Harnessing Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Prepupae Against Aeromonas hydrophila : Fermentation-Based Fatty Acids Production and Its Bioinformatic Assessment

Abstract

Background: Aeromonas hydrophila is a bacterium with zoonotic potential and is multidrug-resistant. It utilizes hemolysin and aerolysin to spread infection. Black soldier flies (BSF) can be antibacterial because of the fatty acids it contains. Aims: This study aimed to investigate and compare the fatty acid profiles of BSF prepupae grown in fermented and nonfermented media using bioinformatics tools and assess their potential as antibacterial agents against Aeromonas hydrophila. Methods: The study used BSF prepupae reared on various organic substrates. BSF prepupae grown in fermented or nonfermented substrate were observed against fatty acid. The fatty acid analysis was performed using GC-MS. Fatty acids were analyzed statistically using the one-way ANOVA test with a 95% confidence level. Fatty acid bioactivity was predicted using the online PASS-Two-way drug program. Molecular docking on BSF fatty acid compounds was analyzed with PyMol 2.2 and Discovery Studio version 21.1.1. Results: The molecular docking test showed the strongest bond was oleic acid with aerolysin and linoleic acid with hemolysin. BSF prepupae grown on fermented media showed higher crude fat and saturated fatty acids but lower unsaturated fatty acids than nonfermented media. Conclusion: Black soldier fly prepupae, particularly those grown on fermented media, possess antibacterial activity against Aeromonas hydrophila through potential fatty acid-mediated inhibition of crucial virulence factors.