Galleria mellonella as an alternative infection model for Yersinia pseudotuberculosis

Microbiology (Reading). 2009 May;155(Pt 5):1516-1522. doi: 10.1099/mic.0.026823-0. Epub 2009 Apr 21.

Abstract

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.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bacterial Proteins / genetics
  • Bacterial Proteins / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Moths* / microbiology
  • Superoxide Dismutase / genetics
  • Superoxide Dismutase / metabolism
  • Virulence
  • Yersinia pseudotuberculosis / enzymology
  • Yersinia pseudotuberculosis / genetics
  • Yersinia pseudotuberculosis / pathogenicity*
  • Yersinia pseudotuberculosis Infections / microbiology*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Superoxide Dismutase