The effect of Habrobracon hebetor venom on the activity of the prophenoloxidase system, the generation of reactive oxygen species and encapsulation in the haemolymph of Galleria mellonella larvae.

The cellular and humoral immune reactions in haemolymph of the wax moth Galleria mellonella larvae naturally injected by venom of ectoparasitic wasp Habrobracon hebetor were analyzed. A strong decline of phenoloxidase (PO) activity in the haemolymph and the number of haemocytes with PO activity of envenomated wax moth was observed. In addition, it has been shown that the rate of capsule melanization in the envenomated larvae was half that of the control. Also production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the haemolymph of envenomated larvae decreased. The obtained data casts light on the suppression of the main immune reactions in G. mellonella larvae during natural envenomation by H. hebetor.

[Generation of reactive oxygen species and activity of antioxidants in larva hemolymph of galleria mellonella (L.) (lepidoptera: piralidae) at development of process of encapsulation].

Activities of enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase, glutathione-S-transferase, and catalase) have been determined in hemocytes and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been studied in lymph of larvae of the wax moth Galleria mellonella at development of the process of encapsulation of nylon implants. It has been established that as soon as 15 min after piercing of cuticle with implant the capsule is formed on its surface. The active melanization of the capsule has been shown to last for 4 h. There have been shown a statistically significant increase of the ROS generation in lymph and a decrease of activities of enzymatic antioxidants in hemocytes of the insects after the implant incorporation. The authors suggest that the key role in maintenance of the oxidation-reduction balance in hemolymph at development of the incapsulation process is played by the lymph non-enzymatic antioxidants.