Frontiers in Microbiology (May 2023)

Feed nutritional composition affects the intestinal microbiota and digestive enzyme activity of black soldier fly larvae

  • Guozhong Chen,
  • Guozhong Chen,
  • Guozhong Chen,
  • Kai Zhang,
  • Kai Zhang,
  • Kai Zhang,
  • Wenli Tang,
  • Wenli Tang,
  • Youzhi Li,
  • Junyi Pang,
  • Xin Yuan,
  • Xin Yuan,
  • Xiangbin Song,
  • Xiangbin Song,
  • Linlin Jiang,
  • Linlin Jiang,
  • Linlin Jiang,
  • Linlin Jiang,
  • Xin Yu,
  • Xin Yu,
  • Xin Yu,
  • Xin Yu,
  • Hongwei Zhu,
  • Hongwei Zhu,
  • Hongwei Zhu,
  • Hongwei Zhu,
  • Jiao Wang,
  • Jiao Wang,
  • Jiao Wang,
  • Jianlong Zhang,
  • Jianlong Zhang,
  • Jianlong Zhang,
  • Jianlong Zhang,
  • Xingxiao Zhang,
  • Xingxiao Zhang,
  • Xingxiao Zhang,
  • Xingxiao Zhang

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1184139
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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IntroductionUsing black soldier fly larvae (BSFLs) to treat food waste is one of the most promising environmental protection technologies.MethodsWe used high-throughput sequencing to study the effects of different nutritional compositions on the intestinal microbiota and digestive enzymes of BSF.ResultsCompared with standard feed (CK), high-protein feed (CAS), high-fat feed (OIL) and high-starch feed (STA) had different effects on the BSF intestinal microbiota. CAS significantly reduced the bacterial and fungal diversity in the BSF intestinal tract. At the genus level, CAS, OIL and STA decreased the Enterococcus abundance compared with CK, CAS increased the Lysinibacillus abundance, and OIL increased the Klebsiella, Acinetobacter and Bacillus abundances. Diutina, Issatchenkia and Candida were the dominant fungal genera in the BSFL gut. The relative abundance of Diutina in the CAS group was the highest, and that of Issatchenkia and Candida in the OIL group increased, while STA decreased the abundance of Diutina and increased that of Issatchenkia. The digestive enzyme activities differed among the four groups. The α-amylase, pepsin and lipase activities in the CK group were the highest, and those in the CAS group were the lowest or the second lowest. Correlation analysis of environmental factors showed a significant correlation between the intestinal microbiota composition and digestive enzyme activity, especially α-amylase activity, which was highly correlated with bacteria and fungi with high relative abundances. Moreover, the mortality rate of the CAS group was the highest, and that of the OIL group was the lowest.DiscussionIn summary, different nutritional compositions significantly affected the community structure of bacteria and fungi in the BSFL intestinal tract, affected digestive enzyme activity, and ultimately affected larval mortality. The high oil diet gave the best results in terms of growth, survival and intestinal microbiota diversity, although the digestive enzymes activities were not the highest.

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