Suppression of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Reduction of Other Bacteria by Black Soldier Fly Larvae Reared on Potato Substrate
Marissa Kinney, Matthew A. Moyet, E M Bernard, Andrei Alyokhin
Abstract
Larvae of black soldier flies, Hermetia illucens, may be used to provide an environmentally sustainable and economically viable method for biological conversion of animal and plant wastes into ingredients of animal feeds on an industrial scale. However, contamination of harvested larvae by pathogenic microorganisms inhabiting decaying substrates may be a serious problem for wide-scale adoption of this technology. Fortunately, black soldier fly larvae may have some antimicrobial properties, including suppression of several common pathogens. Our study showed that such a suppression applies to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is a ubiquitous bacterium pathogenic to animals (including humans).