The potential of Protaetia brevitarsis as a functional food that enhances immune function and gut microbiota in mice

The issues of global hunger, malnutrition, and the increasing prevalence of diseases present considerable challenges to public health, emphasizing the urgent need for functional foods possessing immune-enhancing attributes. This study investigated the effects of Protaetia brevitarsis (Lewis) (PB), an edible insect, on immune modulation and gut microbiota composition in ICR mice. 160 male mice in four groups were treated with diets with different PB additions (0, 5%, 10%, and 20%). The results demonstrated that PB improved the cellular immune response of T cells ( p ≤ 0.05), phagocytosis activity of macrophages ( p ≤ 0.05), and humoral immunity in terms of elevated levels of serum hemolysin, IgG, and TNF-α ( p ≤ 0.05), compared to the CK (100% basal diet) group. The gut microbial dynamics among treatments showed an increased microbiota diversity and abundance of beneficial bacteria, including Muribaculaceae and Muribaculum at genus level and Bacteroidota at phylum level with the increased PB ( p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, PB can enhance the immune function and gut microbiota, highlighting its potential as a functional food.