The acute host – pathogen interactions between Aspergillus fumigatus and Galleria mellonella

Larvae of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella are an ideal in vivo model to quickly and easily assess the virulence of a range of human pathogens, to comprehensively analyse the host – pathogen interactome and to reproducibly evaluate the in vivo toxicity and efficacy of anti-microbial agents. G. mellonella larvae are easy to inoculate, generate results within 48 hours and are free from the ethical and legal restrictions which surround the use of mammals for this type of testing.1,2 Microbial virulence and pathogenesis can be assessed by a variety of endpoints including survival, fluctuations in hemocyte density, oscillations in fungal burden and changes in hemolymph proteome. Insect hemocytes can be easily isolated and used in ex vivo cellular assays to determine phagocyte – pathogen interactions. Aspergillus fumigatus infection and dissimiation as well as G. mellonella cellular and humoral immune responses were analysed over 24 hours.