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Fatty acids from Hermetia illucens larvae disrupt membrane integrity in colistin-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii

Heakal Mohamed1,2, Sergey Leonov3, Elena Marusich4

  • 1Agricultural Research Center (ARC), Plant Protection Research Institute (PPRI), Dokki, Giza, Egypt. heakal2018@gmail.com.

BMC Microbiology
|January 30, 2026
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Fatty acid extracts from Hermetia illucens larvae show strong antibacterial effects against multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. This insect-derived compound offers a potential sustainable alternative for combating challenging bacterial infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Natural Product Chemistry
  • Insect Biotechnology

Background:

  • Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens, particularly Acinetobacter baumannii, pose a significant threat in healthcare settings.
  • Fatty acids exhibit natural antibacterial properties, offering potential for novel antimicrobial strategies.
  • Hermetia illucens (HI) larvae present a sustainable source for extracting bioactive compounds.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the antimicrobial activity of eco-friendly extracted fat from HI larvae against colistin-resistant A. baumannii.
  • To identify and characterize the most potent antibacterial fraction from HI larvae fat.
  • To elucidate the mechanism of action of the active fraction against A. baumannii.

Main Methods:

  • Sustainable extraction of fat from H. illucens larvae into multiple fractions.
  • Assessment of antibacterial activity using disc diffusion and broth microdilution assays.
  • Evaluation of the most potent fraction (AWME3) for MIC, MIC50, MBC, salt tolerance, and morphological changes via electron microscopy.

Main Results:

  • The acidic water methanol extract 3 (AWME3) showed significant antibacterial activity against A. baumannii ATCC 19606.
  • AWME3 demonstrated a clear inhibition zone (18.1 mm at 20 mg/mL), with MIC and MBC values of 380 µg/mL.
  • Electron microscopy revealed that AWME3 damages bacterial cell walls and membranes, leading to cell death.

Conclusions:

  • Fatty acid-enriched extracts from H. illucens larvae possess potent antibacterial properties against colistin-resistant A. baumannii.
  • The antibacterial mechanism involves disruption of bacterial cell membranes and walls.
  • Insect-derived compounds represent a promising sustainable alternative for managing MDR bacterial infections.
Keywords:
Hermetia illucensAWME3Colistin-resistant A. baumanniiFatty acidsSEMTEM

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