A Silkworm Infection Model for Evaluating In Vivo Biofilm Formation by Pathogenic Fungi

Experimental animal models are necessary for research on infectious diseases. Generally, mammalian animals, such as mice, are used for infection experiments. However, there are ethical issues associated with conducting infection experiments in mammals. This has made it difficult to perform infection experiments with a large number of individuals. The invertebrate silkworm, Bombyx mori, is gaining attention as a model animal for infection experiments, and silkworm infection models with various pathogens have been established. This review provides information on the use of silkworm infection models for fungal infection research and evaluation of in vivo biofilm formation by pathogenic fungi using a novel silkworm experimental system. Various silkworm infection models with pathogenic fungi have been used for the development of antifungal drugs and the identification of fungal virulence-related genes. Furthermore, a catheter-material-inserted silkworm infection model was established to evaluate biofilm formation in vivo. Silkworm infection models have contributed to research on fungal infections.