title: A Novel Restraint Device for Injection ofGalleria mellonellaLarvae that Minimizes the Risk of Accidental Operator Needle Stick Injury.
abstract: Larvae of the insectGalleria mellonellaare increasingly being used for studying pathogenic microbes and their virulence mechanisms, and as a rapid model for screening novel antimicrobial agents. The larvae (waxworms) are most frequently infected by injection of pathogenic organisms into the haemocoel through the insect's prolegs. The mostly widely used method for restraining the waxworms for injection is by grasping them between the operator's fingers, which puts the operator at risk of needle stick injury, an important consideration when working with highly pathogenic and/or drug-resistant microorganisms. While use of a stab proof glove can reduce this risk of injury, it does so at the loss of manual dexterity and speed, resulting in a more labor-intensive, and cumbersome assay. We describe a simple cost effective device (the so-called "GalleriaGrabber") for restraining waxworms for injection that keeps the operator's fingers clear of the needle thus reducing the risk of injury.
authors.affiliation: Bioluminescent Superbugs Lab, University of AucklandAuckland, New Zealand; Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of AucklandAuckland, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular BiodiscoveryAuckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Dalton
authors.affiliation: Bioluminescent Superbugs Lab, University of AucklandAuckland, New Zealand; Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of AucklandAuckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Benedict
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Uy
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of Auckland Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Swift
authors.affiliation: Bioluminescent Superbugs Lab, University of AucklandAuckland, New Zealand; Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of AucklandAuckland, New Zealand; Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular BiodiscoveryAuckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Siouxsie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wiles
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D003141:Communicable Diseases / Q000635:transmission; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005383:Finger Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control; D007267:Injections / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D007814:Larva / Q000382:microbiology; D007915:Lepidoptera; D016602:Needlestick Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000472:pathogenicity
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents
keywords: Galleria grabber; Staphylococcus aureus; bacteria; caterpillar; infectious diseases