Locusts as models for studying brain diseases and behaviour

Two examples illustrate the use of locusts as models for the study of brain disease and behaviour. First, immune challenge induces sickness behaviour in locusts: immune challenge with laminarin induces anorexia, paralleling phenomena seen in other animals including mammals. Laminarin-induced anorexia in locusts can be blocked by Mianserin, suggesting the involvement of serotonergic receptors. Second, the blood-brain barrier in locusts can be used to study virulence factors in Escherichia coli K1, one of the causative agents of bacterial meningitis in humans: two of the known virulence determinants in mammals, OmpA and CNF1, are also essential for invasion of the locust CNS.