Acidic polysaccharide from the edible insect Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis activates antiviral immunity to suppress norovirus infection.

Edible insects are gaining attention as potential nutraceutical sources with immunomodulatory properties. This study reports purification and structural characterization of polysaccharides from Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae (PBSL) with antiviral activity against murine norovirus. Four polysaccharide fractions purified from PBSL water extracts exhibited varying molecular weights (458.

Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis larvae ethanol extract inhibits RANKL-stimulated osteoclastogenesis and ameliorates bone loss in ovariectomized mice.

Modulation of osteoclast formation could be a therapeutic target for inhibiting pathological bone destruction. The receptor activator of nuclear factor (NF)-κB ligand (RANKL) is known to be an essential factor in osteoclast differentiation and activation inducers. However, whether Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis (P.

Clinical application of protein-enhanced diet using mealworms in patients undergoing hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery.

Objective: Patients with or without cancers who undergo major gastrointestinal surgery experience malnutrition owing to their catabolic status during the postoperative period. In this study, we evaluated the effect of the clinical application of protein-enhanced diet using mealworms in patients who underwent hepato-pancreato-biliary surgeries.

Methods: This study was designed as a prospective, two-armed, and double-blinded phase III study.

Antitumorigenic effect of insect-derived peptide poecilocorisin-1 in human skin cancer cells through regulation of Sp1 transcription factor.

Malignant melanoma is highly resistant to conventional treatments and is one of the most aggressive types of skin cancers. Conventional cancer treatments are limited due to drug resistance, tumor selectivity, and solubility. Therefore, new treatments with fewer side effects and excellent effects should be developed.

Anticancer Activity of Periplanetasin-5, an Antimicrobial Peptide from the Cockroach .

Cockroaches live in places where various pathogens exist and thus are more likely to use antimicrobial compounds to defend against pathogen intrusions. We previously performed an in silico analysis of the transcriptome and detected periplanetasin-5 using an in silico antimicrobial peptide prediction method. In this study, we investigated whether periplanetasin-5 has anticancer activity against the human leukemia cell line K562.

dinF Elicits Nitric Oxide Signaling Induced by Periplanetasin-4 from American Cockroach in Escherichia coli.

Modern antibiotics have been developed with the aim of destroying cellular function; however, the risk of antibiotic-resistance is increasing continuously. As a result, antimicrobial peptide (AMP) is considered a novel strategy to substitute traditional drugs. This study focused on revealing the antibacterial mechanism(s) of periplanetasn-4, an AMP identified from Cockroach.

Antiseptic effect of antimicrobial peptide psacotheasin 2 derived from the yellow-spotted longicorn beetle (Psacothea hilaris).

Given the challenges posed by antibiotic resistant microbes and the high mortality rate associated with sepsis, there is an urgent need to develop novel peptide antibiotics that exhibit both antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities. Herein, we evaluated antimicrobial activity and anti-inflammatory activity of psacotheasin 2, one of the antimicrobial peptide candidates identified previously using an in silico analysis on the transcriptome of Psacothea hilaris. In addition to exhibiting antimicrobial activities against microorganisms without inducing hemolysis, psacotheasin 2 also decreased the nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced Raw264.

The insect peptide CopA3 blocks programmed cell death by directly binding caspases and inhibiting their proteolytic activation.

Caspases play essential roles in apoptotic processes, which is necessary for cellular homeostasis. However, over-activation of caspases and subsequent excessive apoptosis is considered a main cause of Parkinson's disease and liver diseases. Here, we found that the insect-derived peptide, CopA3, which has shown antiapoptotic effects in many apoptosis models, directly binds to caspases.

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Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) have been used to diminish the deleterious effects associated with aging by preventing the destruction of cartilage, bone, discs, and skin. The objective of this study was to evaluate the anti-aging effect of a newly prepared GAG derived from bumblebee () queen (BTQG, 10 mg/kg). (Gb, cricket) GAG (GbG, 10 mg/kg) or glucosamine sulfate (GS) was used as a positive control.

Periplanetasin-2 Enhances the Antibacterial Properties of Vancomycin or Chloramphenicol in .

Periplanetasin-2 from cockroach exhibits broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. The underlying antibacterial mechanisms rely on the stimulation of reactive oxygen species overproduction to induce apoptotic cell death. A promising strategy to increase the bioavailability of periplanetasin-2 involves reducing the dose through combination therapy with other antibacterials that show synergistic effects.

Deciphering Novel Antimicrobial Peptides from the Transcriptome of .

An insect's innate immune system is the front line of defense against many invading microorganisms. One of the important components of this defense system is antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). Papiliocin is a well-studied antimicrobial peptide (AMP) isolated from the swallowtail butterfly, , and it was previously reported to be effective against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi, particularly in drug resistant Gram-negative bacteria.

Transcriptome Analysis of : De Novo Assembly and Antimicrobial Peptide Prediction.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are the frontline innate defense system evolutionarily preserved in insects to combat invading pathogens. These AMPs could serve as an alternative to classical antibiotics to overcome the burden of treating multidrug resistant bacteria. Psacotheasin, a knottin type AMP was isolated from and shown to exhibit antimicrobial activity, especially against fungi through apoptosis mediated cell death.

De novo assembly and functional annotation of the Red-striped golden stink bug (Poecilocoris lewisi) transcriptome.

Insect antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have a wide range of functions and potential applications, and have recently attracted attention as alternative foods and medicines for humans. Our study performed transcriptome analysis to explore the potential of the red-striped golden stink bug (Poecilocoris lewisi), and as a result, we have discovered new features of P. lewisi that have not been identified.

Subacute Oral Toxicity Evaluation of Freeze-Dried Powder of .

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 (fdLM), known to contain rich proteins as well as fatty acids.

Anti-diabetic activity of field cricket glycosaminoglycan by ameliorating oxidative stress.

Background: Field cricket (Gryllus bimaculatus) is newly emerged as an edible insect in several countries. Anti-inflammatory effect of glycosaminoglycan derived from this cricket on chronic disease animal model such as diabetic mouse has not been fully investigated yet. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the anti-oxidative effect of such glycosaminoglycan on diabetic mouse.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Antimicrobial Peptide Periplanetasin-5 Derived from the Cockroach .

Previously, we performed an analysis of the transcriptome. Antimicrobial peptide candidates were selected using an antimicrobial peptide prediction method. It was found that periplanetasin-5 had antimicrobial activity against yeast and grampositive and gram-negative bacteria.

Protective Effect of Tetrahydroquinolines from the Edible Insect on LPS-Induced Vascular Inflammatory Responses.

The larva of (family Scarabaeidae) is an edible insect that is registered in the Korean Food Standards Codex as a food resource. The chemical study on the larvae of resulted in the isolation of three new tetrahydroquinolines, allomyrinaines A-C (-), one new dopamine derivative, allomyrinamide A (), and four known compounds (-). The structures were elucidated on the basis of 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and MS spectroscopic data analysis.

Intracellular synthesis of gold nanoparticles by for delivery of peptide CopA3 and ginsenoside and anti-inflammatory effect on lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages.

Probiotic Gluconacetobacter strains are intestinal microbes with beneficial effects on human health. Recently, researchers have used these strains to biosynthesize metal and non-metal nanoparticles for treating various chronic diseases. Despite their importance in nanotechnology, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) biosynthesized by Gluconacetobacter species have not been clearly identified for treating inflammation and inflammation-associated diseases.

Analogs of Periplanetasin-4 Exhibit Deteriorated Membrane-Targeted Action.

Periplanetasin-4 is an antimicrobial peptide with 13 amino acids identified in cockroaches. It has been reported to induce fungal cell death by apoptosis and membrane-targeted action. Analogs were designed by substituting arginine residues to modify the electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions accordingly and explore the effect of periplanetasin-4 through the increase of net charge and the decrease of hydrophobicity.

(±)-Kituramides A and B, pairs of enantiomeric dopamine dimers from the two-spotted cricket Gryllus bimaculatus.

Two-spotted cricket Gryllus bimaculatus is one of many cricket species, and it is widely used as a food source for insectivorous animals. Moreover, this species is one of the edible insects approved by the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). (±)-Kituramides A (1) and B (2), which are pairs of novel enantiomeric dopamine dimers possessing a formamide group, were isolated from the two-spotted cricket, together with four other known biosynthetically related compounds (3-6).