Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 26, 2025
A Novel High-Throughput Ex Vivo Ovine Skin Wound Model for Testing Emerging Antibiotics
Published on: September 16, 2022
Using the Galleria mellonella burn wound and infection model to identify and characterize potential wound probiotics
Evgenia Maslova1, Shanga Osman1, Ronan R McCarthy1
1Division of Biosciences, Department of Life Sciences, Centre of Inflammation Research and Translational Medicine, College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK.
Abstract:
Burn wound infection is the leading cause of mortality among burn wound patients. One of the most commonly isolated bacterial burn wound pathogens is Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a notorious nosocomial multidrug-resistant pathogen. As a consequence of its recalcitrance to frontline antibiotic therapy, there is an urgent need to develop alternative treatment avenues to tackle this pathogen. One potential alternative infection prevention measure is to seed the wound bed with probiotic bacteria. Several species of Lactobacillus, a common commensal bacterium, have been previously reported to display growth inhibition activity against wound pathogens. Various species of this genus have also been shown to augment the wound healing process, which makes it a promising potential therapeutic agent. Due to the complexity of the burn wound trauma and burn wound infection, an in vivo model is required for the development of novel therapeutics. There are multiple in vivo models that are currently available, the most common among them being the murine model. However, mammalian burn wound infection models are logistically challenging, do not lend themselves to screening approaches and come with significant concerns around ethics and animal welfare. Recently, an invertebrate burn wound and infection model using G. mellonella has been established. This model addresses several of the challenges of more advanced animal models, such as affordability, maintenance and reduced ethical concerns. This study validates the capacity of this model to screen for potential wound probiotics by demonstrating that a variety of Lactobacillus spp. can limit P. aeruginosa burn wound infection and improve survival.
Insights
Lactobacillus probiotics can effectively combat Pseudomonas aeruginosa burn wound infections. The invertebrate Galleria mellonella model offers a viable alternative for screening potential wound probiotics, addressing limitations of traditional animal models.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology and Infectious Diseases
- Wound Healing and Regenerative Medicine
- Invertebrate Models in Biomedical Research
Background:
- Burn wound infections, often caused by multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, are a leading cause of mortality.
- Conventional antibiotic therapies are increasingly ineffective against P. aeruginosa, necessitating novel treatment strategies.
- Probiotic bacteria, particularly Lactobacillus species, show potential for infection prevention and wound healing augmentation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To validate the Galleria mellonella invertebrate model for screening potential wound probiotics.
- To assess the efficacy of Lactobacillus species in limiting Pseudomonas aeruginosa burn wound infections.
- To evaluate the capacity of Lactobacillus to improve survival in a burn wound infection model.
Main Methods:
- Established a burn wound and infection model using the invertebrate Galleria mellonella.
- Inoculated burn wounds with Pseudomonas aeruginosa and treated with various Lactobacillus species.
- Monitored bacterial load and assessed survival rates in treated and control groups.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that various Lactobacillus species significantly limit Pseudomonas aeruginosa burn wound infection in the G. mellonella model.
- Observed improved survival rates in burn wound-infected G. mellonella treated with Lactobacillus probiotics.
- Validated the G. mellonella model as an effective, affordable, and ethically sound platform for screening wound probiotics.
Conclusions:
- The Galleria mellonella model is a suitable alternative for studying burn wound infections and screening probiotics.
- Lactobacillus species show promise as therapeutic agents to manage Pseudomonas aeruginosa burn wound infections.
- This study supports the development of probiotic-based strategies for burn wound infection management.
