Immune response in the larvae of the black soldier fly Hermetia illucens

Authors

  • A Zdybicka-Barabas Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19 St., 20-033 Lublin, Poland
  • P Bulak Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doświadczalna 4 St., 20-290 Lublin, Poland
  • C Polakowski Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doświadczalna 4 St., 20-290 Lublin, Poland
  • A Bieganowski Institute of Agrophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Doświadczalna 4 St., 20-290 Lublin, Poland
  • A Waśko Department of Biotechnology, Human Nutrition and Science of Food Commodities, University of Life Sciences in Lublin, Skromna 8 St., 20-704 Lublin, Poland
  • M Cytryńska Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Biotechnology, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Akademicka 19 St., 20-033 Lublin, Poland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.25431/1824-307X/isj.v14i1.9-17

Keywords:

Hermetia illucens, innate immunity, hemocytes, antimicrobial peptides, lysozyme, phenoloxidase

Abstract

The black soldier fly Hermetia illucens is an ecological decomposer used for biodegradation of organic waste. Its larvae can develop on a wide range of decaying plant and animal matter, including manure and food scraps, i.e., habitats that are extremely rich in various microorganisms. Living in such conditions requires very well-functioning immune mechanisms. However, the immune response processes have not been examined so far in H. illucens larvae. In order to shed light on the immune system in the black soldier fly, in the present study we have examined H. illucens hemocytes and analyzed the effects of immune challenge of H. illucens larvae on the activity of the key components of insect humoral immune response, i.e., phenoloxidase, lysozyme, and antimicrobial peptides.

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Published

2016-12-16

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 1 (2017)

Section

Short Communications