Immunomodulation and Protective Effects of <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> Extract Against <i>Candida albicans</i> Infection in <i>Galleria mellonella</i> Larvae
<i>Cordyceps militaris</i>-derived formulations are currently used for multiple purposes because of their medical properties, especially immune system modulation. This study analyzes the inhibitory effects of <i>C. militaris</i> aqueous extract on <i>Candida albicans<...
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2024-11-01
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| author | Kiratiya Eiamthaworn David Holthaus Sureeporn Suriyaprom Volker Rickerts Yingmanee Tragoolpua |
| author_facet | Kiratiya Eiamthaworn David Holthaus Sureeporn Suriyaprom Volker Rickerts Yingmanee Tragoolpua |
| author_sort | Kiratiya Eiamthaworn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Cordyceps militaris</i>-derived formulations are currently used for multiple purposes because of their medical properties, especially immune system modulation. This study analyzes the inhibitory effects of <i>C. militaris</i> aqueous extract on <i>Candida albicans</i> infections and the immune response in larvae of the greater wax moth <i>Galleria mellonella</i> (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Larvae exhibited melanization within 1 h of being infected with <i>C. albicans</i> inoculum at a concentration of 10<sup>6</sup> cells/larvae, and died within 24 h from a lethal dose. Aqueous extract of <i>C. militaris</i> proved to be nontoxic at concentrations of 0.25 and 0.125 mg/larvae, and had the greatest ability to prolong the survival of larvae infected with a sublethal dose of <i>C. albicans</i> at a concentration of 10<sup>5</sup> cells/larvae. Moreover, the number of hemocytes in the hemolymph of <i>G. mellonella</i> increased after infection with <i>C. albicans</i> and treatment with the aqueous extract of <i>C. militaris</i> at 1, 24, and 48 h by 1.21 × 10<sup>7</sup>, 1.23 × 10<sup>7</sup>, and 1.4 × 10<sup>7</sup> cells/100 µL, respectively. The highest number of hemocytes was recorded after treatment of infected <i>G. mellonella</i> with the extract for 48 h. Transcriptional upregulation of the immune system was observed in certain antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), showing that the relative expression of <i>galiomicin</i>, <i>gallerimycin</i>, and <i>lysozyme</i> genes were upregulated as early as 1 h after infection. Therefore, we conclude that <i>C. militaris</i> aqueous extract can modulate the immune system of <i>G. mellonella</i> and protect against infection from <i>C. albicans</i>. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-848a8ef767ce44bdbe7a6adf5dc6a316 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2075-4450 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-848a8ef767ce44bdbe7a6adf5dc6a3162025-08-20T02:48:02ZengMDPI AGInsects2075-44502024-11-01151188210.3390/insects15110882Immunomodulation and Protective Effects of <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> Extract Against <i>Candida albicans</i> Infection in <i>Galleria mellonella</i> LarvaeKiratiya Eiamthaworn0David Holthaus1Sureeporn Suriyaprom2Volker Rickerts3Yingmanee Tragoolpua4Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein, 24105 Kiel, GermanyDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, ThailandRobert Koch Institute, 13353 Berlin, GermanyDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand<i>Cordyceps militaris</i>-derived formulations are currently used for multiple purposes because of their medical properties, especially immune system modulation. This study analyzes the inhibitory effects of <i>C. militaris</i> aqueous extract on <i>Candida albicans</i> infections and the immune response in larvae of the greater wax moth <i>Galleria mellonella</i> (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). Larvae exhibited melanization within 1 h of being infected with <i>C. albicans</i> inoculum at a concentration of 10<sup>6</sup> cells/larvae, and died within 24 h from a lethal dose. Aqueous extract of <i>C. militaris</i> proved to be nontoxic at concentrations of 0.25 and 0.125 mg/larvae, and had the greatest ability to prolong the survival of larvae infected with a sublethal dose of <i>C. albicans</i> at a concentration of 10<sup>5</sup> cells/larvae. Moreover, the number of hemocytes in the hemolymph of <i>G. mellonella</i> increased after infection with <i>C. albicans</i> and treatment with the aqueous extract of <i>C. militaris</i> at 1, 24, and 48 h by 1.21 × 10<sup>7</sup>, 1.23 × 10<sup>7</sup>, and 1.4 × 10<sup>7</sup> cells/100 µL, respectively. The highest number of hemocytes was recorded after treatment of infected <i>G. mellonella</i> with the extract for 48 h. Transcriptional upregulation of the immune system was observed in certain antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), showing that the relative expression of <i>galiomicin</i>, <i>gallerimycin</i>, and <i>lysozyme</i> genes were upregulated as early as 1 h after infection. Therefore, we conclude that <i>C. militaris</i> aqueous extract can modulate the immune system of <i>G. mellonella</i> and protect against infection from <i>C. albicans</i>.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/11/882<i>Candida albicans</i><i>Cordyceps militaris</i> extract<i>Galleria mellonella</i>antimicrobial peptides (AMPs)immune responseinfection models |
| spellingShingle | Kiratiya Eiamthaworn David Holthaus Sureeporn Suriyaprom Volker Rickerts Yingmanee Tragoolpua Immunomodulation and Protective Effects of <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> Extract Against <i>Candida albicans</i> Infection in <i>Galleria mellonella</i> Larvae Insects <i>Candida albicans</i> <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> extract <i>Galleria mellonella</i> antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) immune response infection models |
| title | Immunomodulation and Protective Effects of <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> Extract Against <i>Candida albicans</i> Infection in <i>Galleria mellonella</i> Larvae |
| title_full | Immunomodulation and Protective Effects of <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> Extract Against <i>Candida albicans</i> Infection in <i>Galleria mellonella</i> Larvae |
| title_fullStr | Immunomodulation and Protective Effects of <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> Extract Against <i>Candida albicans</i> Infection in <i>Galleria mellonella</i> Larvae |
| title_full_unstemmed | Immunomodulation and Protective Effects of <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> Extract Against <i>Candida albicans</i> Infection in <i>Galleria mellonella</i> Larvae |
| title_short | Immunomodulation and Protective Effects of <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> Extract Against <i>Candida albicans</i> Infection in <i>Galleria mellonella</i> Larvae |
| title_sort | immunomodulation and protective effects of i cordyceps militaris i extract against i candida albicans i infection in i galleria mellonella i larvae |
| topic | <i>Candida albicans</i> <i>Cordyceps militaris</i> extract <i>Galleria mellonella</i> antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) immune response infection models |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4450/15/11/882 |
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