D3013: Experiments to assess immune responses of blow flies for medical purposes

Antibiotic resistance remains a persistent challenge in the medical field. Researchers have been exploring alternative treatments, such as Larval therapy (LT), which uses sterile blowfly larvae like Lucilia sericata to treat chronic and infected wounds. These larvae have shown potent antibiotic properties, aiding in wound debridement, microorganism eradication, and the promotion of wound healing. Research has indicated differential expression of immune-related genes in larvae when exposed to pathogens. Critical components of L. sericata’s immune response include hemocytes, the fat body, and antimicrobial peptides, with significant contributions from the Toll and Imd pathways. Notably, 2^nd and 3^rd instar larvae exhibit different types of hemocytes, with 3^rd instar larvae containing a substantial fat body. These characteristics suggest that 3^rd instar larvae may be more resistant to bacteria and potentially more effective for LT.

This project aims to test the efficacy of L. sericata against common wound bacteria and elucidate the underlying mechanisms to enhance LT practices and combat antibiotic resistance.