Comparison of the dietary and tissue sterols of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella (L)

The neutral sterols of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella were determined and compared to the sterols isolated from the used brood comb upon which the insects were reared. Analysis by gas-liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry revealed that used brood comb contained primarily 28- and 29-carbon sterols, with cholesterol accounting for less than 1% of the total sterols detected. This differed considerably from the insect, where cholesterol comprised over 85% of the tissue sterols. These results indicate the wax moth is able to convert dietary 24-alkylsterols to cholesterol. The potential for using inhibitors of sterol metabolism to control G mellonella is discussed

Isolation and identification of linoleic acid as an antimicrobial agent from the chalkbrood fungus, Ascosphaera apis

Ethanol extracts of mixtures of mycelia and spores of Ascosphaera apis, the causative agent of chalkbrood disease in honey bee, was shown to contain an antimicrobial compound active against Bacillus larvae, the causative agent of American foulbrood disease. Purification by high performance liquid chromatography and analysis by mass spectrometry identified the active compound as 9,12-octadecadienoic acid (linoleic acid)