Cane sugar factor as an inducing agent of immunity in Galleria mellonella.

The injection of cane sugar factor (CSF) into Galleria mellonella larvae results in an immune response similar to that produced by a formalized Pseudomonas aeruginosa vaccine. Vaccination with CSF is followed by: an increase in the LD50 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; an in vivo protective response to P. aeruginosa the development of which can be inhibited by cobra venom factor (CVF); an antibacterial activity in hemolymph 24 h after the injection of CSF; the development of a transferrable immune response in hemolymph of donor larvae capable of protecting recipient larvae against a lethal challenge of Pseudomonas aeruginosa; an increase in extracellular lysozyme equal to that induced by Pseudomonas vaccine; a reduction in total hemocyte count during the period of protective immunity; and the presence in hemolymph of new basic proteins, with electrophoretic mobilities and appearance times after the CSF injection, identical to those induced by the formalized vaccine. CSF was shown to be composed primarily of glucose.