Precision Micro-injections in Invertebrate Models for Innate Immunity Experiments

DATE: MAY 2022
Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University | Turkey | Department of Biology
Serhat Kaya, PhD, Senior Researcher

Innate immunity encompasses many common immune responses that both vertebrates (including mammals) and invertebrates have. Invertebrate model organisms therefore play a crucial role in understanding innate immunity. One of the most popular invertebrate model organisms commonly used for this purpose is Galleria mellonella. According to mammalian model organisms, they have advantages such as few ethical problems, easy and large number of production, easy experimental applications, and low cost of production.

Along with these advantages, invertebrate model organisms have small structures (0.16-0.32 gr), and it is therefore important to be more sensitive in all experiments and the precision of the instruments used in the experiments is of great importance. G. mellonella, on which I have been working, should be studied with very small volumes. I give various plant extracts dissolved in different solvents, human pathogens and antibiotics against them, and organic-inorganic materials, which I try to determine their in vivo effects, into the body cavities of my subjects by injection or forcefeeding method. This is related to that I need to inject 5-15 microliters of the material I mentioned above to my larvae that have 30-50 microliters of fluid in their body cavity in total. The margin of error during this injection must be very low, and Hamilton syringes provide this.

Other Advantages of Hamilton syringes in my work are replaceable needles. It is a great advantage that spare needles can be supplied according to their gauge (gauge) and tip structures. Being able to choose the needle diameter and tip structure according to the needs of my work provides great flexibility in my experiments. Especially when working with plant extracts, it is a great advantage that the tips clogged due to particles can be easily opened and that the tips can be easily changed. Fully autoclavable syringes maintain their function without leaking after this process.

Selectable syringe needle diameter is critical in determining the Encapsulation immune response. For the encapsulation experiment, silica beads with a diameter between 40-120 microns should be taken into the injector chamber. At the same time, the larva is damaged when the needle diameter is too large. Needle options that balance these two situations are available on Hamilton syringes (22 gauge).

In summary, in invertebrate model organisms; I prefer Hamilton syringes in my studies because of the low margin of error, no dead volume, and customizable tip options for innate immunity or survival etc. studies.

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