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Conway A, Jaiswal S, Jaiswal AK. The Potential of Edible Insects as a Safe, Palatable, and Sustainable Food Source in the European Union. Foods 2024; 13:387. [PMID: 38338521 PMCID: PMC10855650 DOI: 10.3390/foods13030387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Entomophagy describes the practice of eating insects. Insects are considered extremely nutritious in many countries worldwide. However, there is a lethargic uptake of this practice in Europe where consuming insects and insect-based foodstuffs is often regarded with disgust. Such perceptions and concerns are often due to a lack of exposure to and availability of food-grade insects as a food source and are often driven by neophobia and cultural norms. In recent years, due to accelerating climate change, an urgency to develop alternate safe and sustainable food-sources has emerged. There are currently over 2000 species of insects approved by the World Health Organization as safe to eat and suitable for human consumption. This review article provides an updated overview of the potential of edible insects as a safe, palatable, and sustainable food source. Furthermore, legislation, food safety issues, and the nutritional composition of invertebrates including, but not limited, to crickets (Orthoptera) and mealworms (Coleoptera) are also explored within this review. This article also discusses insect farming methods and the potential upscaling of the industry with regard to future prospects for insects as a sustainable food source. Finally, the topics addressed in this article are areas of potential concern to current and future consumers of edible insects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann Conway
- School of Food Science and Environmental Health, Faculty of Sciences and Health, Technological University Dublin—City Campus, Grangegorman, Dublin 7, D07 ADY7, Ireland; (A.C.); (S.J.)
- Environmental Sustainability and Health Institute, Technological University Dublin—City Campus, Grangegorman, Dublin 7, D07 H6K8, Ireland
| | - Swarna Jaiswal
- School of Food Science and Environmental Health, Faculty of Sciences and Health, Technological University Dublin—City Campus, Grangegorman, Dublin 7, D07 ADY7, Ireland; (A.C.); (S.J.)
- Environmental Sustainability and Health Institute, Technological University Dublin—City Campus, Grangegorman, Dublin 7, D07 H6K8, Ireland
| | - Amit K. Jaiswal
- School of Food Science and Environmental Health, Faculty of Sciences and Health, Technological University Dublin—City Campus, Grangegorman, Dublin 7, D07 ADY7, Ireland; (A.C.); (S.J.)
- Environmental Sustainability and Health Institute, Technological University Dublin—City Campus, Grangegorman, Dublin 7, D07 H6K8, Ireland
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Mishina T, Chiu MC, Hashiguchi Y, Oishi S, Sasaki A, Okada R, Uchiyama H, Sasaki T, Sakura M, Takeshima H, Sato T. Massive horizontal gene transfer and the evolution of nematomorph-driven behavioral manipulation of mantids. Curr Biol 2023; 33:4988-4994.e5. [PMID: 37863060 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2023.09.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
To complete their life cycle, a wide range of parasites must manipulate the behavior of their hosts.1 This manipulation is a well-known example of the "extended phenotype,2" where genes in one organism have phenotypic effects on another organism. Recent studies have explored the parasite genes responsible for such manipulation of host behavior, including the potential molecular mechanisms.3,4 However, little is known about how parasites have acquired the genes involved in manipulating phylogenetically distinct hosts.4 In a fascinating example of the extended phenotype, nematomorph parasites have evolved the ability to induce their terrestrial insect hosts to enter bodies of water, where the parasite then reproduces. Here, we comprehensively analyzed nematomorphs and their mantid hosts, focusing on the transcriptomic changes associated with host manipulations and sequence similarity between host and parasite genes to test molecular mimicry. The nematomorph's transcriptome changed during host manipulation, whereas no distinct changes were found in mantids. We then discovered numerous possible host-derived genes in nematomorphs, and these genes were frequently up-regulated during host manipulation. Our findings suggest a possible general role of horizontal gene transfer (HGT) in the molecular mechanisms of host manipulation, as well as in the genome evolution of manipulative parasites. The evidence of HGT between multicellular eukaryotes remains scarce but is increasing and, therefore, elucidating its mechanisms will advance our understanding of the enduring influence of HGT on the evolution of the web of life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tappei Mishina
- Laboratory for Chromosome Segregation, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research (BDR), Kobe 6500047, Japan.
| | - Ming-Chung Chiu
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Sciences, Kobe University, Kobe 6578501, Japan; Department of Entomology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 50007, Taiwan
| | - Yasuyuki Hashiguchi
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Takatsuki 5690801, Japan.
| | - Sayumi Oishi
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Sciences, Kobe University, Kobe 6578501, Japan
| | - Atsunari Sasaki
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Sciences, Kobe University, Kobe 6578501, Japan
| | - Ryuichi Okada
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Sciences, Kobe University, Kobe 6578501, Japan
| | - Hironobu Uchiyama
- NODAI Genome Research Center, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo 1568502, Japan
| | - Takeshi Sasaki
- Graduate School of Bioresource Development, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Atsugi 2430034, Japan
| | - Midori Sakura
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Sciences, Kobe University, Kobe 6578501, Japan
| | - Hirohiko Takeshima
- Research Center of Marine Bioresources, Department of Marine Bioscience, Fukui Prefectural University, 49-8-2, Katsumi, Obama, Fukui Prefecture 9170116, Japan
| | - Takuya Sato
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Sciences, Kobe University, Kobe 6578501, Japan; Center for Ecological Research, Kyoto University, Otsu 5202113, Japan.
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De Vivo M, Chen WY, Huang JP. Testing the efficacy of different molecular tools for parasite conservation genetics: a case study using horsehair worms (Phylum: Nematomorpha). Parasitology 2023; 150:842-851. [PMID: 37415562 PMCID: PMC10478060 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182023000641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, parasite conservation has become a globally significant issue. Because of this, there is a need for standardized methods for inferring population status and possible cryptic diversity. However, given the lack of molecular data for some groups, it is challenging to establish procedures for genetic diversity estimation. Therefore, universal tools, such as double-digest restriction-site-associated DNA sequencing (ddRADseq), could be useful when conducting conservation genetic studies on rarely studied parasites. Here, we generated a ddRADseq dataset that includes all 3 described Taiwanese horsehair worms (Phylum: Nematomorpha), possibly one of the most understudied animal groups. Additionally, we produced data for a fragment of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COXI) for the said species. We used the COXI dataset in combination with previously published sequences of the same locus for inferring the effective population size (Ne) trends and possible population genetic structure.We found that a larger and geographically broader sample size combined with more sequenced loci resulted in a better estimation of changes in Ne. We were able to detect demographic changes associated with Pleistocene events in all the species. Furthermore, the ddRADseq dataset for Chordodes formosanus did not reveal a genetic structure based on geography, implying a great dispersal ability, possibly due to its hosts. We showed that different molecular tools can be used to reveal genetic structure and demographic history at different historical times and geographical scales, which can help with conservation genetic studies in rarely studied parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia De Vivo
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Biodiversity Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Taipei, Taiwan
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Yun Chen
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Pan Huang
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
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De Vivo M, Wang WH, Chen KH, Huang JP. First detection of Colletotrichumfructicola (Ascomycota) on horsehair worms (Nematomorpha). Biodivers Data J 2021; 9:e72798. [PMID: 34690520 PMCID: PMC8484196 DOI: 10.3897/bdj.9.e72798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal members of Colletotrichum (Ascomycota) were found to be associated with Chordodesformosanus, one of the three currently known horsehair worm (Nematomorpha) species in Taiwan. The fungi were identified as Colletotrichumfructicola, which is mostly known as a plant pathogen, through the use of the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer and partial large subunit (nrITS + nrLSU) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) DNA sequences. To our knowledge, this report represents both the first records for Colletotrichum associated with hairworms and for fungi on Nematomorpha. These findings expand the knowledge on the ecological relationships of both clades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattia De Vivo
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, TaiwanBiodiversity Research Center, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
- Department of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, TaiwanDepartment of Life Science, National Taiwan Normal UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
- Biodiversity Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan Normal University, Taipei, TaiwanBiodiversity Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and National Taiwan Normal UniversityTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Wen-Hong Wang
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, TaiwanBiodiversity Research Center, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Ko-Hsuan Chen
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, TaiwanBiodiversity Research Center, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
| | - Jen-Pan Huang
- Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, TaiwanBiodiversity Research Center, Academia SinicaTaipeiTaiwan
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Anaya C, Bolek MG. Is there life after parasitism? Survival, longevity, and oogenesis in Acheta domesticus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae) infected with the hairworm, Paragordius varius (Phylum: Nematomorpha). Parasitol Res 2021; 120:2333-2342. [PMID: 33956214 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-021-07173-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The costs parasites impose on hosts can lead to reductions in survival and fecundity, but few studies have evaluated the impacts after infection. Hairworms are parasites of terrestrial arthropods that are free-living in aquatic systems as adults. As parasitic juveniles, hairworms acquire nutrients from their definitive hosts, shifting resources away from host development to parasite growth. However, until now, only one study has examined survivorship of naturally infected hosts with hairworms. Using a different hairworm and host system, we conducted experimental infections to examine growth, survivorship, and egg production in virgin female Acheta domesticus infected with the hairworm, Paragordius varius. We found that infected crickets grew significantly less during hairworm development compared to sham-infected control crickets. After releasing their worms, infected crickets survived for 73 ± 32 days but had significantly shorter life spans by an average of 13 days compared to sham-infected control crickets. However, we found that 50% of previously infected crickets produced eggs after releasing their worms. Taken together, these observations suggest that female crickets infected with hairworms may experience less mortality than previous anecdotal evidence suggests. Finally, we discuss the definition of parasitoid and how it relates to nematomorphs, and we suggest that more field and laboratory research is required before suggesting hairworms are parasitoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Anaya
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, 501 Life Sciences West, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA. .,School of Biological Sciences, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, 68588, USA.
| | - Matthew G Bolek
- Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, 501 Life Sciences West, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA
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