[en] Use of edible insects as an alternative source of proteins in food and feed is increasing. These last years, numerous companies in Europe have started producing insects for food and feed purposes. In the European Union, the use of edible insects for human consumption falls within Regulation (EU) No. 2015/2283 on novel foods. For feed, Commission Regulation (EU) 2017/893 authorizes seven insect species as processed animal proteins for aquaculture. Methods of authentication are required to check the conformity of the products. In this study, we propose a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method for the specific detection of the lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus), one of the species included in the shortlist of authorized insects. The selected target is the cadherin gene with a single-copy (per haploid genome) illustrated by our experimental evidence. The PCR test amplified a 134-bp fragment of the cadherin gene. The qualitative method was assessed toward several performance criteria. Specificity was checked against 54 insect species next to other animal and plant species. The sensitivity, efficiency, robustness, and transferability of the PCR assay were also successfully tested. Finally, the applicability of the test was assessed on real-life processed samples (industrial meals) of A. diaperinus. The study also showed that there seems to be a huge confusion on the correct labeling of the marketed mealworms. We did not succeed to get Alphitobius laevigatus samples. They all appeared to belong to the A. diaperinus taxon.
Disciplines :
Entomology & pest control
Author, co-author :
Marien, Aline; Quality and Authentication of Agricultural Products Unit, Knowledge and Valorization of Agricultural Products Department, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre, Gembloux, Belgium
Dubois, Benjamin; Quality and Authentication of Agricultural Products Unit, Knowledge and Valorization of Agricultural Products Department, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre, Gembloux, Belgium
Maljean, Julien; Quality and Authentication of Agricultural Products Unit, Knowledge and Valorization of Agricultural Products Department, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre, Gembloux, Belgium
Francis, Frédéric ; Université de Liège - ULiège > TERRA Research Centre > Gestion durable des bio-agresseurs
Berben, Gilbert; Quality and Authentication of Agricultural Products Unit, Knowledge and Valorization of Agricultural Products Department, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre, Gembloux, Belgium
Guillet, Stéphanie; Eurofins Biologie Moléculaire France, Eurofins, Nantes, France
Morin, Jean-François; Eurofins Biologie Moléculaire France, Eurofins, Nantes, France
Fumière, Olivier; Quality and Authentication of Agricultural Products Unit, Knowledge and Valorization of Agricultural Products Department, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre, Gembloux, Belgium
Debode, Frédéric; Biological Engineering Unit, Life Sciences Department, Walloon Agricultural Research Centre, Gembloux, Belgium
Language :
English
Title :
Detection of Alphitobius diaperinus by Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction With a Single-Copy Gene Target.
This research was financially supported by the European Commission in the frame of Horizon 2020 Public-Private Partnership Bio-Based Industries Joint Undertaking (topic BBI.2018.F2 – Large-scale production of proteins for food and feed applications from alternative, sustainable sources) through the FARMYNG project.The authors would like to thank Céline Aerts (of the Microbiology team, Unit 12, CRA-W) for her technical help. They would also like to thank the IPIFF for the industrial meals provided.
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