Publication details
Recent research on Galleria mellonella as one from most important insect model organisms
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2010 |
| Type | Article in Proceedings |
| Conference | 43rd Annual Meeting SIP 2010 Turkey |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Keywords | Galleria mellonella |
| Description | The greater wax moth G. mellonella (Gm) L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is one from most widely used insects in physiology, immunology, biochemistry and parasitology; even when is considered as a pest for the apiculture. Surprisingly this classical model was not sequenced yet, so can’t compete with Drosophila or Tribolium in this area. The advantages of Gm are fast lifecycle, size of larvae, easy rearing on artificial diet and commercializing in countries like: Spain, Germany, United States, Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Peru. We review the most recent (2007-2010) published articles using Gm. Many reports determines growing degree day for egg, larvae and pupae which similarly to the proteins and carbohydrates levels in Gm adults varied in relation to light photoperiod. Gm in the toxicology bioassays has been recently used to test chemical insecticides, parasitoides, nematodes, fungical, bacterial and microorganism metabolites etc. applied by injection, ingestion or direct contact. Other reports used Gm larvae to study changes in antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress after application of insecticides (boric acid, sodium tetraborate), inhibitors of eicosanoids, antibiotics or infection with B. thuringiensis resulting to impaired enzymatic antioxidant defense capacity and metabolic functions with increasing oxidative stress. Gm is traditionally widely used to test the pathogenity of nematodes with potential application to biological pest control, newly also nematodes co-infections are studied. This review of Gm publications shows importance of insect research in pest control with impact in agriculture and also with possible extrapolation to human medicine. |