MINIstock: Model for INsect Inclusion in sustainable agriculture: USDA-ARS's research approach to advancing insect meal development and inclusion in animal diets.

Animal agriculture is under pressure to increase efficiency, sustainability, and innovation to meet the demands of a rising global population while decreasing adverse environmental effects. Feed cost and availability are 2 of the biggest hurdles to sustainable production. Current diets depend on sources of grain and animal byproduct protein for essential amino acids which have limited sustainability.

Mosquitoes harvested from rice fields as alternative protein ingredient in broiler feed: insights from the first pilot study.

Global population continuous growth and increasing consumers' demands for protein-rich diets have posed sustainability challenges for traditional livestock feed sources. Consequently, exploring alternative and sustainable protein sources has become imperative to address the environmental burden and resource limitations associated with conventional ingredients. With respect to food security assurance, insects have emerged as a promising solution due to their exceptional nutritional profile, rapid reproduction rates, and low environmental impact.

Assessing the feasibility, safety, and nutritional quality of using wild-caught pest flies in animal feed.

Studies have investigated the potential of using farmed insects in animal feeds; however, little research has been done using wild-caught insects for this purpose. Concerns about inadequate quantities collected, environmental impacts, and the spread of pathogens contribute to the preferred utilization of farmed insects. Nevertheless, by harvesting certain pest species from intensified agricultural operations, producers could provide their animals with affordable and sustainable protein sources while also reducing pest populations.

The Genome of the Yellow Mealworm, : It's Bigger Than You Think.

Background: Insects are a sustainable source of protein for human food and animal feed. We present a genome assembly, CRISPR gene editing, and life stage-specific transcriptomes for the yellow mealworm, , one of the most intensively farmed insects worldwide.

Methods: Long and short reads and long-range data were obtained from a male pupa.

Genome and Genetic Engineering of the House Cricket (): A Resource for Sustainable Agriculture.

The house cricket, , is one of the most farmed insects worldwide and the foundation of an emerging industry using insects as a sustainable food source. Edible insects present a promising alternative for protein production amid a plethora of reports on climate change and biodiversity loss largely driven by agriculture. As with other crops, genetic resources are needed to improve crickets for food and other applications.

Sequencing to identify pathogens in : Implications in insects farmed for food and feed.

Introduction: The farmed insect industry is increasing in number and size to meet the demand for sustainably-produced protein. Larger insect farms are prone to losses due to pathogens, and more information is needed regarding the health of insects reared for food and feed.

Methods: In this study, high throughput sequencing was used to identify potential pathogens in a colony of (yellow mealworm, Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) that exhibited increased mortality in immature stages with eventual colony collapse.

The Genome of (Fab.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae): Adaptation for Success.

The lesser grain borer, (F.) (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae), is a major global pest of cereal grains. Infestations are difficult to control as larvae feed inside grain kernels, and many populations are resistant to both contact insecticides and fumigants.

Active and Covert Infections of Cricket Iridovirus and Densovirus in Reared Crickets.

Interest in developing food, feed, and other useful products from farmed insects has gained remarkable momentum in the past decade. Crickets are an especially popular group of farmed insects due to their nutritional quality, ease of rearing, and utility. However, production of crickets as an emerging commodity has been severely impacted by entomopathogenic infections, about which we know little.

Effective Degradation of Gluten and Its Fragments by Gluten-Specific Peptidases: A Review on Application for the Treatment of Patients with Gluten Sensitivity.

To date, there is no effective treatment for celiac disease (CD, gluten enteropathy), an autoimmune disease caused by gluten-containing food. Celiac patients are supported by a strict gluten-free diet (GFD). However, in some cases GFD does not negate gluten-induced symptoms.

The dataset of predicted trypsin serine peptidases and their inactive homologs in transcriptomes.

is an important coleopteran model insect and agricultural pest from the Tenebrionidae family. We used RNA-Seq transcriptome data from to annotate trypsin-like sequences from the chymotrypsin S1 family of serine peptidases, including sequences of active serine peptidases (SerP) and their inactive homologs (SerPH) in transcriptomes. A total of 63 S1 family tryspin-like serine peptidase sequences were assembled.

Variants in the Mitochondrial Genome Sequence of (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Bostrycidae).

The lesser grain borer, , is a coleopteran pest of stored grains and is mainly controlled by phosphine fumigation, but the increase in phosphine-resistant populations threatens efficacy. Some phosphine-resistant insects have reduced respiration, and thus studying the mitochondrial genome may provide additional information regarding resistance. Genomic DNA from an inbred laboratory strain of was extracted and sequenced with both short (Illumina) and long (Pacific Biosciences) read technologies for whole genome sequence assembly and annotation.

New Glutamine-Containing Substrates for the Assay of Cysteine Peptidases From the C1 Papain Family.

New substrates with glutamine in the P1-position are introduced for the assay of peptidases from the C1 papain family, with a general formula of Glp-Phe-Gln-X, where Glp is pyroglutamyl and X is pNA (-nitroanilide) or AMC (4-amino-7-methylcoumaride). The substrates have a simple structure, and C1 cysteine peptidases of various origins cleave them with high efficiency. The main advantage of the substrates is their selectivity for cysteine peptidases of the C1 family.

Sawfly Genomes Reveal Evolutionary Acquisitions That Fostered the Mega-Radiation of Parasitoid and Eusocial Hymenoptera.

The tremendous diversity of Hymenoptera is commonly attributed to the evolution of parasitoidism in the last common ancestor of parasitoid sawflies (Orussidae) and wasp-waisted Hymenoptera (Apocrita). However, Apocrita and Orussidae differ dramatically in their species richness, indicating that the diversification of Apocrita was promoted by additional traits. These traits have remained elusive due to a paucity of sawfly genome sequences, in particular those of parasitoid sawflies.

Human proline specific peptidases: A comprehensive analysis.

Background: Proline specific peptidases (PSPs) are a unique group of enzymes that specifically cleave bonds formed by a proline residue. The study of PSPs is important due to their role in the maturation and degradation of peptide hormones and neuropeptides. In addition, changes in the activity of PSPs can result in pathological conditions, including various types of cancer.

Brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), genome: putative underpinnings of polyphagy, insecticide resistance potential and biology of a top worldwide pest.

Background: Halyomorpha halys (Stål), the brown marmorated stink bug, is a highly invasive insect species due in part to its exceptionally high levels of polyphagy. This species is also a nuisance due to overwintering in human-made structures. It has caused significant agricultural losses in recent years along the Atlantic seaboard of North America and in continental Europe.

Transcriptome analysis of life stages of the house cricket, Acheta domesticus, to improve insect crop production.

To develop genetic resources for the improvement of insects as food, we sequenced transcripts from embryos, one-day hatchlings, three nymphal stages, and male and female adults of the house cricket, Acheta domesticus. A draft transcriptome was assembled from more than 138 million sequences combined from all life stages and sexes. The draft transcriptome assembly contained 45,866 contigs, and more than half were similar to sequences at NCBI (e value < e).

RNAiSeq: How to See the Big Picture.

Targeting genes RNA interference (RNAi) has become a successful method to reduce pest populations. Ideally, the expression of a gene critical for a life function in the insect is targeted by specific dsRNA, spray or oral delivery. Experts have developed working guidelines in the development and regulation of RNAi as a pesticide.

Optimized Extraction of Insect Genomic DNA for Long-Read Sequencing.

Long-read sequencing technologies continue to increase the length of reads, and at present can average read lengths of >20 kb up to 60-80 kb. Now the challenge is to extract genomic DNA of sufficient fragment size and quality to support longer read lengths. We developed a successful method to consistently obtain high-quality long genomic DNA from insects.

Gene expression in life stages: Identifying a species-specific target for pest control applications.

The red flour beetle, , is a major agricultural pest of post-harvest products and stored grain. Control of in stored products and grain is primarily by fumigants and sprays, but insecticide resistance is a major problem, and new control strategies are needed. is a genetic model for coleopterans, and the reference genome can be used for discovery of candidate gene targets for molecular-based control, such as RNA interference.

Effects of targeting eye color in Tenebrio molitor through RNA interference of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (vermilion): Implications for insect farming.

The gene vermilion encodes tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase, part of the ommochrome pathway, and is responsible for the dark pigmented eyes in some insects, including beetles. Using RNA interference, we targeted the vermilion gene ortholog in embryos and pupae of the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor, resulting in larvae and adults, respectively, that lacked eye pigment. RNA-Seq was used to analyze the impact of vermilion-specific RNA interference on gene expression.

Direct detection of cysteine peptidases for MALDI-TOF MS analysis using fluorogenic substrates.

A method is described for the direct detection of unstable cysteine peptidase activity in polyacrylamide gels after native electrophoresis using new selective fluorogenic peptide substrates, pyroglutamyl-phenylalanyl-alanyl-4-amino-7-methylcoumaride (Glp-Phe-Ala-AMC) and pyroglutamyl-phenylalanyl-alanyl-4-amino-7-trifluoromethyl-coumaride (Glp-Phe-Ala-AFC). The detection limit of the model enzyme papain was 17 pmol (0.29 μg) for Glp-Phe-Ala-AMC and 43 pmol (0.

The genome of the water strider Gerris buenoi reveals expansions of gene repertoires associated with adaptations to life on the water.

Background: Having conquered water surfaces worldwide, the semi-aquatic bugs occupy ponds, streams, lakes, mangroves, and even open oceans. The diversity of this group has inspired a range of scientific studies from ecology and evolution to developmental genetics and hydrodynamics of fluid locomotion. However, the lack of a representative water strider genome hinders our ability to more thoroughly investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the processes of adaptation and diversification within this group.

Comparative cytogenetics and derived phylogenic relationship among grain weevils (Coleoptera, Curculionidae, Dryophthorinae).

Cytogenetic characteristics and genome size are powerful tools for species characterization and identification of cryptic species, providing critical insights into phylogenetic and evolutionary relationships. Linnaeus, 1758 grain weevils can benefit from such tools as key pest species of stored products and also as sources of archeological information on human history and past urban environments. Moreover, the phylogenetic relationship among these weevil species remains controversial and is largely based on single DNA fragment analyses.

Analysis of cross-resistance to Vip3 proteins in eight insect colonies, from four insect species, selected for resistance to Bacillus thuringiensis insecticidal proteins.

Bacillus thuringiensis Vip3 proteins are synthesized and secreted during the vegetative growth phase. They are activated by gut proteases, recognize and bind to midgut receptors, form pores and lyse cells. We tested the susceptibility to Vip3Aa and Vip3Ca of Cry1A-, Cry2A-, Dipel- and Vip3-resistant insect colonies from different species to determine whether resistance to other insecticidal proteins confers cross-resistance to Vip3 proteins.

Metabolic pathway interruption: CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase in Tribolium castaneum.

The Tribolium castaneum vermilion gene encodes tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase, a pivotal enzyme in the ommochrome pathway that is required for proper pigmentation of the eye. A white-eyed mutant strain of T. castaneum, vermilion (v), lacks eye pigmentation due to a deletion of unknown size that removes all but the 3'-end of the vermilion gene.