Utilisation of Galleria mellonella larvae to characterise development of Staphylococcus aureus infection
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ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus aureus is a common human opportunistic pathogen which causes a wide range of infections from superficial skin infections to invasive infections including pneumonia and bloodstream infections. Here we describe how an inoculum of S. aureus activates the cellular and humoral response of Galleria mellonella larvae while growing and disseminating throughout the host, forming nodules and ultimately killing the host. An inoculum of S. aureus (2×106/ larva) decreased larval viability at 24 (80 ± 5.77%), 48 (55.93 ± 5.55%) and 72 (10.23 ± 2.97%) hours and this was accompanied by significant proliferation and disseminated of S. aureus between 6 hours to 48 hours and the formation of nodules in the host. The hemocyte (immune cell) densities increased between 4 and 24 hours and cells isolated from larvae after 6 and 24 hours exposure to heat killed S. aureus (2×106/ larva) showed altered killing kinetics as compared to control larvae. Alterations in the humoral immune response of larvae 6 and 24 hours post infection was also determined by quantitative shotgun proteomics. The proteome of 6 hour infected larvae was enriched for antimicrobial proteins, members of the prophenoloxidase cascade and a range of peptidoglycan recognition proteins. By 24 hours there was a significant increase in a range of antimicrobial peptides with anti-staphylococcal activity and proteins associated with nodule formation. The results presented here find S. aureus interacts with the larval host immune response, induces its expression and also forms nodules which are a hallmark of soft tissue infections during human infection.
INSTRUMENT(S): Q Exactive
ORGANISM(S): Galleria Mellonella
SUBMITTER: Gerard Sheehan
LAB HEAD: Kevin Kavanagh
PROVIDER: PXD012766 | Pride | 2019-05-21
REPOSITORIES: Pride
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