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Silkworm as an experimental animal for research on fungal infections

Yasuhiko Matsumoto1, Kazuhisa Sekimizu1,2

  • 1Teikyo University Institute of Medical Mycology, 359 Otsuka, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0395, Japan.

Microbiology and Immunology
|January 23, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Silkworm infection models offer a cost-effective and ethical approach to study fungal pathogens. These models have successfully identified novel virulence factors in yeasts like Candida albicans.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Animal Models

Background:

  • Silkworm (Bombyx mori) serves as a valuable experimental model due to low rearing costs and minimal ethical concerns.
  • Established bacterial infection models in silkworms facilitate the identification of virulence factor genes through large-scale in vivo screening.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review recent advancements in silkworm infection models for studying fungal infections.
  • To highlight the utility of silkworm models in elucidating fungal pathogenicity mechanisms.

Main Methods:

  • Development and application of silkworm infection models for various yeast and filamentous fungi.
  • Utilizing silkworm models for large-scale in vivo screening to identify genes encoding fungal virulence factors.

Main Results:

  • Silkworm infection models have been successfully established for multiple fungal species, including Candida spp., Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and various dermatophytes.
  • Novel virulence factor genes in Candida albicans and Candida glabrata were identified using these silkworm models.

Conclusions:

  • Silkworm infection models provide a powerful and efficient platform for studying fungal pathogenesis.
  • These models offer a strategic approach to identifying genes responsible for microbial pathogenicity, particularly in fungi.
Keywords:
human pathogenic fungusinfectious diseasesilkwormvirulence factor

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