Insect Models in Nutrition Research
Insects are the most diverse organisms on earth, accounting for ~80% of all animals. They are valuable as model organisms, particularly in the context of genetics, development, behavior, neurobiology and evolutionary biology. Compared to other laboratory animals, insects are advantageous because the...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-11-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/12/11/1668 |
| _version_ | 1797465856216662016 |
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| author | Miray Tonk-Rügen Andreas Vilcinskas Anika E. Wagner |
| author_facet | Miray Tonk-Rügen Andreas Vilcinskas Anika E. Wagner |
| author_sort | Miray Tonk-Rügen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Insects are the most diverse organisms on earth, accounting for ~80% of all animals. They are valuable as model organisms, particularly in the context of genetics, development, behavior, neurobiology and evolutionary biology. Compared to other laboratory animals, insects are advantageous because they are inexpensive to house and breed in large numbers, making them suitable for high-throughput testing. They also have a short life cycle, facilitating the analysis of generational effects, and they fulfil the 3R principle (replacement, reduction and refinement). Many insect genomes have now been sequenced, highlighting their genetic and physiological similarities with humans. These factors also make insects favorable as whole-animal high-throughput models in nutritional research. In this review, we discuss the impact of insect models in nutritional science, focusing on studies investigating the role of nutrition in metabolic diseases and aging/longevity. We also consider food toxicology and the use of insects to study the gut microbiome. The benefits of insects as models to study the relationship between nutrition and biological markers of fitness and longevity can be exploited to improve human health. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:27:32Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-909677446d08437b8454812fb96dc12a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2218-273X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T18:27:32Z |
| publishDate | 2022-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Biomolecules |
| spelling | doaj.art-909677446d08437b8454812fb96dc12a2023-11-24T07:47:30ZengMDPI AGBiomolecules2218-273X2022-11-011211166810.3390/biom12111668Insect Models in Nutrition ResearchMiray Tonk-Rügen0Andreas Vilcinskas1Anika E. Wagner2Institute of Nutritional Science, Justus Liebig University, Wilhelmstrasse 20, 35392 Giessen, GermanyInstitute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26-32, 35392 Giessen, GermanyInstitute of Nutritional Science, Justus Liebig University, Wilhelmstrasse 20, 35392 Giessen, GermanyInsects are the most diverse organisms on earth, accounting for ~80% of all animals. They are valuable as model organisms, particularly in the context of genetics, development, behavior, neurobiology and evolutionary biology. Compared to other laboratory animals, insects are advantageous because they are inexpensive to house and breed in large numbers, making them suitable for high-throughput testing. They also have a short life cycle, facilitating the analysis of generational effects, and they fulfil the 3R principle (replacement, reduction and refinement). Many insect genomes have now been sequenced, highlighting their genetic and physiological similarities with humans. These factors also make insects favorable as whole-animal high-throughput models in nutritional research. In this review, we discuss the impact of insect models in nutritional science, focusing on studies investigating the role of nutrition in metabolic diseases and aging/longevity. We also consider food toxicology and the use of insects to study the gut microbiome. The benefits of insects as models to study the relationship between nutrition and biological markers of fitness and longevity can be exploited to improve human health.https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/12/11/1668insectsnutritionfoodmodel organismanimal models |
| spellingShingle | Miray Tonk-Rügen Andreas Vilcinskas Anika E. Wagner Insect Models in Nutrition Research Biomolecules insects nutrition food model organism animal models |
| title | Insect Models in Nutrition Research |
| title_full | Insect Models in Nutrition Research |
| title_fullStr | Insect Models in Nutrition Research |
| title_full_unstemmed | Insect Models in Nutrition Research |
| title_short | Insect Models in Nutrition Research |
| title_sort | insect models in nutrition research |
| topic | insects nutrition food model organism animal models |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/12/11/1668 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT miraytonkrugen insectmodelsinnutritionresearch AT andreasvilcinskas insectmodelsinnutritionresearch AT anikaewagner insectmodelsinnutritionresearch |