Genetically Engineered Moths Offer Ethical Breakthrough in Infection Research

University of Exeter scientists have created the world's first genetically engineered wax moths, a development that could drastically reduce the use of mice and rats in medical testing.

These "sensor moths" are specifically designed to help combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR), currently one of the most significant threats to global human health. By adapting genetic tools originally used for fruit flies—including CRISPR-Cas9—researchers produced moth larvae that glow when responding to infection or antibiotics. Unlike many other insect models, wax moths thrive at the human body temperature of 37°C and possess immune cells that react to pathogens like Staphylococcus aureus in a manner remarkably similar to mammals, providing a realistic "living window" into how diseases progress.

This scientific leap offers a faster, more scalable, and ethically sustainable alternative to traditional rodent models. In the United Kingdom alone, approximately 100,000 mice are used annually for infection research; the Exeter team estimates that replacing even 10 percent of these studies with their engineered moths could spare over 10,000 rodents each year. To accelerate global adoption, the researchers have made their methods openly available through the Galleria Mellonella Research Centre, supporting dozens of research groups worldwide in the shift toward more ethical science.

For more details, read the news article on the University of Exeter News.