Virulence studies of Scedosporium and Fusarium species in Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract

We developed a model of infection, using 1 Fusarium species (F. moniliforme) and 2 Scedosporium species (S. apiospermum and S. prolificans), in wild-type and Toll-deficient Drosophila melanogaster flies by injecting them with a standardized conidia inoculum. Wild-type flies were resistant to infection with both S. apiospermum and S. prolificans but were susceptible to infection with F. moniliforme. When Toll-deficient flies were infected with any of the 3 pathogens, the result was acute infection and high mortality rates. Voriconazole mixed in fly food significantly protected flies infected with F. moniliforme or S. apiospermum but not those infected with S. prolificans.