Eur. J. Entomol. 94 (4): 461-472, 1997
Effect of the entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana on the humoral immune response of Galleria mellonella larvae (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae)
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In this study the entomopathogen Beauveria bassiana caused no humoral immune response in Galleria mellonella when it entered the host through the integument in a natural manner. Initiation of my cosis by injection of living or heat-inactivated blastospores elicited the release of antimicrobial proteins such as lysozyme and cecropins within the hemolymph. Maximum levels were reached 24 h after treatment. Afterwards, these levels declined faster in larvae with established mycosis. Subsequent studies documented the ability of B. bassiana to suppress increases in antibacterial activity within the hemolymph of G. mellonella larvae that were pretreated with injections of microbial provocators. The latter induced non-specific de novo synthesis and subsequent release of several proteins within the hemolymph. The protein synthesis of diseased larvae was not generally affected, even when the larvae were moribund. Among the proteins synthesised during the humoral response, only certain proteins such as lysozyme were suppressed, as detected by SDS-PAGE and autoradiography. The effects of B. bassiana upon the humoral immune response of G. mellonella are discussed in regards to other parasites such as nematodes or Hymenoptera, which reportedly suppress the synthesis of endogenous host proteins.
Keywords: Entomopathogenic fungus, Beauveria bassiana, Pyralidae, Galleria mellonella, humoral immunity, suppression
Accepted: March 10, 1997; Published: October 1, 1997 Show citation
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