Proteomic responses of Candida albicans to Galleria mellonella larvae hemolymph

This study assessed the development of disseminated candidiasis within Galleria mellonella larvae and characterised the proteomic responses of Candida albicans to larval hemolymph. Infection of larvae with an inoculum of 1 × 106 yeast cell reduced larval viability 24 (53.33 ± 3.33%), 48 (33.33 ± 3.33%) and 72 (6.66 ± 3.33%) hour post infection. C. albicans infection quickly disseminated from the site of inoculation and the presence of yeast and hyphal forms were found in nodules extracted from infected larvae at 6 and 24 hours. A range of proteins secreted during infection of G. mellonella were detected in larval hemolymph and these were enriched for biological processes such as interaction with host and pathogenesis. The candicidal activity of hemolymph after immediate incubation of yeast cells resulted in a decrease in yeast cell viability (0.23 ± 0.03 × 106, p < 0.05) as compared to control (0.99 ± 0.01 × 106). extracellular (in vivo) proteome of C. albicans in larval hemolymph were assessed. C. albicans responds to incubation in hemolymph ex vivo by the induction of an oxidative stress response, a decrease in proteins associated with protein synthesis and an increase in glycolytic proteins.