Tenebrio molitor como organismo modelo para estudo de virulência de patógenos animais fúngicos

Abstract

Fungi infection models are essential for understanding the virulence and pathogenicity of fungi. Traditionally, vertebrate animal models, due to their similarity to human physiology, have been the gold standard in these studies. However, the search for bioethical alternatives has driven the use of invertebrates, such as Tenebrio molitorbeetle with a holometabolous life cycle, easy laboratory rearing, and susceptibility to fungal pathogens. Additionally, T. molitor shares characteristics of the innate immune system found in vertebrates, facilitating research on host-pathogen interactions. Studies also highlight its use in investigating metabolic processes, hormonal regulation, drug toxicity, and as a nutrient source. This review compiles and discusses studies using T. molitor in fungal infection research, focusing on pathogenic fungi (Candida albicans, Paracoccidioides brasiliensis, Nannizzia gypsea, Fonsecaea sp., Sporothrix sp., Aspergillus fumigatus, Cryptococcus sp., and Malassezia furfur) and entomopathogenic fungi (Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium sp.). It also aims to identify gaps in knowledge and explore new possibilities for the potential virulence model, T. molitor