The in vitro generation of an antibacterial activity from the fat body and hemolymph of non-immunized larvae of Galleria mellonella.

A state of immunity in Galleria mellonella against the pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa is known to be induced by the injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), isolated from the homologous organism. An in vitro mixture of the LPS and whole or cell-free hemolymph from non-immunized larvae is not antibacterial. In vitro mixtures of fat body and cell-free hemolymph from non-immunized larvae, incubated at 25 degrees C for 20 hours generated a proteinaceous antibacterial activity. The generation of this activity was enhanced by the presence in the incubation mixture of LPS and/or hemocytes from non-immunized larvae. It is suggested that LPS causes the release of a hemocyte factor(s) which acts in conjunction with or directly on the fat body resulting in an enhanced production of antibacterial factors.