Unlocking the Potential of Substrate Quality for the Enhanced Antibacterial Activity of Black Soldier Fly against Pathogens

Globally, antibiotics are facing fierce resistance from multidrug-resistant bacterial strains. There is an urgent need for eco-friendly alternatives. Though insects are important targets for antimicrobial peptides, it has received limited research attention. This study investigated the impact of waste substrates on the production of antibacterial agents in black soldier fly (<i>Hermetia illucens</i> L.) larvae (HIL) and their implications in the suppression of pathogens [<i>Bacillus subtilis</i> (ATCC 6051), <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (ATCC 25923), <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> (ATCC 27853), and <i>Escherichia coli</i> (ATCC 25922)]. The 20% acetic acid (AcOH) extract from market waste had the highest antibacterial activity with an inhibition zone of 17.00 mm, followed by potato waste (15.02 mm) against <i>S. aureus</i>. Hexane extract from HIL raised on market waste also showed a significant inhibitory zone (13.06 mm) against <i>B. subtilis</i>. .Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values recorded were 25 mg/mL against all test pathogens. The fastest time-kill of 20% AcOH extract was 4 h against<i>B. subtilis</i>, <i>E. coli</i>, ,and<i>P. aeruginosa</i>. Lauric acid was also identified as the dominant component of the various hexane extracts with concentrations of 602.76 and 318.17 μg/g in HIL reared on potato and market waste, respectively. Energy from the market waste substrate correlated significantly (<i>r</i> = 0.97) with antibacterial activities. This study highlights the key role of substrate quality and extraction methods for enhancing the production of antibacterial agents in HIL, thus providing new insights into the development of potential drugs to overcome the alarming concerns of antimicrobial resistance.