Adam Paszewski

Antimicrobial Substances from the Larval Isolates of Greater Wax Moth, Galleria Mellonella L.

According to the generally accepted hypothesis bacteria and fungi of insects are needed for some physiological processes of the host to extend its own metabolic faculties. The significance of intestinal flora in the digesting process wad found in many organisms; also the role of symbionts in the synthesis of biological activity of substances necessary for normal development of insects was pointed out. Bucher and Williams (1967) have reported that the specifically uniform composition of the autochthonous gut flora of G.mellonella is represented by fecal streptococci belonging to Streptococcus faecalis The bacterium S. faecalis was found in all stages of the insect development and frequently it was the only organism present. Waterhouse (1959) and Dudziak (1975) have observed normal development of Galleria in bacteria-free cultures. The time of complete metamorphosis of the axenic insects was the same as that of those which contained organisms in their intestinal tracts. The digestion of such unusual food as beeswax takes thus place owing to the gut enzymes of Galleria larvae.