Biochemical and immune responses of model organism Galleria mellonella after infection with Escherichia coli

Abstract

AbstractGalleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is used as an invertebrate model organism to study the virulence of bacteria pathogenic to humans. In this study, the oxidative effects of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (Migula) (Enterobacteriaceae) on the model organism were investigated. The levels of metabolic enzymes, non‐enzymatic antioxidants, and biochemical parameters were measured in the hemolymph of G. mellonella larvae 2, 4, 6, and 8 h after E. coli inoculation. The results show that the levels of cell damage indicators – such as aspartate transferase, alanine transferase, and lactate dehydrogenase – increased 8 h after E. coli infection. The levels of creatine kinase, alkaline phosphatase, and amylase increased in order to regulate the energy metabolism (negatively affected by the E. coli infection) and to reduce the biochemical effects of oxidative damage. Amounts of the non‐enzymatic antioxidants uric acid, bilirubin, and albumin also increased after E. coli infection, whereas the amount of total protein was not affected. Altogether, E. coli infection caused oxidative stress and damage to the hemolymph of G. mellonella.