• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.8
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• pp.587-592
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• 2008

Cotesia vestalis is an endoparasitoid of Plutella xylostella larvae and injects a polydnavirus (CvBV) into its host during oviposition. In this report we characterize the gene, CvBV3307, and its products. CvBV3307 is located on segment S33 of the CvBV genome, is 517 bp, and encodes a putative protein of 122 amino acids, including a serine-rich region. The expression pattern of CvBV3307 in parasitized larvae and the subcellular localization of CvBV3307 only in granulocytes indicated that it might be involved in early protection of parasitoid eggs from host cellular encapsulation and in manipulating the hormone titer and developmental rhythm of host larvae. Western blot analysis showed that the size of the immunoreactive protein (about 55 kDa) in parasitized hosts at 48 hours post parasitization (h p.p.) is much larger than the predicted molecular weight of 13.6 kDa, which suggests that CvBV3307 undergoes extensive post-translational modification in hosts.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.702-707
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• 2017

Insects and their extract have been traditionally used as medicinal resources in Asia. Recently, Gryllus bimaculatus and the larva of Tenebrio molitor, Protaetia brevitarsis, and Allomyrina dichotoma were enlisted as general food ingredients by Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety. As the interest in these insects is growing, the detailed investigation is needed for the standardization of suitable and safe rearing techniques. This survey was conducted via personal interviews about edible insect rearing farms in Korea. The basic feed is fermented oak sawdust for P. brevitarsis and A. dichotoma and wheat bran for T. molitor. The various feed additives are blended with each farm's own recipes. The overall growth condition, including sawdust fermentation method, feeding period, and rearing density, varies among the investigated farms. It seems that weight of last instar larva was correlated with the rearing density and duration of the larval period. The heavy metal contents were analyzed after 48 hour starvation and they were very small amount or not detected in investigated insects. We believe that the present data will contribute to develop and standardize the safe rearing techniques of edible insects in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.253-262
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• 2020

BACKGROUND: It has been reported that the nutritional composition of Locusta migratoria (Orthoptera: Acrididae) changes nutrients depending on the host plants. In this study, to confirm whether Locusta migratoria is an edible insect, the nutrients and harmful substances such as heavy metals and pathogens were analyzed and compared according to corn (LC) or wheat (LW) as host plants. METHODS AND RESULTS: All experimental methods mainly referred to AOAC (2004). The content of crude protein per dry weight was 77.3% in (LW), 1.1 times higher than 69.8% in LC. Crude fat was 6.5% in LW, 2.2 times less than LC 14.3%. Alpha-linolenic acid, which has the highest content among unsaturated fatty acids, was 1.2 times higher in LC (39.9%) than LW (32.5%). As a result of analysis of harmful substances by LC and LW, lead and cadmium among heavy metals were at levels suitable for heavy metal standards of edible insects, and arsenic was not detected in both groups. E. coli and Salmonella spp. were not detected in both groups. CONCLUSION: When comparing the overall nutrients composition of LW and LC, it was confirmed nutrients are different depending on the host plants, and the safety was proved.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.737-748
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• 2016

By this time, insect antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been characterized more than 150 peptides since purification of cecropin in the hemolymph of pupae from Hyalophora cecropia in 1980. Therefore, it is considered that insects are good sources of AMP selection. Insect AMPs are small (low molecular weight) and cationic, and amphipathic with variable length, sequence, and structure. They perform a pivotal role on humoral immunity in the insect innate immune system against invading pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. Most of the insect AMPs are induced rapidly in the fat bodies and other specific tissues of insects after septic injury or immune challenge. Then the AMPs subsequently released into the hemolymph to act against microorganisms. These peptides have a broad antimicrobial spectrum against various microbes including anticancer activities. Insect AMPs could be divided into four families based on their structures and sequences. That is the α-helical peptides, cysteine-rich peptides, proline-rich peptides, and glycine-rich peptides/proteins. For instance, cecropins, insect defensins, proline-rich peptides, and attacins are common insect AMPs, but gloverins and moricins have been identified only in lepidopteran species. This review focuses on AMPs from insects and discusses current knowledge and recent progress with potential applications of insect AMPs.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.54 no.5
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• pp.624-633
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• 2021

This study was conducted to determine the supplemental effects of two insect meals, mealworm (MW) and black soldier fly (BSF), with high or low lipid levels in diets, on Pacific white shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei. Sardine and tuna by-product meals were used as the fish meal source in a control (Con) diet. The fish meals were replaced with MW, defatted MW (deMW), BSF or defatted BSF (deBSF), respectively. The shrimp (body weight: 0.47 g) were stocked into 20 acryl tanks (215 L) and fed the diets six times a day. After 45 days of the feeding trial, the shrimp that were fed insect meals had significantly higher phenoloxidase and superoxide dismutase activities than the shrimp fed Con diet. The gene expressions of prophenoloxidase, crustin and penaeidine-3c in shrimp hepatopancrease were also higher in shrimp that were fed the insect diets, regardless of defatting than those in shirmp that were fed Con diet. The survival against Vibrio parahaemolyticus was higher in shrimp that were fed the diets containing defatted insect meals than in shrimp that were fed Con diet. These results indicate that MW and BSF, regardless of lipid levels, could be good protein sources for the enhancement of innate immunity and anti-oxidant capacity of the shrimp.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.73-81
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• 2018

The giant mealworm beetle, Zophobas atratus (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae), is a tropical beetle. As this beetle can be used as an ingredient in animal feed, the effects of brewer's spent grain (BSG) on the development and nutritional value of Z. atratus were investigated. As results, there were no significant differences on the larval survival rate, body weight, and duration at different content of BSG, mixed with conventional feed, wheat bran (WB). Based on these results, BSG can be mixed with wheat bran as a Z. atratus food ingredient without any problems. The nutritional value was compared between 100% wheat bran control and 50% BSG experimental groups. The moisture, crude protein, carbohydrates, and amino acids were 1.1-1.4 times higher in the 50% BSG group. In the BSG group, the linoleic acid content was 1.6 times higher than that in the control group. In the wheat bran group, the oleic acid content was 38.4%, which was 1.3 times higher than that in the BSG group. As minerals, the control and BSG groups showed high potassium and phosphorus contents. In terms of hazardous materials, four heavy metals (lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium) and two microorganisms (Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp.) were not detected. There were no significant differences in developmental characteristics between the wheat bran and BSG mixed groups, and the nutritional values were better in the BSG mixed group. Therefore, BSG can be used as alternative food source for rearing Z. atratus.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.97-102
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• 2024

We introduce a method for preserving yellow mealworm (Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus) larvae for an extended period and show that a high percentage of larvae can survive in good health under low-temperature storage conditions combined with specific diapause termination conditions. Our study revealed that we can regulate important development stages such as pupation, emergence, and larval duration by adjusting these termination conditions. When storing larvae aged 6-8 weeks for 140 days, the storage temperature can be varied based on our goals, giving us control over yellow mealworm production to meet specific demands. To produce adult beetles, storing larvae at 15 ℃ with wheat bran and ending diapause at 30 ℃ resulted in 90% pupation rate, with 60% becoming adults in 21 days. If our aim is larvae production, storing them at 10-12 ℃ with wheat bran and ending diapause at 25-30 ℃ allows the larvae to reach a suitable weight for processing. This straightforward approach ensures long-term storage of yellow mealworm larvae and provides a practical way to control their development, allowing efficient mass production tailored to market demands.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.24 no.12
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• pp.135-141
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• 2019

In this study, the "Insect Smart Farm Air Conditioning System" is designed and proposed for the control of breeding environment of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae. The proposed "Insect Smart Farm Air Conditioning System" separates the breeding room from the air conditioning room. It is a system that creates an environment optimized for breeding and distributes it into a breeding room. When controlling the environment through air-conditioning and humidifiers in insect farms, temperature and humidity vary from part of the breeding room to part. The solution to the problem can be suggested as a solution to the difficulty of producing white-spotted flower mounds of uniform size and weight when selling edible insects. By using the "Insect Smart Farm Air Conditioning System," the temperature difference can be reduced by 6℃ and the humidity difference by 24.7% compared to the environmental control of existing insect farms. The temperature and humidity of different parts of the breeding room were improved. Provide the optimal environment of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae at all times and ensure uniform CO₂ concentration. It can be expected to increase output through annual production and increase income for insect farmers. The proposed "Insecting Smart Farm Air Conditioning System" also controls the set temperature, humidity and CO₂. Environmental control of the breeding of other edible insects and the reproduction of mushrooms that require environmental control in breeding or breeding will also be possible.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1185-1190
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• 2017

Insects are gaining recognition as an alternative source of protein. As a result, more and more domestic farms have begun mass rearing of edible insects. In order to produce high quality insects, studies on the development of safe and nutritious feed sources are needed. Given the cost of rearing insects, agricultural and industrial by-products are good sources for feed. The efficient utilization of these by-products can help in reducing the cost of production and preventing environmental pollution. In the current study, Citrus unshiu peel (CP), soybean curd cake (SCC), soybean oil meal (SOM), and brewers dried grain (BDG) were investigated for their effects on larval growth and development of Protaetia brevitarsis. Interestingly, the feed with 10% SCC increased larval weight by 3.5 times. For the larval period, the group of 10% SCC was significantly shorter than the control. Furthermore, minerals such as Zn, Ca, K, Mg, Na, and P were recorded to be high in 10% SCC. A total of 17 amino acids were present in 10% SCC, of which tyrosine and arginine were predominant. The heavy metal contents were very small amounts or not detected in any of the investigated groups. These findings provided a scientific basis for the utilization of soybean curd cake as a nutritional feed source to promote larval growth and produce quality insects.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.795-812
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• 2020

Novel food sources have enormous potential as nutritional supplements. For instance, edible insects are considered as an alternative food source due to their higher protein content; moreover, they are economically efficient reproducers and have high in nutritional value. In this study, we investigated the toxicity of the freeze-dried powder of Locusta migratoria (fdLM), known to contain rich proteins as well as fatty acids. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the subacute toxicity of fdLM in male and female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. The SD rats were divided into four groups based on the dosage of fdLM administered: dosage of 0 (vehicle control), 750, 1,500, and 3,000 mg/kg/day were administered for 28 days. Toxicological assessments including observations on food consumption, body and organ weights, clinical signs, mortality, ophthalmologic tests, urinalyses, hematologic tests, clinical chemistry tests, gross findings, and histopathology tests were performed. Clinical signs, urinalyses, hematology, serum biochemistry tests, and organ weight examinations revealed no fdLM-related toxicity. The no-observed-adverse-effect level for fdLM was higher than 3,000 mg/kg/day in rats of both sexes; therefore, fdLM, in conclusion, can be considered safe as an edible alternative human and animal food source material.