How to explore and exploit the insect-associated microbiome

Laurence Auger; Dorothee Tegtmeier; Silvia Caccia; Thomas Klammsteiner; Jeroen De Smet

How to explore and exploit the insect-associated microbiome

In: BugBook

Authors:

Laurence Auger

Laurence Auger Department of Animal Sciences, Université Laval, 2425 Rue de l’Agriculture, Québec, QC, Canada

Search for other papers by Laurence Auger in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

Dorothee Tegtmeier

Dorothee Tegtmeier Branch for Bioresources, Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology (IME), Giessen, Germany
BMBF Junior Research Group in Bioeconomy (BioKreativ) “SymBioÖkonomie”, Giessen, Germany

Search for other papers by Dorothee Tegtmeier in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

Silvia Caccia

Silvia Caccia Department of Biosciences, University of Milano, Via Celoria 26, 20133 Milano, Italy

Search for other papers by Silvia Caccia in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

Thomas Klammsteiner

Thomas Klammsteiner Department of Ecology, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstrasse 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Search for other papers by Thomas Klammsteiner in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

, and

Jeroen De Smet

Jeroen De Smet Research group for Insect Production and Processing, Department of Microbial and Molecular Systems, KU Leuven, 2440 Geel, Belgium

Search for other papers by Jeroen De Smet in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed

Type:: Chapter

Pages:: 121–155

DOI:: https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004760790_008

Purchase instant access (PDF download and unlimited online access):

€42.00€35.00 excl. VAT

Add to Cart

Redeem Access Token

Abstract

Large scale insect farming is exploring routes to enhance the efficiency, stability, and safety of the bioconversion of low-value substrates into insect-derived building blocks for food, feed, and fertiliser. Along with optimising insect rearing conditions and genetics, the insect microbiome is fundamental for the physiology, development, and adaptation of its host to various environmental conditions. To efficiently explore and exploit this ecosystem, a thorough understanding of its composition, function, and dynamics is required. This article aspires to provide a synopsis of the methodologies used to probe the insect-associated microbiome, primarily focusing on industrially relevant insect species. Key considerations for sample timing, selection, storage, and processing are discussed, emphasising the importance of standardised approaches to facilitate cross-study comparisons and enhance reproducibility. Marker gene and shotgun metagenomic sequencing are contrasted as means to investigate microbiome features, touching upon their respective (dis)advantages and potential use cases. Cultivation-based methods are essential for functional characterisation and translating the potential of insect-derived microorganisms for industrial applications. Direct isolation and enrichment cultures, along with anaerobic and aerobic cultivation techniques, are discussed as well. Methods to engineer microbiomes, such as axenic rearing and synthetic community assembly, have developed as powerful tools for exploring the role of specific microbes in host physiology. Beyond these approaches, metabolomics and metaproteomics are emerging as insightful techniques to dig deeper into microbiome functionality and host-microbe interactions. This article provides a multifaceted outline for researchers investigating the insect-associated microbiome and emphasises the importance of standardised methodologies and reporting for advancing the field.

Citation Info

Save
Cite
Email this content

Share link with colleague or librarian

You can email a link to this page to a colleague or librarian:
Email this content
or copy the link directly:

https://brill.edhh.ma/abstract/book/9789004760790/BP000007.xml
The link was not copied. Your current browser may not support copying via this button.

Link copied successfully

Collapse
Expand

BugBook

Practical Guidelines and Research Methods on Insects for Food and Feed

Series: Series of Insects as Food and Feed

E-Book ISBN:: 9789004760790

Publisher:: Wageningen Academic

Print Publication Date:: 12 Mar 2026

Subjects
- Life Sciences
  - General

Front Matter

ProCite

RefWorks

Reference Manager

BibTeX

Zotero

EndNote

Metrics

	All Time	Past 365 days	Past 30 Days
Abstract Views	50	50	39
Full Text Views	0	0	0
PDF Views & Downloads	2	2	2

African Studies	Education	Media Studies
American Studies	History	Middle East and Islamic Studies
Ancient Near East and Egypt	Human Rights and Humanitarian Law	Musicology
Art History	International Law	Philosophy
Asian Studies	International Relations	Religious Studies
Biblical Studies	Jewish Studies	Slavic and Eurasian Studies
Biology	Languages and Linguistics	Social Sciences
Book History and Cartography	Life Sciences	Theology and World Christianity
Classical Studies	Literature and Cultural Studies

Subjects

Authors

Open Access

Product Information

Company

Contact

How to explore and exploit the insect-associated microbiome

Abstract

Citation Info

Share link with colleague or librarian

BugBook

Practical Guidelines and Research Methods on Insects for Food and Feed

Table of Contents

References

Metrics

Metrics