Metallothionein in Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758) larvae (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), a potential biomarker for organic waste system

Abstract

Black soldier fly, Hermetia illucens (Linnaeus, 1758), is an important economic fly as its larvae can be used for recycling organic waste, such as food waste and manure. H. illucens larvae (BSFL) could uptake Cd from substrates and accumulate it inside bodies, which need to be monitored during waste treatment. Metallothionein (MT) usually serve as biomarker because of its role in metal homeostasis, detoxification, and dose response of heavy metals. Therefore, a MT gene was cloned from H. illucens (HIMT) that encoded 40 amino acids with typical cysteine rich features, which had a high sequence identity with other insect MTs. The expression of HIMT and total MT protein was measured in BSFL fed by meals spiked with gradient dose of Cd (0, 5, 50, 500 mg/kg) for 24, 48, 72, and 96 h, respectively. Dose-associated response of HIMT and total MT were found and the possible correlative range of Cd was from 5 to 50 mg/kg. The expression of HIMT might be a potential biomarker for monitoring Cd contamination by H. illucens in terrestrial organic matters, which might further apply in waste transformation system.

Comparative Study of the Use of Insect Meal from Spodoptera littoralis and Bactrocera zonata for Feeding Japanese Quail Chicks

“…These results coincide with those observed by other authors [15,32,63,64]. In contrast, other studies have indicated that there are no differences between feeding insect meals and conventional meals on the growth performance of poultry birds [63,65,66,67]. The percentage of insect feed addition and the replacement of other feed ingredients such as soybean or fish meal with regard to the respective control diet (as well as the individual bird species) has to be considered when comparing these different feeding trials.…”

Nickel oxide nanoparticles induce genotoxicity and cellular alterations in the ground beetle Blaps polycresta (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae)

“…Metallothionein (MT) proteins have a role in metal detoxification and homeostasis (Amiard-Triquet et al, 1998). In a contaminated environment, MT is considered a potential biomarker for heavy metal exposure in insects and other invertebrates (Hensbergen et al, 2000;Wang et al, 2018). MT gene transcription is enhanced by several stimuli, such as heavy metals, heat shock, and other oxidative stresses (Aoki, 2011;Zhang et al, 2003).…”

Proteomic Study Reveals Major Pathways Regulating the Development of Black Soldier Fly

“…This is a critical scientific challenge in the fields of environment, biology, ecology, and so forth. Therefore, seeking a reasonable and friendly way for biodegradable organic waste has been considered as an efficient and sustainable resolution. , Many insects are reported to be capable of biodegrading organic waste. For example, superworms can degrade polystyrene …”