Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41988751›Full record

ReviewCurrent protocols2026

Current Overview and Main Challenges of the Use of Galleria mellonella in Biomedical Research.

Fabiana Alves de Souza Silva, Maria Eduarda da Silva Costa, Patrícia Michelle Nagai de Lima, Jaqueline Lemes Ribeiro, Betina Sayeg Burd, Rondinelli Donizetti Herculano, Laura Beatriz Borim da Silva, Paulo Henrique Fonseca Carmo, Luis Augusto de Almeida-Silva, Kevin Kavanagh and 2 more

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Current protocols, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Fabiana Alves de Souza SilvaDepartment of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São José dos Campos, Brazil.
Maria Eduarda da Silva CostaDepartment of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São José dos Campos, Brazil.
Patrícia Michelle Nagai de LimaDepartment of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São José dos Campos, Brazil.
Jaqueline Lemes RibeiroDepartment of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São José dos Campos, Brazil.
Betina Sayeg BurdBioengineering & Biomaterials Group, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Km 01 Araraquara-Jaú Road, Araraquara, São Paulo, BR, Brazil.
Rondinelli Donizetti HerculanoBioengineering & Biomaterials Group, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Km 01 Araraquara-Jaú Road, Araraquara, São Paulo, BR, Brazil.
Laura Beatriz Borim da SilvaDepartment of Genetics, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil.
Paulo Henrique Fonseca CarmoDepartment of Genetics, Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Biosciences, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil.
Luis Augusto de Almeida-SilvaDepartment of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São José dos Campos, Brazil.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8668-595X
Kevin KavanaghDepartment of Biology, Maynooth University, Maynooth, Ireland.
Juliana Campos JunqueiraDepartment of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São José dos Campos, Brazil.
Maíra Terra GarciaDepartment of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), São José dos Campos, Brazil.

Funding

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível SuperiorFundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Larvae of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella have become an increasingly important in vivo model for biomedical research, providing a practical, ethical, and biologically relevant alternative to vertebrate organisms. Its suitability as a model system lies in its low maintenance cost, ease of handling, and ability to survive at both ambient and mammalian body temperatures. Most importantly, G. mellonella exhibits an innate immune system with functional and structural parallels to that of mammals, allowing meaningful insights into infection dynamics and immune responses. This review summarizes the biological and immunological foundations that underpin the use of G. mellonella in experimental research and examines its expanding range of applications. The model has been successfully employed to study microbial pathogenicity, antimicrobial efficacy, host-pathogen interactions, and toxicological responses. In recent years, its use has extended to emerging fields such as nanomedicine, immunomodulation, and environmental biotechnology, reflecting its growing translational value. The adoption of G. mellonella also aligns with current ethical principles in science, particularly the 3Rs framework (replacement, refinement, and reduction), by minimizing the use of vertebrate animals while maintaining robust experimental outcomes. However, certain challenges persist, including the lack of adaptive immunity and the need for methodological standardization to enhance data reproducibility and comparability across laboratories. Collectively, the growing body of evidence supports G. mellonella as a reliable and versatile experimental model that bridges the gap between invertebrate and mammalian systems. Continued methodological refinement and integration with molecular and omics approaches are expected to further consolidate its role in translational and preclinical research. © 2026 The Author(s). Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC.

Indexed as

Biomedical ResearchMothsAnimalsHost-Pathogen InteractionsHumansLarvaanimal disease modelAnimal use alternativesbiomedical researchGalleria mellonellatranslational research

Identifiers

PMID41988751
PMCPMC13084470

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.