Yongqi Shao

Purpose: This review aims to promote the broader application of insect protein by summarizing its nutritional and functional properties, with the ultimate goal of mitigating food security challenges exacerbated by global population growth. Design/methodology/approach: This study employs a narrative review to evaluate the potential of insect protein for food applications. The analysis encompasses its nutritional profile, functional properties, innovative processing technologies, and food safety risk management. Findings: This review demonstrates that insect protein is a high-quality nutritional source, characterized by high protein content, a balanced amino acid profile, a favorable lipid composition rich in essential fatty acids, and an abundance of vitamins and minerals. Its inherent advantages in resource efficiency and low environmental impact have led to its endorsement by the FAO as a strategic alternative protein source to support sustainable food systems. Originality/value: In the context of rising global protein demand and the environmental limitations of conventional agriculture, this study consolidates evidence that edible insect protein represents a viable and sustainable alternative. Its integration into the food supply chain holds significant potential to alleviate pressure on traditional livestock and plant protein systems, thereby contributing to global food security.

The silkworm (Bombyx mori) has emerged as a powerful invertebrate model for gut microbiome research due to its simple yet representative gut microbiota, cost-effective rearing, and established germ-free systems. This review synthesizes current knowledge on the ecological drivers and functional roles of silkworm gut microbiota, emphasizing its interaction with host health, environmental adaptation, and biotechnological applications. The microbial community of silkworms is highly plastic, shaped by various intrinsic (developmental stage, sex) and extrinsic (diet, environmental conditions) factors. Key microbial taxa, including Enterococcus, Bacillus, Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, and Staphylococcus, form a dynamic core community with demonstrated probiotic attributes. These microbes contribute to nutrient metabolism (such as cellulose digestion and amino acid synthesis), immune modulation (through the production of antimicrobial peptides), and detoxification (by degrading xenobiotics). Meanwhile, their dysbiosis correlates with reduced growth, silk yield, and pathogen resistance. Notably, several gut symbionts produce or stimulate natural antimicrobial proteins, including bacteriocins (such as enterococcin LX) and host-derived antimicrobial peptides, which exhibit activity against microbial pathogens. Understanding these microbial associations is crucial for developing microbe-based probiotic formulations, antimicrobial therapies, and enzyme-driven bioprocesses to enhance sericultural productivity and sustainability. Despite progress, significant gaps remain in our understanding of host-microbe coevolution, immune-microbiota crosstalk, and the genetic basis of microbial resilience. Future research integrating multi-omics approaches and gnotobiotic models will unravel mechanistic insights, enabling targeted manipulation of the silkworm microbiota for agricultural, environmental, and medical innovations.

Plastic pollution, particularly the widespread presence of microplastics, has emerged as a global environmental threat. Conventional plastics are highly resistant to degradation and can persist in ecosystems for decades, posing a serious long-term risk to wildlife, habitats, and human health. Increasing evidence suggests that insects and their gut microbiota may play a significant role in the degradation of these plastics. This review examines the mechanisms by which insects and their associated microorganisms contribute to microplastic biodegradation. Plastivorous insect larvae such as Spodoptera frugiperda, Galleria mellonella, Tenebrio molitor and Zophobas atratus have demonstrated the ability to ingest and partially degrade diverse polymers. The initial mechanical breakdown caused by insect mandibles increases the surface area, which allows gut microbes to colonize the material. Once these microbes are established, they form biofilms that help with adhesion, create localized redox environments, and concentrate degradative enzymes at the polymer interface. The enzymatic machinery of insect-associated microbes plays a crucial role in breaking down polymers. Oxidative enzymes, including DyP-type peroxidases, multicopper oxidases, alkane monooxygenases, and laccases, initiate the oxidation of polymers, while hydrolases and esterases further break down the resulting fragments. Co-metabolic processes and microbial consortia improve degradation efficiency by primary degraders by producing oxidized intermediates, which are then consumed and mineralized by secondary fermenters. Despite significant progress, the complete biochemical pathways of microplastic mineralization remain unclear. Degradation rates are slow, and scalability challenges hinder practical applications, with incomplete mineralization in insect biodegradation potentially causing secondary microplastics. Understanding these mechanisms will lay the groundwork for developing insect-microbe systems as potential biotechnological solutions to mitigate plastic pollution in terrestrial environments.

Ecosystems are interconnected networks of diverse habitat types, rather than isolated patches. However, the role of the multi‐habitat landscape in influencing microbial diversity remains poorly understood. This study investigates bacterial and fungal communities within a 2500‐year agricultural heritage system, the Mulberry‐dyke and Fish‐pond (MF), which integrates various terrestrial and aquatic habitats. Using amplicon sequencing, metagenomics, metatranscriptomics, and genomic analyses, these findings reveal a significant proportion of unclassified microbial taxa, underscoring the importance of MF systems as an untapped reservoir of microbial genetic resources. Moreover, single‐nucleotide‐level analyses demonstrate that a multi‐habitat landscape enhances microbial diversity through ecosystem‐wide assembly, facilitated by cross‐habitat microbial dispersal. Taxa found across multiple habitats exhibit convergence in microdiversity and adaptive genetic traits, indicating both ecological and functional mechanisms underlying their adaptability. A global analysis of public microbiome datasets furthermore confirms that regions with higher habitat heterogeneity support significantly higher taxonomic and functional diversity of microbiomes. Overall, this study sheds new light on the overlooked microbial diversity in traditional agricultural heritages and emphasizes the value of ancestral ecological wisdom underlying multi‐habitat integration for ecosystem management. These insights offer valuable guidance for developing sustainable agricultural strategies, enhancing microbial diversity, and reinforcing ecosystem resilience in the face of global change.