Listeria monocytogenes the causative agent of the foodborne disease listeriosis in humans often involves fatal brainstem infections leading to meningitis and meningoencephalitis. We recently established the larvae of the greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) as a model host for the investigation of L. monocytogenes pathogenesis and as a source of peptides exhibiting anti-Listeria-activity. Her...

Proteolytic activity released within an organism by wounded tissues or invading pathogens can strongly impair the physiological homeostasis when it remains non-regulated. Thus, an efficient mechanism that enables recognition and inactivation of non-regulated proteolytic activity is essential to limit toxic effects. In larvae of the Greater wax moth Galleria mellonella we discovered that injecti...

The greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella Linnaeus, is a ubiquitous pest of the honeybee, Apis mellifera Linnaeus, and Apis cerana Fabricius. The greater wax moth larvae burrow into the edge of unsealed cells with pollen, bee brood, and honey through to the midrib of honeybee comb. Burrowing larvae leave behind masses of webs which causes galleriasis and later absconding of colonies. The damage...

Defense peptides play a crucial role in insect innate immunity against invading pathogens. From the hemolymph of immune-challenged greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (Gm) larvae, eight peptides were isolated and characterized. Purified Gm peptides differ considerably in amino acid sequences, isoelectric point values and antimicrobial activity spectrum. Five of them, Gm proline-rich peptide 2...

The study investigates the effect of temperature on the infectivity of two entomopathogenic nematodes, viz. Steinernema sp. and Heterorhabditis indica, locally isolated from Mizoram, northeastern India, using last instar larvae of greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella, as an insect host. Two hundred infective juveniles/larva of wax moth were exposed to different temperatures, viz. 10, 15, 20, 2...