To investigate the antibacterial activities of blowfly larvae induced by natural infection.
The sterile larvae were mixed in a test tube containing the bacteria E coli which was suspended in phosphate buffered saline (PBS), and incubated at 25 °C for given periods, with sterilized PBS as control group. Then the haemolymph was collected and tested against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. Diameter ring was recorded to indicate the antibacterial activities.
Infected larvae had better antibacterial capacities than sterile larvae. Antibacterial activity peak appeared at 24 hours, and disappeared after 48 hours. The induced haemolymph from the larva possessed stronger antibacterial activity against S aureus than P aeruginosa.
Antibacterial activities of the sterile larvae of blowfly Lucilia sericata could be induced by a natural infection model.