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Insect Microbiome and Immunity—2nd Edition

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A special issue of Insects (ISSN 2075-4450).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 October 2026 | Viewed by 6084

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Hongyu Zhang

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Guest Editor

National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation and Utilization for Fruit and Vegetable Horticultural Crops, Hubei Hongshan Laboratory, Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
Interests: insect microbiome and molecular biology; horticultural and urban entomology; intelligent monitoring and green control of pests
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Prof. Dr. Xiaoxue Li

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Guest Editor

Institute of Urban and Horticultural Entomology, College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
Interests: insect immunity and microbiome
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The study of insect–microbe interactions is a rapidly growing field that has profound implications for our understanding of insect biology, ecology, and evolution. The integration of high-throughput sequencing with functional and ecological studies promises to uncover new insights into the complex relationships between insects and their microbial partners. Insects rely on their innate immune system to defend against pathogenic microbes and regulate microbiome composition. These microbial interactions can be either beneficial or detrimental to the insect host, and they play a crucial role in shaping insect physiology, behavior, and overall fitness. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for applications in agriculture, where beneficial microbes could be harnessed to improve pest control or enhance the health of beneficial insects such as pollinators.

Considering the success of our previous Special Issue, "Insect Microbiome and Immunity", we are pleased to launch Insect Microbiome and Immunity—2nd Edition.

Prof. Dr. Hongyu Zhang
Prof. Dr. Xiaoxue Li
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Insects is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

insect microbiome
insect immunity
host–microbiome interactions
host–pathogen interactions
host physiology
mutualism
evolution

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

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15 pages, 2416 KB

Open AccessArticle

Comparative Analysis of Gut Microbiota in Eri Silkworm (Samia ricini) Larvae Fed on Different Food Plants

by Yu Guo, Xiangbiao Liu, Yalei Wang, Huiduo Guo and Heying Qian

Insects 2026, 17(6), 553; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17060553 - 27 May 2026

Abstract

Diet plays a critical role in shaping the composition of gut microbiota in insects. Samia ricini, an economically important Lepidoptera insect, is a polyphagous herbivore that offers a useful model for studying dietary effects on the animal gut microbiome. Here, we fed S. ricini larvae with different food plants, Ricinus communis, Ailanthus altissima, and Manihot esculenta leaves to investigate how host plant species influence growth performance, digestive enzyme activities, and the gut microbial community. Our results showed that the Ricinus group exhibited better growth performance. Regarding digestive enzymes, the midgut lipase activity was significantly higher in the Ricinus group than in the Ailanthus group, while no significant differences were observed in α-amylase, cellulase, or trypsin activities among the three groups. Compared to the Manihot group, the Ricinus group showed increased bacterial richness, while the Ailanthus group showed increased bacterial diversity. β-diversity analysis further revealed distinct microbial community structures among all three dietary groups. Specifically, Acinetobacter, Mammaliicoccus, Roseateles, Methylobacterium, Agrobacterium, Faecalibacterium, and Segatella were the dominant bacterial genera. Functional prediction revealed that gut microbes enriched in the Ricinus group were associated with terpenoid/polyketide metabolism, xenobiotics biodegradation, and glycan biosynthesis, whereas those involved in carbohydrate metabolism and biosynthesis of other secondary metabolites were higher in the Manihot group. Spearman correlation analysis indicated that Methylobacterium, Methylorubrum, and Agrobacterium were significantly positively correlated with larval weight, while Staphylococcus and Cyanothece_PCC-7424 exhibited negative correlations. Collectively, these findings suggest a potential association between different plant-derived diets, gut microbiota composition, and host growth performance, highlighting the pivotal role of diet in shaping insect gut microbial communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect Microbiome and Immunity—2nd Edition)

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22 pages, 2032 KB

Open AccessArticle

Black Soldier Fly Can Safely Co-Convert Antibiotic Fermentation Residue and Potato Peel Waste into a Valuable Feed Resource

by Xiaopeng Zhang, Lu Zhao, Gaojie Yu, Ahmed R. Henawy, Longyu Zheng, Feng Huang, Minmin Cai, Ziniu Yu and Jibin Zhang

Insects 2026, 17(6), 550; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17060550 - 25 May 2026

Viewed by 113

Abstract

Among diverse industrial wastes, antibiotic fermentation residues containing high concentrations of nosiheptide pose significant environmental and health risks. This study demonstrates that black soldier fly larvae (BSFL) can effectively degrade the nosiheptide residues within this fermentation matrix when blended with potato peel waste. Optimal degradation efficiency was achieved at a dry weight ratio of 3:5 (antibiotic fermentation residue to potato peel waste), yielding a 40.02% material reduction, an 8.63% bioconversion rate, and a 55.74% nosiheptide degradation rate. Further optimization of the larva-to-feed ratio enhanced nosiheptide degradation to 58.21%. Following 48 h of gut emptying period, no detectable nosiheptide remained within the tissues of the treated BSFL. The harvested larvae demonstrated high nutritional value, with crude protein and crude fat contents reaching up to 35.64% and 32.65%, respectively. The larvae also contained a comprehensive profile of essential amino acids, with the glutamic acid content exceeding 3%, which enhances feed palatability. Highly concentrated antibiotic treatments significantly increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidetes within the BSFL gut microbiota, with Dysgonomonas emerging as the dominant genus. This study highlights a novel strategy for degrading residual nosiheptide and converting waste into a valuable protein source, offering an eco-friendly solution for industrial waste management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect Microbiome and Immunity—2nd Edition)

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12 pages, 1182 KB

Open AccessArticle

Endosymbiont Infections in Korean Insects: Patterns Across Orders and Habitat Types

by Jae-Yeon Kang, Gilsang Jeong, In Jung An, Kihyun Kim, Se-hwan Son and Soyeon Park

Insects 2026, 17(1), 71; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17010071 - 7 Jan 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 732 | Correction

Abstract

Endosymbiotic bacteria influence the ecology and evolution of insects through complex associations within host cells. To explore how these relationships vary among environments and taxa, we examined 1028 insect specimens from 14 orders across Korea for infections by three representative endosymbionts (Wolbachia, Rickettsia, and Spiroplasma). Overall, 33.8% of specimens were infected, with single infections predominating and co-infections remaining relatively less common. Weak-to-modest but statistically significant associations were detected between several symbiont pairs (Rickettsia–Spiroplasma, Wolbachia–Spiroplasma, and Wolbachia–Rickettsia). Infection rates exhibited no significant variation among host orders except for Spiroplasma, and Wolbachia infections were more frequently detected in terrestrial than in aquatic insects. These results indicate that endosymbiont infection patterns might be shaped by factors operating at multiple biological scales, including host taxonomy and habitat types. As this study relied on polymerase chain reaction detection, infection frequencies should be interpreted as comparative rather than absolute measures. This survey provides baseline data that might help characterize regional patterns of endosymbiont distributions and their variation across taxonomic and ecological contexts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect Microbiome and Immunity—2nd Edition)

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16 pages, 3462 KB

Open AccessArticle

Composition of the Gut Microbiome and Its Response to Rice Stripe Virus Infection in Laodelphax striatellus (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)

by Zhipeng Huang, Lu Zhang, Yu Tian, Jiayi Gao, Fang Liu and Yao Li

Insects 2025, 16(11), 1135; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16111135 - 6 Nov 2025

Viewed by 1056

Abstract

The small brown planthopper (SBPH), Laodelphax striatellus, transmits rice stripe virus (RSV), a devastating pathogen that causes significant yield losses in rice. The components of the gut microbiota in SBPH and the effects of RSV infection on gut microorganisms are unclear. In this study, high-throughput sequencing of 16S rRNA was utilized to evaluate the composition of gut microorganisms in SBPH. The gut microbiota of SBPH was primarily composed of Proteobacteria, Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes at ratios of 94.79%, 3.04% and 1.39%, respectively; furthermore, the composition of bacteria in the gut microbiota was relatively conserved with differences at the genus level. To elucidate the response of the SBPH gut microbiota to RSV infection, we compared its composition and abundance in viruliferous and naïve SBPH. Interestingly, RSV infection was associated with increased diversity in the SBPH gut microbiota. Comparative analysis demonstrated that RSV infection elevated the relative abundance of Proteobacteria while reducing that of Firmicutes. Population counts demonstrated that RSV infection reduced the gut loads of Stenotrophomonas, Brevundimonas, and Brevibacillus, whereas the gut load of Staphylococcus was significantly increased. Further functional predictive assays revealed that RSV infection enhanced the functions of the SBPH gut microbiota in terms of metabolism, cellular processes, genetic and environmental information processing, and organismal systems. Our results indicate that RSV reshapes the composition, abundance, and functions of the SBPH gut microbiota, offering insights into virus–host–microbiome interactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect Microbiome and Immunity—2nd Edition)

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16 pages, 3177 KB

Open AccessArticle

Response of Nutritional Values and Gut Microbiomes to Dietary Intake of ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Tenebrio molitor Larvae

by Aifen Yang, Yiting Ye, Qiwei Liu, Jingjing Xu, Ruixi Li, Mingfeng Xu, Xiu Wang, Sida Fu and Rongrong Yu

Insects 2025, 16(9), 970; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects16090970 - 16 Sep 2025

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 1762

Abstract

Due to their high nutritional value and a lower environmental impact, Tenebrio molitor (T. molitor) larvae are regarded as an alternative protein and lipid source in food industries, animal husbandry, and fishery. This study aimed to investigate the effect of ω-3 PUFA intake on the nutritional value and gut microbiota of T. molitor larvae. Tenebrio molitor (T. molitor) larvae were reared with wheat bran at 20–32 °C for 4 weeks to screen for a suitable temperature. EPA ethyl esters (EE), DHA ethyl esters (ED), DHA triglycerides (TG), and krill oil (KO) were supplemented in wheat bran to rear larvae for 4 weeks, and the compositions including moisture, carbohydrates, crude protein, and crude fats were analyzed. Gut microbiome was analyzed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. Larvae reared on wheat bran showed optimal growth at 28 °C. ω-3 PUFA supplements increased crude protein (1.07–1.16 fold) and crude fat (1.12–1.22 fold) contents without affecting survival. Gut microbiota composition shifted significantly in all ω-3 supplemented groups, altering over 10 genera. Bacteria with changed abundance (e.g., Clostridium), known for roles in protein/lipid metabolism, likely contributed to the enhanced nutritional contents. These findings demonstrate the benefits of ω-3 PUFA supplementation in T. molitor rearing and identify associated gut bacteria. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect Microbiome and Immunity—2nd Edition)

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22 pages, 690 KB

Open AccessReview

Insect Gut Microbiota—Research Strategies and Perspectives

by Xinyu Li, Zhen Ye, Shangling Wu, Yan Lv, Yinzheng Ren, Qin Luo and Hong Yang

Insects 2026, 17(4), 367; https://doi.org/10.3390/insects17040367 - 30 Mar 2026

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1166

Abstract

Insects are widely distributed across the globe and exhibit strong adaptability in diverse living environments, a capability closely linked to the diversity of their gut microbiota. The composition of insect gut bacteria varies with species, living environment, diet, and development stage. In recent years, the widespread application of culture-independent strategies based on molecular biology techniques has provided substantial information for studies on the interaction mechanisms between insects and their gut microbiota. However, culture-dependent strategies aimed at isolating pure cultures remain indispensable. Only by integrating multi-techniques such as bacterial isolation and pure culture, axenic insect technology, and molecular biology can in-depth research be conducted on key gut bacteria of insects. This review summarizes culture-dependent and -independent strategies used for the analysis of the diversity and functions of insect gut microbiota, focusing on the traditional methods and new strategies for microbial cultivation, multi-omics techniques, and axenic insect technology. Recent studies showed that the application of integrated techniques is powerful for illustrating the microbial function and evolution of gut microbiota, and the interactions between intestinal bacteria and their hosts. Studies have shown that the insect gut microbiota plays important roles in the promotion of host growth and development by regulating host metabolic pathways, contributing to host nutrition, and supporting the host in defending against pathogens or degrading toxic compounds. Future research directions and strategies are also proposed, providing insights into further exploration of the interaction mechanisms between symbiotic insect gut bacteria and their hosts, as well as future applications in various fields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Insect Microbiome and Immunity—2nd Edition)

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