Project description:Polyethylene pollutions are considered inert in nature and adversely affect the entire ecosystem. Larvae of greater wax moths (Galleria mellonella) have the ability to masticate and potentially biodegrade polyethylene films at elevated rates. The wax moth has been thought to metabolize PE independently of gut flora, however, the role of the microbiome is poorly understood and degradation by the wax moth might be involved. To determine whether the salivary glands of the wax moth were potentially involved in the PE degradation, it was investigated how surface changes of polyethylene were affected by mastication and consumption. Formation of pitting and degradation intermediates, including carbonyl groups, indicated that salivary glands could assist in polyethylene metabolism. We investigated the biochemical effect of exposure to PE on the composition of the salivary gland proteome. The expression of salivary proteins was found to be affected by PE exposure. The proteins that were significantly affected by the exposure to PE revealed that the wax moth is undergoing general changes in energy levels, and that enzymatic pathways associated with fatty acid beta oxidation were induced during PE consumption.
Project description:The Galleria mellonella larvae were infected with Listeria monocytogenes and on the 5th of post infection RNA is isolated from infected and non-infected control larvae. RNA samples were processed for miRNA profile in response to L. monocytogenes infection in Galleria mellonella larvae.
Project description: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.