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Host–pathogen interaction after infection of Galleria mellonella with the filamentous fungus Beauveria bassiana
Author(s) -
Vertyporokh Lidiia,
HułasStasiak Monika,
Wojda Iwona
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
insect science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 45
eISSN - 1744-7917
pISSN - 1672-9609
DOI - 10.1111/1744-7917.12706
Subject(s) - galleria mellonella , beauveria bassiana , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , pathogen , fungus , virulence , bassiana , beauveria , colonization , spore , candida albicans , host (biology) , entomopathogenic fungus , biological pest control , botany , ecology , biochemistry , gene
The filamentous fungus Beauveria bassiana is a natural pathogen of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella . Infection with this fungus triggered systemic immune response in G. mellonella ; nevertheless, the infection was lethal if spores entered the insect hemocel. We observed melanin deposition in the insect cuticle and walls of air bags, while the invading fungus interrupted tissue continuity. We have shown colonization of muscles, air bags, and finally colonization and complete destruction of the fat body—the main organ responsible for the synthesis of defense molecules in response to infection. This destruction was probably not caused by simple fungal growth, because the fat body was not destroyed during colonization with a human opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans . This may mean that the infecting fungus is able to destroy actively the insect's fat body as part of its virulence mechanism. Finally, we were unable to reduce the extremely high virulence of B. bassiana against G. mellonella by priming of larvae with thermally inactivated fungal spores.