Insect antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have been characterized more than 150 peptides since identification of cecropin in the hemolymph of pupae from Hyalophora cecropia in 1980. Therefore, it is considered that insects are good species of AMPs selection. Insect AMPs are small (below 10 kDa), cationic, and amphipathic with variable length, sequence, and structure. They perform a critical role on humoral immunity in the insect innate immune system against invading pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. Most of insect AMPs are induced rapidly in the fat bodies and other specific tissues of insects after septic injury or immune challenge. Then the AMPs subsequently released into the hemolymph to act against microorganisms. These peptides have a broad antimicrobial spectrum against various microorganisms including anticancer activities. Insect AMPs can be divided into four families based on their structures and sequences. That is α-helical peptides, cysteine-rich peptides, proline-rich peptides, and glycine-rich peptides/proteins. For instance, cecropins, insect defensins, proline-rich peptides, and attacins are common insect AMPs, but gloverins and moricins have been identified only in lepidopteran species. In this presentation, we focus on AMPs from insects and discuss current knowledge and recent progresses with potential application of insect AMPs.

The dynastid beetle Allomyrina dichotoma has been used as a herbal medicine. Recently, we performed de novo RNAsequencing of Allomyrina dichotoma and identified several antimicrobial peptide candidates based on in silico analysis.Among them, cationic antimicrobial peptide, Allomyrinasin, was selected and we assessed the anti-inflammatory activitiesof Allomyrinasin against mouse macrophage Raw264.7 cells. The results showed that Allomyrinasin decreased the nitricoxide production of the lipopolysaccharide-induced Raw264.7 cells. In addition, quantitative RT-PCR, ELISA and Westernblot analysis revealed that Allomyrinasin reduced cytokine expression levels in the Raw264.7 cells. Taken together, thesedata indicated that Allomyrinasin had anti-inflammatory activity in the lipopolysaccharide-induced Raw264.7 cells.

We have analyzed the transcriptome of Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans using RNA sequencing and identified severalantimicrobial peptide candidates. Among the peptides, named scolopendrasins, were selected based on the physicochemicalproperties of antimicrobial peptides via an in silico analysis. As a result, we evaluated the antimicrobial activities ofscolopendrasins against Gram positive and negative bacteria including Candida albicans by radial diffusion assay and colonycount assay. We also investigated the cytotoxicity of scolopendrasins through hemolysis assay. We found that the actionof scolopendrasins involved binding to the surface of microorganisms via a specific interaction with lipopolysaccharides,lipoteichoic acid, and peptidoglycans, which are components of the bacterial membrane. These results will provide a basisfor developing therapeutic agents such as peptide antibiotics.

Although the grasshopper Oxya chinensis sinuosa has long been used as a food in Korea, there is little data on itsfunctional effects. Thus we prepared and analyzed total RNA from the whole body of adult Escherichia coli non-immunizedand immunized Oxya chinensis sinuosa strains. Using an Illumina Hiseq sequencer, we generated a total of 66,555 pooledtranscriptome and singletons with and without Escherichia coli immunization, respectively. Then, we performed in silicoanalysis of the Oxya chinensis sinuosa transcriptome, using bioinformatics tools for screening putative antimicrobial peptides(AMPs) and 38 AMPs were finally selected and tested their antimicrobial activity of Gram positive, Gram negative bacteriaand antifungal activity with radial diffusion assay. As a result, 5 out of 38 AMPs showed the highest antimicrobial activityand antifungal activity against microbes and it also evidenced with no hemolytic activity.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the Allomyrina dichotoma larva (AD) on allergy and inflammation.We examined inhibitory effect of AD on allergic reactions in mast cells (RBL-2H3) activated by Compound 48 / 80and inflammatory response in macrophages (Raw 264.7) activated by LPS. Anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory actions ofAD water extract had no cytotoxicity. At these concentrations AD inhibited ẞ-hexosaminidase, tumor necrosis factor- α(TNF- α), interleukin-4 (IL-4), interleukin-6(IL-6) and cyclooxygenase-2(COX-2). AD also inhibited the expression of inducibleNO synthase (iNOS). AD reduced the release of inflammatory cytokines including IL-4, IL-6, TNF-α, and ẞ-hexosaminidase.These results suggest that AD may be potential anti-allergy and anti-inflammatory therapeutic agent.

The insects have been investigated as novel sources for foods and biomaterials in several recent studies. However,its effects on hair growth have not been sufficiently researched. To develop novel and natural materials for preventingalopecia and promoting hair growth, we investigated the antioxidant activity and hair growth promoting effect of Tenebriomolitor larvae extract (TME). As a result, DPPH radical scavenging activity was 81.17%, and nitrite scavenging activitywas 43.69%, which were similar to blueberry extract. And TME promoted the proliferation of human DPCs and NIH3T3cells, concentration dependently. In addition, the TME prevented not only DHT-induced DPCs cytotoxicity but also actionof TBM as a potassium channel blocker in NIH3T3 cells. These results suggest that TME can be used as a functionalmaterial for alopecia therapeutic reagent by preventing hair loss and promoting hair growth.

We recently reported the in vitro and in vivo antiobesity effects of Tenebrio molitor larvae, a traditional food in manycountries, but it remains unknown how the larvae affect appetite regulation in mice with diet-induced obesity. We hypothesizedthat the extract of T. molitor larvae mediates appetite by regulating neuropeptide expression. We investigated T. molitorlarvae extract's (TME's) effects on anorexigenesis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress–induced orexigenic neuropeptideexpression in the hypothalami of obese mice. Central administration of TME suppressed feeding by down-regulating theexpression of the orexigenic neuropeptides neuropeptide Y and agouti-related protein. T. molitor larvae extract significantlyreduced the expression of ER stress response genes. These results suggest that TME and its bioactive components arepotential therapeutics for obesity and ER stress–driven disease states.

To improvement the fruit quality of the korean raspberry fruit, 3 species of bee, Bombus terrestris, Apis mellifera and Osmia cornifrons were used for pollination in korean raspberry fruit field from Korea. This study was also conducted using 3 kinds of methods for pollination effect, natural condition, net-house and control method. Blooming time of korean raspberry fruit shows always in the middle of the May, foraging behavior of bees used in this examination showed different tendency each other. Especially pollinating time of B. terrestris was 2.73sec and transfer time between flower was 2.64sec. Rate of korean raspberry fruit setting pollinated with B. terrestris, A. mellifera, O. cornifrons were showed 83.1%, 80.5%, 77.5% respectively. And, rate of fruit setting of the untreated control and the control (natural condition pollination) were 36.2% and 76.0%. Therefore, korean raspberry fruit set in the case of B. terrestris compared control was superior to 230%, 109% in contrast to natural pollination showed, A. mellifera and O. cornifrons were no significant difference over natural pollination. The quality of the products of korean raspberry fruit pollinated with B. terrestris showed the highest quality as a result fruit diameter 19.5±0.85, fruit weight 2.7±0.32, sugar content 11.2±1.48 Brix%, seed no. of 86.8±10.15. The rate of productivity increase using the Bombus terrestris was 21% in contrast to natural pollination.

To improvement the fruit quality of the korean raspberry and the blueberry fruit, 3 bee species, Bombus terrestris, Apis mellifera, and Osmia cornifrons were used for pollination. The rates of korean raspberry fruit set in the case of pollination with B. terrestris, A. mellifera, and O. cornifrons were 83.1%, 80.5% and 77.5%, respectively. In addition, the rates of fruit set in the case of the untreated control and the control(pollination under natural conditions) were 36.2% and 76.0%, respectively. The products of korean raspberry fruit pollinated with B. terrestris had the highest quality, with a fruit diameter of 19.5±0.85mm; fruit weight, 2.7±0.32g; sugar content, 11.2±1.48 Brix%; seed no., 86.8±10.15. The rate of productivity increase obtained using the B. terrestris was 21% greater than that obtained using natural pollination. And, the rate of blueberry fruit setting pollinated with B. terrestris, A. mellifera, O. cornifrons were showed 87.7%, 89.6%, 66.5% respectively. And, rate of fruit setting of the untreated control and the control(natural condition pollination) were 15.4% and 80.3%. The rate of productivity increase obtained using the B. terrestris was 9%∼17% greater than that obtained using natural pollination.

To increase the fruit quality and productivity of the apricot, 2 species of insects, Apis mellifer, and Bombus terrestris were used for pollination in apricot field in Yeongcheon province. This study was conducted using 3 kinds of methods for pollination effect, natural condition, net-house treatment and control method. Also this experiment carried out in 2 places, vinyl-house and field condition. In case of field treatment of Apis mellifera, heating lamp experiment was added in net-house to find out the reason for harmful efficacy of low temperature early in the spring. Species of apricot, Mangum, was used in this experiment. A number of foraging activity of Apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris in vinyl-house showed higher than in field condition. But after stoping heating, showed low efficacy after showing peak in 1 PM. In field, Apis mellifera showed peak of foraging activity from 1 to 3PM, heating lamp experiment of field condition showed peak in 3 PM and then lowest tendency to evening suddenly. The fruit set rate of Apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris in vinyl-house showed higher with 92% and 89% respectively than control with 83%. In field, heating lamp treatment of Apis melliferawas was highest with 28% compared to Bombus terrestris with 25% and control with 15%. This results suppose that apricot in field was to be harmed by low temperature and frost in blooming time early in spring