Impact of Edible Insect Polysaccharides on Mouse Gut Microbiota: A Study on White-Spotted Flower Chafer Larva () and Silkworm Pupa ().

The increasing global population and the environmental consequences of meat consumption have led to the exploration of alternative sources of protein. Edible insects have gained attention as a sustainable and nutritionally rich meat alternative. We investigated the effects of two commonly consumed insects, larva and pupa, on beneficial gut microbiota growth, using whole 16s metagenome sequencing to assess diet-associated changes.

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.

(OC) Extracts Protects ARPE-19 Cells against Oxidative Stress via Activation of the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases (MAPKs)/ Nuclear Factor-κB (NF-κB) Pathway.

(OC) is a well-known edible insect. Several researches on the health benefits of OC consumption have been performed to date; however, their effect on eye health remains largely unknown. This study aimed to assess the protective effects of OC extracts on the oxidative stress on the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cells.

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.

Mealworm Ethanol Extract Enhances Myogenic Differentiation and Alleviates Dexamethasone-Induced Muscle Atrophy in C2C12 Cells.

Aging, and other disease-related muscle disorders are serious health problems. Dexamethasone (DEX), a synthetic glucocorticoid, can trigger skeletal muscle atrophy. This study examined the effects of mealworm ( larva) ethanol extract (TME) on C2C12 myoblast differentiation and DEX-induced myotube atrophy.

The neural basis of heat seeking in a human-infective parasitic worm.

Soil-transmitted parasitic nematodes infect over one billion people and cause devastating morbidity worldwide. Many of these parasites have infective larvae that locate hosts using thermal cues. Here, we identify the thermosensory neurons of the human threadworm Strongyloides stercoralis and show that they display unique functional adaptations that enable the precise encoding of temperatures up to human body temperature.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Antimicrobial Peptide Allomyrinasin Derived from the Dynastid Beetle, .

In a previous work, we performed RNA sequencing of using next generation sequencing and identified several antimicrobial peptide candidates based on transcriptome analysis. Among them, a cationic antimicrobial peptide, allomyrinasin, was selected bioinformatically based on its physicochemical properties. Here, we assessed the antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities of allomyrinasin against microorganisms and mouse macrophage Raw264.

The Antimicrobial Peptide CopA3 Inhibits Toxin A-Induced Viability Loss and Apoptosis in Neural Cells.

Numerous studies have reported that enteric neurons involved in controlling neurotransmitter secretion and motility in the gut critically contribute to the progression of gut inflammation. toxins, which cause severe colonic inflammation, are also known to affect enteric neurons. Our previous study showed that toxin A directly induces neural cell toxicities, such as viability loss and apoptosis.

A novel antimicrobial peptide acting via formyl peptide receptor 2 shows therapeutic effects against rheumatoid arthritis.

In oriental medicine, centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans has long been used as a remedy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a well-known chronic autoimmune disorder. However, the molecular identities of its bioactive components have not yet been extensively investigated. We sought to identify bioactive molecules that control RA with a centipede.

A novel role for earthworm peptide Lumbricusin as a regulator of neuroinflammation.

Recently, we reported that Lumbricusin, an antimicrobial peptide isolated from earthworm Lumbricus terrestris, enhanced neuronal proliferation and ameliorated motor dysfunction and dopaminergic neurodegeneration. Accumulating evidence suggests that neurodegeneration is the primary pathological feature of acute or chronic inflammation mediated by microglia, the resident macrophage of the central nervous system. Therefore, microglial activation inhibitors may be useful as therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative diseases.

Stilbene epoxidation and detoxification in a -nematode symbiosis.

Members of the gammaproteobacterial genus share mutualistic relationships with nematodes, and the pairs infect a wide swath of insect larvae. species produce a family of stilbenes, with two major components being 3,5-dihydroxy-4-isopropyl--stilbene (compound 1) and its stilbene epoxide (compound 2). This family of molecules harbors antimicrobial and immunosuppressive activities, and its pathway is responsible for producing a nematode "food signal" involved in nematode development.

Transcriptome Profiling and In Silico Analysis of the Antimicrobial Peptides of the Grasshopper .

Antimicrobial peptides/proteins (AMPs) are present in all types of organisms, from microbes and plants to vertebrates and invertebrates such as insects. The grasshopper is an insect species that is widely consumed around the world for its broad medicinal value. However, the lack of available genetic information for this species is an obstacle to understanding the full potential of its AMPs.