Marcel Dicke’s Post

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Professor of Entomology at Wageningen University @DickeMarcel

How do Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae deal with mycotoxins such as aflatoxin B1?New fully open access paper downloadable here: https://lnkd.in/gMzGvnHy Contamination of food products with mycotoxins such as aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) poses a severe risk to human health. Larvae of the black soldier fly, can successfully metabolize AFB1 without any negative consequences on their survival or growth. Organic waste streams contaminated with mycotoxins can be upcycled into protein-rich BSF larvae as an alternative feed for livestock (https://lnkd.in/g5fbMXjs) and the left-over feed residue into nutrient-rich crop fertilizers (https://lnkd.in/eZNdcsfG). Here, five-day-old BSF larvae were fed with either a control or an AFB1-spiked diet to elucidate the underlying mechanisms. Larval samples were collected at three timepoints and subjected to RNA-Seq analysis to determine gene expression patterns. Provision of an AFB1-spiked diet resulted in an up-regulation of 357 and a down-regulation of 929 unique genes. Upregulated genes include multiple genes involved in AFB1 metabolism in other (insect) species. Downregulated genes were generally involved in the insects’ growth, development, and immunity. BSF larvae possess a diverse genetic arsenal that encodes for enzymes capable of metabolizing AFB1 without trade-offs on larval survival. In conclusion, the adverse impact of AFB1 exposure on immunity-related processes is observed in the transcriptomic response, and is indicative of a trade-off between detoxification and immune responses. Parth Shah - Kelly Niermans - Elise Hoek - van den Hil - Joop J.A. van Loon - Wageningen University & Research - Wageningen Plant Research - Wageningen Food Safety Research

Effects of aflatoxin B1 on metabolism- and immunity-related gene expression in Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

Effects of aflatoxin B1 on metabolism- and immunity-related gene expression in Hermetia illucens L. (Diptera: Stratiomyidae)

sciencedirect.com

The presence of mycotoxins like aflatoxins was a concern in our first trial of using #blacksoldierflylarvae for our birds and other livestocks in year 2021, because the substrate used are expired and leftovers of feed mills for like ages for issues attributed to samolena and aflatoxins according to the manager at the mill , taking samples to lab was on the high side for us in terms of cost , we had no way to scientifically prove the safety but we took it as a risk (though calculated) by using little population while the others were assumed as control, to our amazement the #birds fed with larvae that were raised on the aflatoxin infested substrate performed better in growth and in behavior, it was on this trial we Ento-Organics Nigeria concluded mycotoxins has got nothing on #blacksoldierflylarvae and no issues with feeding the larvae to #poultry birds and other #livestocks but stumbling on this research report just added more sense and confirmation, very helpful

Charles Midega

Executive Director at Poverty and Health Integrated Solutions (PHIS)

5mo

Congratulations and thank you Marcel for this illuminating publication.

Bob Burger

"Renaissance Man" in training, Owner/Senior Scientist at IngenuityWorx & International representative for ChucaoTech nanobubble equipment

5mo
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