GALLERIA MELLONELLA AS AN INFECTION MODEL TO INVESTIGATE VIRULENCE OF VIBRIO PARAHAEMOLYTICUS

Authors  Wagley S, Borne R, Harrison J, Baker-Austin C, Ottaviani D, Leoni F, Vuddhakul V, Titball R W

Abstract  Non-toxigenic V. parahaemolyticus isolates (tdh^-/trh^-/T3SS2^-) have recently been isolated from patients with gastroenteritis. In this study we report that the larvae of the wax moth (Galleria mellonella) are susceptible to infection by toxigenic or non-toxigenic clinical isolates of V. parahaemolyticus. In comparison larvae inoculated with environmental isolates of V. parahaemolyticus did not succumb to disease. Whole genome sequencing of clinical non-toxigenic isolates revealed the presence of a gene encoding a nudix hydrolase, identified as mutT. A V. parahaemolyticus mutT mutant was unable to kill G. mellonella at 24 h post inoculation, indicating a role of this gene in virulence. Our findings show that G. mellonella is a valuable model for investigating screening of possible virulence genes of V. parahaemolyticus and can provide new insights into mechanisms of virulence of atypical non-toxigenic V. parahaemolyticus. These findings will allow improved genetic tests for the identification of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus to be developed and will have a significant impact for the scientific community.

Publish Date 2018

Volume  9 (1)

ISSN 2150-5608

DOI   doi.org/10.1080/21505594.2017.1384895

URL  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21505594.2017.1384895

Journal  Virulence

Pages  197-207

PMID  28960137