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While RNA soaking was successfully used in Aedes pupae, no such technique has yet been developed for Culex mosquitoes. Here, we offer a quick and easy assay for screening the functional role of genes in Culex pipiens mosquitoes without using microinjections. By dehydration of early stage pupae and subsequent rehydration in highly concentrated dsRNA, we were able to achieve knockdown of the laccase 2 gene responsible for melanization and sclerotization of the mosquito cuticle. Our results suggest this assay will be useful for the functional screening of genes expressed in early pupal to early adult stages. Mosquitoes transmit a range of pathogens, causing devastating effects on human health. Population genetic control strategies have been developed and successfully used for several mosquito species. The most important step in identifying potential targets for mosquito control is the understanding of gene function. RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful tool for gene silencing which has been widely used to study gene function in insects via knockdown of expression. The success of RNAi in insects depends on the efficient delivery of dsRNA into the cells, with microinjections being the most commonly used to study mosquito gene function. However, microinjections in the pupal stage lead to significant mortality in Aedes and Culex species, and few studies have performed microinjections in Culicinae pupae. Advanced techniques, such as CRISPR/Cas9 knockout, require establishing individual mosquito lines for each gene studied, and maintaining such lines may be limited by the insect-rearing capacity of a laboratory. Moreover, at times gene knockout during early development (embryo stage) has a deleterious effect on mosquito development, precluding the analysis of gene function in the pupal and adult stages and its potential for mosquito control. There is a need for a simple procedure that can be used for the fast and reliable examination of adult gene function via RNAi knockdown. Here, we focus on the aquatic stages of the mosquito life cycle and suggest a quick and easy assay for screening the functional role of genes in Culex pipiens mosquitoes without using microinjections. By dehydration of early stage pupae and subsequent rehydration in highly concentrated dsRNA, we achieved a moderate knockdown of laccase 2, a gene that turns on in the pupal stage and is responsible for melanization and sclerotization of the adult cuticle.

Silkworm pupae are a kind of insect resource food that rich of good quality protein. To identify the peptide with high antioxidant activity from silkworm pupae protein hydrolysates, and provide the basis for the application of silkworm pupae protein hydrolysates and antioxidant peptides in functional foods, silkworm pupae proteins were hydrolysed by a dual-enzyme system consisting of acidic protease and neutral protease. The hydrolysates were purified sequentially by ultrafiltration, gel filtration chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The ABTS radical scavenging activity was used to evaluate antioxidant activity. Fractions with high activity were further analyzed by liquid chromatography- tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Two peptides, FKGPACA and SVLGTGC with molecular weights of 692.34 and 635.30 Da were obtained. To further determine the major active sites of FKGPACA and SVLGTGC, four peptides, FKGP, ACA, SVLG and TGC were artificially synthesized. ACA and TGC had higher ABTS radical scavenging activities than FKGP and SVLG. The main active sites of FKGPACA and SVLGTGC were possibly located in the ACA and TGC fragments, which are related to Cys, Ala or Thr residues. Both FKGPACA and SVLGTGC proved to good antioxidants even after high-temperature thermal processing for 1 h. After digestion with pepsin, the ABTS radical scavenging activity of FKGPACA was stable, while the ABTS radical scavenging activity of SVLGTGC decreased slightly. After further digestion with pancreatin, the ABTS radical scavenging activities of FKGPACA and SVLGTGC decreased by 10.59% and 43.56%, respectively. After digestion with chymotrypsin, the ABTS radical scavenging activities of FKGPACA and SVLGTGC were stable. The silkworm pupae protein hydrolysates and FKGPACA could be potentially used as natural antioxidants in functional foods.

Edible insects are a food source that has high nutritional value. Domestic silkworm pupae are an important by‐product of sericulture and have a long history as food and feed ingredients in East Asia. Silkworm pupae are a good source of protein, lipids, minerals, and vitamins and are considered a good source of nutrients for humans. Silkworm pupae are a valuable insect source of substances used in healthcare products, medicines, food additives, and animal feed. Because silkworm pupae are being increasingly used in the human diet, potential allergic reactions to the substances they contain must be elucidated. Here, we present an overview of the benefits of silkworm pupae. First, we describe their nutritional value. Second, we report their functional properties and applications, focusing on their potential use in the food and pharmaceutical industries. Finally, we consider the current state of research regarding silkworm pupae‐induced allergies. Silkworm pupae have high nutritional value and varied biological activities. Silkworm pupae are a valuable insect source for healthcare products, medicine, food additives, and feed. Allergic reactions induced by silkworm pupae need attention and further research.

Silkworm pupae are insects that are beneficial to human health, not only for their high nutritional value but, more importantly, for the variety of pharmacological functions they can perform when consumed. Currently, there is a lot of interest in the pharmaceutical applications of silkworm pupae. In recent years, the biological functions of domestic silkworm pupae have gradually been identified and confirmed, especially for their beneficial effects on human health. Studies have found that silkworm pupae have positive effects on liver protection, immune enhancement, antiapoptosis, antitumour, antibacterial, regulation of blood glucose and blood lipids, and lowering of blood pressure. However, the pharmacological mechanisms and systemic safety of silkworm pupae have not been systematically evaluated. In this paper, the nutritional composition of the pupae of the domestic silkworm is first summarised. The pharmacological functions of silkworm pupae and their components are then classified, and their mechanisms of occurrence are described. In addition, we provide a preliminary evaluation of the safety of silkworm pupae, analyse their application prospects, and suggest future directions for further pharmacological function studies. The aim is to generate interest in the promotion of human health through the use of silkworm pupae.

A comparative characterization of proteins from three edible insects—Tenebrio molitor (mealworm) larvae, Gryllus bimaculatus (cricket), and Bombyx mori (silkworm) pupae—was performed in this study. Proteins were extracted from edible insects and their hydrolysates were prepared through enzymatic hydrolysis with commercial enzymes (Flavourzyme: 12%; Alcalase: 3%). Solubility was significantly higher following enzymatic hydrolysis, while foamability was lower compared to those of the protein control. Angiotensin-converting enzyme was significantly inhibited after enzymatic hydrolysis, especially following Alcalase treatment, with IC50 values of 0.047, 0.066, and 0.065 mg/mL for G. bimaculatus, T. molitor larvae, and B. mori pupae, respectively. Moreover, the Alcalase-treated group of B. mori pupae and the T. molitor larvae group treated with a mixture of enzymes showed the effective inhibition of α-glucosidase activity. The anti-inflammatory activity of the insect hydrolysates was assessed via nitric oxide production from macrophages, and B. mori pupae samples exhibited significant activity regardless of the method of hydrolysis. These results indicate the functional properties of protein and hydrolysates from three species of edible insects, which may be useful in their future exploitation.

Bombyx mori is an ideal lepidopteran species representative of many scientific studies, a model of studies for medicine and a significant insect from an ecological standpoint. This review was performed to summarize the fatty acids (FA) composition of silkworm pupae (SP) that are associated with other important compounds that could add value to SP, diversifying the ways of valorization. The proposal to complete plant-based feeds with insect-based feeds represents a viable option to beneficially impact human and animal health and the environment. The quality and quantity of fats consumed significantly impact the aetiology of certain diseases. The key compounds of fat named essential FA (EFA) substantially influence the prevention and treatment of several diseases through their nutraceutical functions. Due to its excellent profile in nutrients such as protein and fat, amino acids and fatty acids composition, SP has become an important alternative feed ingredient and source of EFA. SP is a by-product that was discarded in large quantities. Following the need to act to improve human health and reduce climate change impact, many researchers focused on studying SP applications in the medical and agricultural industries. Several authors noticed an improvement in the health markers by using SP. The feed cost for the animal was reduced with economic implications. Minimization of environmental impact was recorded. Few precautions were recommended regarding SP use, although they should not be ignored. The composition of SP and its potential for use in various industries provides us with persuasive arguments for continuing to develop the sericulture industry.

A series of laboratory experiments were conducted in the Insect Environment Laboratory / College of Science for women / University of Babylon from September 2021 to December 2021, and the current study aimed to study the effect of cold and boiled water extracts of C.vincaplant on some biological of the life performance of the house fly. Muscadomestica, under laboratory conditions. This study showed that the effect of these extracts on the mortality rate of eggs, different larval instart and pupal stage stas well as the cumulative and non-cumulative mortality rates of immature stages , weights and lengths of pupa which were produced from treatment . The results showed that the cold water extract was more effective tham boiled water extract on percentage of mortality the percentage of egg was (90 ) % in the concentration 2% compoal with (1.4)% at control treatment . The 1st , 2nd , 3rd larval instants were (95,100,100) at concentration 2% comporal with (4,6,9) at control treatment .

A series of laboratory experiments were conducted in the Insect Environment Laboratory / College of Science for women / University of Babylon from September 2021 to December 2021, and the current study aimed to study the effect of cold and boiled water extracts of CarissaMacrocarpa plant on some biological of the life performance of the house fly. Muscadomestica, under laboratory conditions. This study showed that theeffect of these extracts on the mortality rate of eggs, different larval instart and pupal stage stas well as the cumulative and non-cumulative mortality rates of immature stages , weights and lengths of pupa which were produced from treatment . The results showed that the cold water extractwas more effective tham boiled water extract on percentage of mortality the percentage of egg was ( 81 ) % in the concentration2% compoal with (1)%at control treatment . The 1st ,2 nd , 3rd larval instants were (98.33) at concentration 2% comporal with (7.66) at control treatment .

Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae, Hermetia illucens L., develops on organic wastes, reducing ecological pollution and converting waste biomass into protein and fat rich insect biomass. BSF can replace increasingly expensive protein sources used in poultry, aquaculture and livestock compound diet formulation, such as fish meal and soybean meal, which holds the potential to alleviate future food and feed insecurity. The fate of nutritional spectra in BSF during its life cycle phases is still poorly understood. This study assessed metabolic changes in nutrition composition of BSF from egg to adult. A rapid increase of crude fat content was observed since the development of 4-14 days of larvae with its maximum level reaching 28.4% in dry mass, whereas the crude protein displayed a continuous decreasing trend in the same development phases with minimum level of 38% at larval phase (12 days) and peak level of 46.2% at early pupa stage. A sharp drop in crude fat was noticed from early prepupae to late pupae (24.2%, 8.2% respectively). However crude protein shows its maximum value being 57.6% at postmortem adult stage with 21.6% fat level. In addition, fatty acids, amino acids, minerals and vitamins composition in different development stages of BSF were presented and compared. Findings from this study could provide podium to food and feed industry for framing a strategy for specific molecular nutritional component intake into the diets of humans, aquaculture and animals. It is also indicated that BSF is a possible insect which can be applied to combating the food scarcity of countries where micronutrient deficiency is prevalent. Moreover it contributes to advance exploring for developmental and metabolic biology of this edible insect.

As insects have started to enter the eating habits of Western countries, an increasing amount of literature regarding the mulberry silkworm (Bombyx mori) prospective application as food has been published. Despite this growing interest, there is currently no systematic review of silkworm nutritional composition available. In this paper, we performed a systematic review of the recent available literature on the nutrient composition of mulberry silkworm pupae. After screening the titles and abstracts of 14,008 studies retrieved from three scientific databases, data about nutrients was extracted from 29 selected papers, together with their related variables. This systematic review provides an overview of the variety of data reported in the literature and highlights that many elements contribute to hindering a sound comparison of the different nutritional values reported for silkworm pupae. The observed variability of the composition data reported could be due to differences in diet, strains, pretreatments, and origin of the silkworm analyzed. However, all these variables were not always available and should be reported in future studies to simplify the data comparison.