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    Hemocytes: Central drivers of antimicrobial peptide expression and immune proteins in both cellular and humoral responses of Galleria mellonella
    (Wiley, 2025) Kaya, Serhat; Genc, Tulay Turgut; Gunay, Melih
    Insects have an effective innate immune system that includes both cellular and humoral responses for defense against pathogens. Antimicrobial peptides like gallerimycin and galiomycin, as well as immune proteins like hemolin, are the important effectors of the humoral immune response in Galleria mellonella L. (Lepidoptera:Pyralidae). Encapsulation, on the contrary, is one of the important cellular immune responses. This study investigated the tissue-specific expression of an immune effector in G. mellonella larvae after injection with Candida albicans (C.P. Robin) (Ascomycota: Debaryomycetaceae) and silica beads. The gene expression of gallerimycin, galiomycin, and hemolin was examined in total larvae, hemocytes, and fat bodies at 4 and 24 h following injection. Our findings indicate that hemocytes serve as the main site for AMP synthesis, especially after bead injection, implying a more effective immune recognition mechanism relative to pathogen injection. Furthermore, we detected higher hemolin expression in hemocytes than fat tissue, indicating its role in hemocyte-mediated immune responses. Encapsulation rates were also evaluated in bead-injected larvae. At 4 h post-injection, most beads were weakly encapsulated, whereas by 24 h, the majority were strongly encapsulated, reflecting a time-dependent maturation of the immune response. These results show that G. mellonella has a unique immune system, with hemocytes playing a key role in regulating AMP production and immune responses during infection. This study provides deeper insights into the molecular and cellular mechanisms of insect immunity, positioning G. mellonella as a valuable model for studying host-pathogen interactions.
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    Immune activation by Ziziphus jujuba in Galleria mellonella: challenge-specific and temporal dynamics of humoral immune responses
    (Cambridge Univ Press, 2026) Genc, Tulay Turgut; Kaya, Serhat; Gunay, Melih
    The immunomodulatory effects of Ziziphus jujuba Mill. fruit extracts were investigated using Galleria mellonella as an insect immune model. The expression of antimicrobial peptides, hemolin, phenoloxidase genes (PO-I and PO-II), and enzyme activity was measured in response to Candida albicans, silica beads, and Z. jujuba fruit extract. Responses were found to be stimulus- and time-dependent. Gallerimycin and galiomycin, key antimicrobial peptides, exhibited distinct expression patterns, with gallerimycin showing a more pronounced response to pathogens and beads. The Z. jujuba extract stimulated an early but balanced immune activation, likely due to its bioactive compounds. Hemolin expression varied between larvae and haemocytes depending on the type and duration of the challenge, supporting its role in immune recognition and opsonisation. Phenoloxidase activity and gene expression were also enhanced, supporting their role in promoting melanisation processes. Docking analyses suggested that hemolin contributes to phenoloxidase activation by stabilising PO-I and interacting with the phenoloxidase-activating factor-1-like protein (PAP1). The findings suggest that Z. jujuba extract effectively modulates immune responses, promoting enhanced protection while maintaining immune balance. GC-MS analysis revealed multiple bioactive compounds potentially contributing to immune modulation. This study highlights the significant immunomodulatory effects of Z. jujuba fruit extract on the immune system of G. mellonella. The findings suggest its potential as a natural immunostimulant and warrant further investigation of the underlying molecular mechanisms and bioactive components.
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    Internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequence-based identification of yeast biota on pomegranate surface and determination of extracellular enzyme profile
    (Univ Sebelas Maret, 2020) Genc, Tulay Turgut; Gunay, Melih
    Yeasts are the most significant organisms to produce fermented products from different types of fruits such as grape, strawberry and pomegranate. The native yeasts on these fruits contribute to beverages' quality and aroma during fermentation. Pomegranate is used in fruit juice and wine production because of high antioxidant characteristic. In order to determine yeast microbiota on the pomegranate fruits collected from Gallipoli (Gelibolu), Canakkale-Turkey, ITS-5.8S rDNA gene region have been utilized. Also, phylogenetic relationships among identified yeast species were assigned by using sequences of ITS-5.8S rDNA gene region. In addition, extracellular enzyme activity of identified yeast strains was detected by using API-ZYM. Kluyveromyces lactis, Aureobasidium pullulans, Hanseniaspora uvarum, Candida zeylanoides, Kwoniella sp., and Metschnikowia pulcherrima and Metschnikowia ziziphicola yeast species were identified on pomegranate surface. Phylogenetic analysis, carried out in ITS-5.8S rDNA gene region of identified yeast strains, revealed the presence of five clades. Kwoniella sp., H. uvarum, M. pulcherrima, and Kl. lactis yeast strains revealed high leucine arylamidase activity. Also valine arylamidase activity was determined in M. pulcherrima and Kl. lactis yeast species. Acid phosphatase activity was determined in H. uvarum and K. lactis yeast species. Uncultured Kwoniella sp. and H. uvarum yeast species displayed high beta-galactosidase and beta-glucosidase activities, respectively.