Galleria mellonella as an alternative infection model for Yersinia pseudotuberculosis.
We report that larvae of the wax moth (Galleria mellonella) are susceptible to infection with the human enteropathogen Yersinia pseudotuberculosis at 37 degrees C. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that in the initial stages of infection the bacteria were taken up into haemocytes. To evaluate the utility of this model for screening Y. pseudotuberculosis mutants we constructed and tested a superoxide dismutase C (sodC) mutant. This mutant showed increased susceptibility to superoxide, a key mechanism of killing in insect haemocytes and mammalian phagocytes. It showed reduced virulence in the murine yersiniosis infection model and in contrast to the wild-type strain IP32953 was unable to kill G. mellonella. The complemented mutant regained all phenotypic properties associated with SodC, confirming the important role of this metalloenzyme in two Y. pseudotuberculosis infection models.
Champion
Olivia L
OL
School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK.
Cooper
Ian A M
IAM
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UK.
James
Sarah L
SL
School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK.
Ford
Donna
D
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UK.
Karlyshev
Andrey
A
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK.
Wren
Brendan W
BW
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Keppel Street, London WC1E 7HT, UK.
Duffield
Melanie
M
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UK.
Oyston
Petra C F
PCF
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UK.
Titball
Richard W
RW
School of Biosciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, Stocker Road, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK.
D000818:Animals; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009036:Moths / Q000382:microbiology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014774:Virulence; D015011:Yersinia pseudotuberculosis / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015012:Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Infections / Q000382:microbiology*
D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase