• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.529-539
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• 2021

The beet armyworm, Spodoptera exigua, is a serious insect pest infesting various vegetable crops. Two infectious insect viruses, baculovirus and iflavirus, are known to induce epizootics in S. exigua populations. Indeed, some laboratory colonies have appeared to be covertly infected by these viruses. Diagnostic PCR tests detected two different viruses: Spodoptera exigua multiple nucleopolyhedrosis virus (SeMNPV) and iflaviruses (SeIfV1 and SeIfV2). Viral extract from dead larvae of S. exigua could infect Sf9 cells and produce occlusion bodies (OBs). Feeding OBs to asymptomatic larvae of S. exigua caused significant viral disease. Interestingly, both SeIfV1 and SeIfV2 increased their titers at late larval stages. Sterilization of laid eggs with 1% sodium hypochloride significantly reduced SeMNPV titers and increased larval survival rate. Double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) specific to SeIfV1 or SeIfV2 significantly reduced viral titers and increased larval survival rate. To continuously feed dsRNA, a recombinant Escherichia coli HT115 expressing SeIfV1-dsRNA was constructed with an L4440 expression vector. Adding this recombinant E. coli to the artificial diet significantly reduced the SeIfV1 titer and increased larval survival. These results indicate that laboratory colony collapse of S. exigua is induced by multiple viral infections. In addition, either suppression of SeMNPV or SeIfV infection significantly increased larval survival, suggesting a cooperative pathogenicity between baculovirus and iflavirus against S. exigua.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.12
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• pp.1109-1117
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• 2020

In order to verify whether Zophobas atratus is an edible insect, the nutrients and harmful substances of Z. atratus larvae reared with an artificial diet (AD) and wheat bran (WB) were compared and analyzed. Based on dry weight, the crude protein content of Z. atratus larvae reared with an AD was 62.4%, 1.4 times higher than that of those reared with WB (45.2%). The crude fat content was 20.5% in the AD group, 2.3 times less than in the WB group (46.3%). The leucine content was 1.4 times higher in the AD group (4.2%) than in the WB group (3.0%). The glutamic acid content of nonessential amino acids was 1.3 times higher in the AD group (7.0%) than in the WB group (5.3%). The oleic acid content was 1.4 times higher in the WB group (37.0%) than in the AD group (26.7%). The potassium content was 1.1 times higher in the AD group (975.9 mg/100 g) than in the WB group (872.9 mg/100 g). According to the results of the toxic substances analysis, the lead and cadmium levels of the WB and AD groups were standard for edible insects. Pathogenic microorganisms, such as E. coli and salmonella, were not detected in either group. According to the results of the present analysis of nutrition and harmful substances, Z. atratus larvae raised on an AD are safe and contain various nutrients. Therefore, such larvae could be useful sources of food and feed.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.764-772
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• 2003

Two genetic constructs used to confer improved agronomic characteristics, namely herbicide tolerance (HT) in maize and soyabean and insect resistance (Bt) in maize, are considered in respect of feeding to farm livestock, animal performance and the nutritional value and safety of animal products. A review of nucleic acid (DNA) and protein digestion in farm livestock concludes that the frequency of intact transgenic DNA and proteins of GM and non-GM crops being absorbed is minimal/non existent, although there is some evidence of the presence of short fragments of rubisco DNA of non-GM soya in animal tissues. It has been established that feed processing (especially heat) prior to feeding causes significant disruption of plant DNA. Studies with ruminant and non-ruminant farm livestock offered GM feeds demonstrated that animal performance and product composition are unaffected and that there is no evidence of transgenic DNA or proteins of current GM in the products of animals consuming such feeds. On this evidence, current HT and Bt constructs represent no threat to the health of animals, or humans consuming the products of such animals. However as new GM constructs become available it will be necessary to subject these to rigorous evaluation.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.521-540
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• 2019

This review summarizes the current trends related to insect as food resources among consumers, industry, and academia. In Western societies, edible insects have a greater potential as animal feed than as human food because of cultural biases associated with harmful insects, although the abundant characteristics of edible insects should benefit human health. Nevertheless, many countries in Asia, Oceania, Africa, and Latin America utilize insects as a major protein source. Using insects can potentially solve problems related to the conventional food-supply chain, including global water, land, and energy deficits. Academic, industry, and government-led efforts have attempted to reduce negative perceptions of insects through developing palatable processing methods, as well as providing descriptions of health benefits and explaining the necessity of reducing reliance on other food sources. Our overview reveals that entomophagy is experiencing a steady increase worldwide, despite its unfamiliarity to the consumers influenced by Western eating habits.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.31 no.12
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• pp.1094-1099
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• 2021

Hermetia illucens (Black soldier fly) is attracting attention as an environmental purification insect because it can supply a wide range of by-products of the agricultural food industry. Also, it has a potential feed for fish, birds, and pets due to a short life cycle and excellent nutritional components. Several pharmacological effects, including antimicrobial, of H. illucens have been reported. However, no study has focused on antiobesity effects of ethanol extract of H. illucens. In this study, we aimed to assess the anti-obesity effects of ethanol extract of H. illucens larvae (HIE) through inhibition of differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into adipocytes. The amount of lipid accumulated in adipocytes was measured by oil red-O staining, and the inhibitory effect on adipogenesis was confirmed. The expression levels of factors related to adipocyte differentiation and fat synthesis were determined using Western blot analysis. Lipid droplet formation in adipocytes was remarkably inhibited by HIE. In addition, treatment with 400 ㎍/ml of HIE significantly reduced the expression levels of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein α-transcription factors involved in adipocyte differentiation. Therefore, the results of this study indicate that HIE is a potential anti-obesity agent because it inhibits adipocyte differentiation.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.4
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• pp.605-614
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• 2022

Two major problems currently threaten human survival on Earth: climate change and the rapid aging of the population in developed countries. Climate change is a result of the increase in greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere due to the increase in the use of fossil fuels owing to economic and transportation development. The rapid increase in the age of the population is a result of the rise in life expectancy due to the development of biomedical science and technology and the improvement of personal hygiene in developed countries. To avoid irreversible global climate change, it is necessary to quickly transition from the current fossil fuel-based economy to a zero-carbon renewable energy-based economy that does not emit GHGs. To achieve this goal, the dairy and livestock industry, which generates the most GHGs in the agricultural sector, must transition to using low-carbon emission production methods while simultaneously increasing consumers' preference for low-carbon diets. Although 77% of currently available arable land globally is used to produce livestock feed, only 37% and 18% of the proteins and calories that humans consume come from dairy and livestock farming and industry. Therefore, using edible insects as a protein source represents a good alternative, as it generates less GHG and reduces water consumption and breeding space while ensuring a higher feed conversion rate than that of livestock. Additionally, utilizing the functionality of medicinal insects, such as silkworms, which have been proven to have certain health enhancement effects, it is possible to develop functional foods that can prevent or delay the onset of currently incurable degenerative diseases that occur more frequently in the elderly. Insects are among the first animals to have appeared on Earth, and regardless of whether humans survive, they will continue to adapt, evolve, and thrive. Therefore, the use of various edible and medicinal insects, including silkworms, in industry will provide an important foundation for human survival and prosperity on Earth in the near future by resolving the current two major problems.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.333-336
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• 2008

During the excavation to find ancient rice seeds from the peat layer (12,500-14,800 bp based on 14 dating samples) of Soro-ri, Cheongwon-gun near Cheongju city, we found not only old rice seeds, but also other organic materials including insect fossil skeletons. Although no complete specimen was found in this study, some body parts were diagnotic enough for identifying species. Among the identified insect fossils, two species were successfully identified based on their characteristic forewing morphologies, e.g., cross-ridges on forewing. The two identified species, Plateumaris sericea and Donacia flemola or near, belong to Donaciinae in Chrysomelidae, and their larvae are known to feed on the root of wetland plants, mainly in Poaceae or Cyperaceae. Such finding proved that a wetland environment was maintained in Soro-ri at that time, and was suitable for such insects to survive. Therefore, evidence from the fossilized rice seeds, together with these insect fossils, clearly proved that the environment at that time was suitable for rice, a common Poaceae species, growing.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.75-78
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• 2015

The white-spotted chafer, Protaetia brevitarsis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), is an economically important insect in Korea. Traditionally, it has been regarded as a medicine for preventing liver-related diseases and suppressing liver cancer. Recently, this beetle was enlisted as a temporal food ingredient by Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. Therefore, this beetle is focused as a one of the important insects that are commercially reared and sold in Korea. As the economic importance of this beetle is growing, the suitable rearing conditions are needed for more detailed investigation. In this study, we compared three temperature conditions and two food additives, rice chaff and soybean cake, for its effects on the body weight change of third instar larvae of P. brevitarsis. Temperature is a major environmental factor that has tremendous effects on rearing insects. In additions, rice chaff and soybean cake are byproducts of other agricultural activities. Therefore, it is easy to get, and the price is comparatively low. However, they still have meaningful amount of nutrients. With four different kinds of feed and three temperature conditions on the third instar larvae of beetles, the body weight change was tracked for 14 wk. We concluded that 27.5℃ is the optimal temperature to rear the third instar larvae among three temperatures (25, 27.5, and 30℃). Among four different feeds, conventional fermented oak saw dust with rice chaff and soybean cake was the best feed for larval weight gain during 14 wk. However, feed with soybean cake at 30 ℃ was the best condition for rearing P. brevitarsis larvae when temperatures and feeds were compared at the same time.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.145-155
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• 2007

Mulberry (Morus spp.) is an economically important tree crop being cultivated in India, China and other sericulturally important countries for its foliage to feed the silk producing insect Bombyx mori L. Genetic improvements of mulberry lag behind to the same in many other economically less important crops due to the complexity of its genetics, the breeding behavior, and the lack of basic information on factors governing important agronomic traits. In this review, the general usage and advantages of different molecular markers including isoenzymes, RFLPs, RAPDs, ISSRs, SSRs, AFLPs and SNPs are described to enlighten their applicability in mulberry genetic improvement programs. Application of DNA markers in germplasm characterization, construction of genetic linkage maps, QTL identification and in marker-assisted selection was also described along with its present status and future prospects.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2006.11a
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• pp.87-94
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• 2006

Genetically modified (CM) crops with agricultural traits including herbicide resistance and insect tolerance have been commercialized. The safety testing strategies conducted for food and feed ingredients from GM crops differ from those applied to food ingredients in that they are conducted to demonstrate similarity between the CM food and the appropriate non-CM comparator rather than for quantitative risk assessment. However, there are similarities in the design and conduct of the safety assessment studies between these types of studies that should be readily recognized by toxicologists. The current presentation reviews some of the basic principles of safety assessment of typical dietary ingredients and compares and contrasts them with the testing strategies applied to CM foods and products obtained from them.