EFECTO DE LA TEMPERATURA SOBRE LA MICROBIOTA DEL INSECTO COMESTIBLE ACHETA DOMESTICUS

Abstract

The insect microbiota performs essential functions in their metabolism, contributing to the proper functioning of the immune system and favoring digestion. The cricket species Acheta domesticus has recently been authorized for human consumption. The massive production of this species implies large energy costs in the breeding area, so variations in room temperature could mean significant savings in production costs. This study aims to analyze the influence of temperature on the composition of the intestinal microbiota, considering the hypothesis that changes in temperature affect the microbiota of ectothermic insects. For this, two groups of crickets were selected in separate boxes and subjected to temperatures of 20 ºC and 30 ºC, respectively. Subsequently, their intestines were removed and their bacterial populations were quantified using metagenomic techniques. The results obtained showed that the most abundant taxa hardly varied in all samples. Abundance relatives of Bacteria belonging to the phylum Firmicutes was 31.5 ± 2.06%, in Bacteroidetes 24.25 ± 3.89% and in Proteobacteria 44 ± 4.85%. The only sample showing difference was that reared at 30ºC, in which 0.8% of Actinobacteria was detected. In conclusion, it could be said that the rearing temperature of cricket farms has slightly influenced the composition of the intestinal microbiota, therefore the initial hypothesis is accepted. Incidentally, high mortality has been observed in the sample kept at 30ºC, suggesting that this factor should be carefully considered in massive rearing of crickets.La microbiota de los insectos desempeña funciones esenciales en el metabolismo de los mismos, contribuyendo al correcto funcionamiento del sistema inmune y favoreciendo la digestión. La especie de grillo Acheta domesticus ha sido recientemente autorizada para consumo humano. La producción masiva de esta especie implica grandes costes energéticos en la zona de cría, por lo que variaciones en la temperatura de la sala pueden suponer un importante ahorro en el coste de producción. Este estudio tiene como objetivo analizar la influencia de la temperatura en la composición de la microbiota intestinal, planteándose la hipótesis de que los cambios de temperatura afectan a la microbiota de insectos ectotermos. Para ello se seleccionaron dos grupos de grillos en cajas separadas y se les sometió a temperaturas de 20 ºC y 30 ºC respectivamente. Posteriormente se les extrajo el intestino y se cuantificaron sus poblaciones bacterianas mediante técnicas metagenómicas. Al cuantificar estas poblaciones se observó que la mayor parte de la microbiota en todas las muestras es similar a nivel taxonómico de filo y nivel de clase, excepto a la temperatura de 30 ºC en la que se detecta un pequeño porcentaje de Actinobacterias.