The Development of Protocols for the Injection of Yeasts into Galleria mellonella to Study Fungal Virulence and Animal Immunity
Additional Funding Sources
The research described was supported by the Brian and Gayle Hill Undergraduate Research Fellowship, College of Science, University of Idaho.
Abstract
Candida glabrata yeast are responsible for fungal infections such as candidiasis. Immunodeficient populations in particular are at an elevated risk of these infections. This has created an urgent need for novel antifungal agents. Previously The Rowley Lab has identified proteinaceous toxins that are naturally produced in yeast that inhibit growth of competing yeast cells. While isolates of C. glabrata are sensitive to these toxins toxin-resistant strains have evolved. Interestingly these strains possess certain aberrant phenotypes such as slower growth and differing morphology. If these strains also possess lower pathogenicity then it can be inferred that killer toxin resistance incurs a loss of fitness. Evidence of an evolutionary tradeoff such as this would be a beneficial characteristic if these toxins were to be used for therapeutic applications. This project aims to map out comparative differences in virulence between the resistant and wild type strains. Comparisons will be made by using the animal model Galleria mellonella. This animal model is used due to its ability to grow at normal human body temperature and its hemocyte mediated immune response that it shares with the mammalian innate immune response. Two protocols are being developed which assay the comparative pathogenicity of each C. glabrata strain.
The Development of Protocols for the Injection of Yeasts into Galleria mellonella to Study Fungal Virulence and Animal Immunity
Candida glabrata yeast are responsible for fungal infections such as candidiasis. Immunodeficient populations in particular are at an elevated risk of these infections. This has created an urgent need for novel antifungal agents. Previously The Rowley Lab has identified proteinaceous toxins that are naturally produced in yeast that inhibit growth of competing yeast cells. While isolates of C. glabrata are sensitive to these toxins toxin-resistant strains have evolved. Interestingly these strains possess certain aberrant phenotypes such as slower growth and differing morphology. If these strains also possess lower pathogenicity then it can be inferred that killer toxin resistance incurs a loss of fitness. Evidence of an evolutionary tradeoff such as this would be a beneficial characteristic if these toxins were to be used for therapeutic applications. This project aims to map out comparative differences in virulence between the resistant and wild type strains. Comparisons will be made by using the animal model Galleria mellonella. This animal model is used due to its ability to grow at normal human body temperature and its hemocyte mediated immune response that it shares with the mammalian innate immune response. Two protocols are being developed which assay the comparative pathogenicity of each C. glabrata strain.