Project description:Untargeted proteomics approaches were shown to be suitable for composition and authenticity analyses of highly processed mixed food and feed products. In this work, a normal-flow tandem mass spectrometry-based proteomics method was setup for analysis and authentication of insect meal from five different species. Novel data acquired on a Q Exactive Orbitrap (QE) was compared with previously published data obtained on QTOF. Data from both proteomics workflows were compared using compareMS2 and a Trans-Proteomics Pipeline (TPP). The results obtained for species differentiation, peptides, and protein markers detection were comparable across both approaches. The collected mass spectrometry data from both instruments also were used to build spectral libraries for insect species and matching was performed successfully. Lastly, both datasets were screened for known allergens and arginine kinase and tropomyosin were consistently detected confirming the presence of potential allergenic risks associated with the consumption of edible insects.
Project description:IMolting, a special period during which the old cuticle is shed and a new one is produced, is crucial to insect development. During their life cycles, insects that undergo complete metamorphosis may experience several larva-to-larva moltings to become larger, followed by larva-to-pupa and pupa-to-adult moltings to become adults. During the larva-to-larva molting stage, insect larvae stop consuming food and become restful. Whether any changes occur within the molting midgut before ecdysis remains known.
Project description:The research on alternative and sustainable feed ingredients is a challenge to reduce the feed-food competition between humans and monogastrics, in particular pigs. Former food products (FFPs) drop out from the industrial production of food such as pasta, bread, snacks and chips. They have a high nutritional and energetic value and represent an alternative and sustainable feed ingredient. The aim of this study was to apply label-free quantitative peptidomics to assess the impact of the inclusion of FFPs on serum peptidome.
Project description:We exposed honey bee queens to insect growth regulator pesticides (IGRs) by feeding workers contaminated food. Queens and workers were housed in queen monitoring cages developed by Fine et al. and queen quality metrics were measured over the course of two weeks. At the end of this period, the queens were euthanized and their ovaries analyzed by shot-gun proteomics.
