Galleria melonella as an experimental in vivo host model for the fish-pathogenic oomycete Saprolegnia parasitica.

ABSTRACT: Oomycetes are eukaryotic pathogens infecting animals and plants. Amongst them Saprolegnia parasitica is a fish pathogenic oomycete causing devastating losses in the aquaculture industry. To secure fish supply, new drugs are in high demand and since fish experiments are time consuming, expensive and involve animal welfare issues the search for adequate model systems is essential. Galleria mellonella serves as a heterologous host model for bacterial and fungal infections. This study extends the use of G. mellonella for studying infections with oomycetes. Saprolegniales are highly pathogenic to the insects while in contrast, the plant pathogen Phytophthora infestans showed no pathogenicity. Melanisation of hyphae below the cuticle allowed direct macroscopic monitoring of disease progression.

SUBMITTER: Wuensch A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5840505 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb - Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature