publication Type :
Periodical
Accession number :
ejs61519659
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1080/21505594.2022.2119657