title: Galleria mellonella: An invertebrate model to study pathogenicity in correctly defined fungal species.
abstract: The high mortality rates and economic burden associated with fungal infections, plus the emergence of fungal strains resistant to antifungal drugs, make it necessary to get a deeper understanding of fungal pathogenesis, as well as to identify new target structures for antifungal drug development. Still, murine models are considered as the gold standard for studying pathogenesis, quantifying virulence, and analysing the efficacy of antifungal drugs. However, invertebrates, such as the larvae of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella, are promising alternative hosts to address some of these questions, especially when a large number of fungal strains need to be evaluated. The purpose of this review is to summarize the benefits and drawbacks, explain the utilization of the invertebrate model host G. mellonella, and compare the virulence potential of the most important human fungal pathogens, with the focus on different virulence potential of closely related species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Social Medicine, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Schöpfstrasse 41, A-6020 Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria. Electronic address: ulrike.binder@i-med.ac.at.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Binder
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Social Medicine, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Schöpfstrasse 41, A-6020 Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria.
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maurer
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Social Medicine, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University Innsbruck, Schöpfstrasse 41, A-6020 Innsbruck, Tirol, Austria.
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lass-Flörl
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005658:Fungi / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D009036:Moths / Q000382:microbiology*; D009181:Mycoses / Q000151:congenital* / Q000382:microbiology*; D014774:Virulence
keywords: Alternative in vivo models; Greater wax moth larvae; Human fungal pathogens; Wax moth larvae