Fig. 1. Galleria mellonella saliva (GmSal) collection and functional study.

A Scheme of saliva collection and application. B–E RAMAN analysis of PE film. B PE film treated with GmSal: 3 applications of 90 min, 30 μl each. The peaks between 1500 and 2400 cm⁻¹ indicate different collective stretching vibrations due to the presence of other organic compounds, sign of PE deterioration (red arrow). Oxidation is indicated between 1600 and 1800 cm⁻¹ (carbonyl group) and 3000–3500 cm⁻¹ (hydroxyl group) (black arrows)⁷⁸. C Control PE film. Brackets indicate the peaks that characterize PE (PE signature), corresponding to the bands at 1061, 1128, 1294, 1440, 2846, and 2880 cm⁻¹. D Overlapping profiles (B and C). E PE film treated with Samia cynthia saliva. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.