Abstract
Simple SummaryMicrobial resistance to antibiotics is a constant threat to livestock farming, and unreasonable use of antibiotics has increased the prevalence of infectious diseases in humans and animals. Antimicrobial peptides derived from black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), have great potential as alternatives to antibiotics for prophylaxis and treatment of diseases in animals because they have extensive antimicrobial properties and a lower tendency to induce resistance. Additionally, several studies have shown that Hermetia illucens larvae can participate in a circular economy by digesting organic waste alone and then promoting the growth performance of domestic animals fed the larvae. Therefore, antimicrobial peptides from Hermetia illucens are promising candidate for replacement of antibiotics in livestock farming.Functional antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an important class of effector molecules of innate host immune defense against pathogen invasion. Inability of microorganisms to develop resistance against the majority of AMPs has made them alternatives to antibiotics, contributing to the development of a new generation of antimicrobials. Due to extensive biodiversity, insects are one of the most abundant sources of novel AMPs. Notably, black soldier fly insect (BSF; Hermetia illucens (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)) feeds on decaying substrates and displays a supernormal capacity to survive under adverse conditions in the presence of abundant microorganisms, therefore, BSF is one of the most promising sources for identification of AMPs. However, discovery, functional investigation, and drug development to replace antibiotics with AMPs from Hermetia illucens remain in a preliminary stage. In this review, we provide general information on currently verified AMPs of Hermetia illucens, describe their potential medical value, discuss the mechanism of their synthesis and interactions, and consider the development of bacterial resistance to AMPs in comparison with antibiotics, aiming to provide a candidate for substitution of antibiotics in livestock farming or, to some extent, for blocking the horizontal transfer of resistance genes in the environment, which is beneficial to human and animal welfare.
Highlights
Introduction distributed under the terms andGrowth of the world population and improvement of living standards in developing countries is linked to growing consumption and demand for animal-derived protein sources and increasing requirements for protein desperately need enhanced livestock production [1]
We provide general information on currently verified antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) of Hermetia illucens, describe their potential medical value, discuss the mechanism of their synthesis and interactions, and consider the development of bacterial resistance to AMPs in comparison with antibiotics, aiming to provide a candidate for substitution of antibiotics in livestock farming or, to some extent, for blocking the horizontal transfer of resistance genes in the environment, which is beneficial to human and animal welfare
The present review summarizes the studies on AMPs from Hermetia illucens reported in the databases, such as National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/, accessed on 28 June 2021), antimicrobial peptide database (APD, http://aps.unmc.edu/AP/, accessed on 28 June 2021) and KEGG pathway database, and provides a comprehensive and structured overview by comparing AMPs from black soldier fly insect (BSF)
Summary
Edible insects have been consumed in China for more than two thousand years. Insects are a source of various natural substances that can exploit natural bioactive ingredients in medical, veterinary, and agricultural applications [34,35]. The value of insects in medicinal applications is still being explored; for example, BSF larvae before the prepupal stage can be exploited as a high-quality source of protein and oil and a high-content source of chitin, AMPs, and melanin [44,45]. 4 (DLP2 and DLP4) decreased disseminated bacterial burden by over 95% in the spleen and kidneys, reduced serum levels of proinflammatory cytokine, increased the levels of anti-inflammatory cytokine, and repaired lung and spleen injury. This finding suggests that DLP2 and DLP4 extracted from Hermetia illucens are promising candidates against staphylococcal infections. AMPs from Hermetia illucens may be an important subject of investigations in the biomedical field
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