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Standardization of Galleria mellonella as an Infection Model for Malassezia furfur and Malassezia pachydermatis

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Antifungal Immunity

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 2667))

Abstract

Galleria mellonella larva has been widely exploited as an infection model for bacteria and fungi. Our laboratory uses this insect as a model for fungal infection caused by the genus Malassezia, in particular, systemic infections caused by Malassezia furfur and Malassezia pachydermatis, which are poorly understood. Here, we describe the G. mellonella larva inoculation process with M. furfur and M. pachydermatis and the posterior assessment of the establishment and dissemination of the infection in the larvae. This assessment was done through the evaluation of larval survival, melanization, fungal burden, hemocytes populations, and histological changes. This methodology allows for the identification of virulence patterns between Malassezia species and the impact of inoculum concentration and temperature.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Faculty of Sciences for financial support grant No. INV-2018-31-1252, the department of biological science, the Vice-Presidency of Research and Creation, the AnimalCore and the department of languages and culture, Universidad de los Andes.

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Correspondence to Adriana Marcela Celis Ramírez .

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Torres, M., Ramírez, A.M.C. (2023). Standardization of Galleria mellonella as an Infection Model for Malassezia furfur and Malassezia pachydermatis. In: Drummond, R.A. (eds) Antifungal Immunity. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 2667. Humana, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3199-7_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3199-7_2

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  • Publisher Name: Humana, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-0716-3198-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-0716-3199-7

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