Use of Galleria mellonella larvae to evaluate the in vivo anti-fungal activity of [Ag2(mal)(phen)3].

Larvae of the insect Galleria mellonella were employed to assess the in vivo antifungal efficacy of ([Ag(2)(mal)(phen)(3)]), AgNO(3) and 1,10-phenanthroline. Larvae pre-inoculated with these compounds were protected from a subsequent lethal infection by the yeast Candida albicans while larvae inoculated 1 and 4 h post-infection showed significantly increased survival (P < 0.01) compared to control larvae. Administration of these compounds resulted in an increase over 48 h in the density of insect haemocytes (immune cells) but there was no widespread activation of genes for antimicrobial peptides. This work demonstrates that G. mellonella larvae may be employed to ascertain the antifungal efficacy of silver(I) compounds and offers a rapid and effective means of assessing the in vivo activity of inorganic antimicrobial compounds.