Galleria mellonella to Study Aspergillus Infections and Antifungal Efficacy by Traditional Readouts and Novel BL-Imaging Techniques.

Galleria mellonella (greater wax moth) larvae have emerged as a valuable alternative in vivo model for studying fungal infections, including aspergillosis, due to their advantages such as ease of use, low cost, and ability to survive at mammalian body temperatures. Galleria larvae are useful for evaluating fungal virulence, host-pathogen interactions, and antifungal toxicity and efficacy. Recent studies have incorporated bioluminescence (BL) imaging, which enhances the utility of the model by enabling noninvasive, real-time monitoring of fungal burden and disease progression in individual animals. Together, these advantages make G. mellonella an effective and ethically favorable platform for preclinical aspergillosis research, perfectly aligning with 3R principles.