In the context of climate change and depletion of natural resources, meeting the growing demand for animal feed and human food through sufficient, nutritious, safe, and affordable sources of protein is becoming a priority. The use of Hermetia illucens, the black soldier fly (BSF), has emerged as a strategy to enhance the circularity of the agri-food chain, but its microbiological safety remains a concern. The aim of the present study was to systematically review available data on the microbiological quality of BSF and to investigate the impact of using four different rearing substrates including classic options allowed by the EU regulation (cereals, fruits, vegetables) and options not allowed by EU regulations regarding vegetable agri-food (co-products, food at shelf life, and meat). A total of 13 studies were collected and synthesized, including 910 sample results, while 102 new sample results were collected from the present experiments in three farms. Both datasets combined revealed a high level of contamination of larvae, potentially transmitted through the substrate. The main pathogenic bacteria identified were Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, Cronobacter spp., Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus coagulase-positive, while Campylobacter spp. and Listeria monocytogenes were not detected. Any of these four substrates were excluded for their use in insect rearing; however, safety concerns were confirmed and must be managed by the operators of the sector using microbial inactivation treatment after the harvest of the larvae in order to propose safe products for the market. The results obtained will guide the definition of the control criteria and optimize the following manufacturing steps.

The article provides extensive data on the diversity of bacterial communities collected on 480 conventional broiler carcasses from a French slaughterhouse between October 2022 and January 2023. Half of the carcasses were collected from the first slaughter batches and the other half from the later batches to highlight possible microbial cross-contamination between carcasses along the slaughter chain. Campylobacter and the Total Viable Count were quantified on agar plates before and after 7 days of refrigerated storage to estimate the contamination level of broiler carcasses. These data on Campylobacter quantification allow us to assess the prevalence and concentration of this pathogen on chicken meat in France. Broiler bacterial communities were sequenced and characterized before and after storage, offering an understanding of broiler carcass microbial diversity and ecology on large-scale data along the food chain. Amplicons from the region V3-V4 of 16S rRNA were sequenced with Illumina MiSeq technology. Raw sequencing data were deposited in the ANR-21-CE21-0008 ESCAPE project, and the sample accession numbers for the rRNA 16S sequencing range from J017_lib692622_cleaned_R1 to J0176_lib692782_cleaned_R2 for the samples before storage and from J717_lib692783_cleaned_R1 to J7176_lib692988_cleaned_R2 for the samples after storage.

The increasing demand for sustainable protein sources highlights Hermetia illucens (Black Soldier Fly, BSF) as a promising alternative. However, microbiological safety remains a key concern. This study investigated the microbial diversity of BSF larvae, comparing two processing methods: (1) boiling followed by drying and (2) drying alone. Microbial diversity was assessed via 16S rRNA sequencing, while bacterial loads were quantified using culture-based methods on samples from a French company. A systematic review complemented this analysis by synthesizing the existing knowledge on BSF microbiota. The rearing conditions varied, with substrate pH ranging from 4.1 to 9.0 and ambient temperatures between 24.6 °C and 42.7 °C. Mesophilic bacteria, spores, and lactic acid bacteria reached up to 8.6, 7.7, and 8.5 log CFU/g in the substrates and larvae, while yeasts, molds, and sulfite-reducing bacteria remained below 4.8 log CFU/g. Boiling reduced most loads below detection thresholds, particularly for yeasts, molds, and ASR. Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Cronobacter sp., and coagulase-positive staphylococci were absent, whereas Clostridium perfringens and Escherichia coli were variably detected. Metabarcoding showed shifts in composition, with Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, Actinobacteriota, and Firmicutes (Bacillota and Clostridiota) dominating. Process 1 more effectively reduced the bacterial loads, though Bacillus and Clostridium remained. Campylobacter sp. detection in powders raises food safety concerns.

Le calvados est une eau-de-vie obtenue par distillation du cidre. Le cidre de distillation résulte d’une fermentation naturelle spontanée non maîtrisée, qui permet toutes les interactions possibles entre les différentes communautés microbiennes. En fin de fermentation alcoolique, le glycérol produit peut être dégradé et converti en 3-hydroxypropionaldehyde (3-HPA) par Lactobacillus collinoides via l’enzyme glycérol déshydratase codée par l’opéron pdu. Lors de la distillation, la déshydratation du 3-HPA en acroléine entraîne des désordres organoleptiques connus sous le nom de piqûre acroléique en développant un goût d’amertume dans les calvados. Ces travaux de thèse ont eu pour premier objectif d’apporter une réelle nouveauté dans l’étude de la diversité de dix cidres de distillation normands lors de la fermentation par une approche de métagénomique et d’établir des liens entre la composition microbienne et la qualité aromatique. Cette approche a permis de mettre en évidence plus de 40 genres bactériens et fongiques et des différences significatives ont été constatées au sein de ces populations entre les cidres des différents producteurs au cours du processus de fermentation, suggérant que les pratiques d’élaboration mènent à une typicité du cidre et donc à celle du calvados. L’étude de la composition des communautés microbiennes en lien avec la composition aromatique des cidres de distillation et celle des micro- distillats a été effectuée. Trois groupes de dynamiques et compositions microbiennes, directement liées aux producteurs, émergent conduisant à des compositions aromatiques différentes. L’analyse comparative de huit génomes de souches de Lactobacillus collinoides isolées à partir de cidres de distillation portant sur les métabolismes associés à la fermentation et sur la capacité des souches à métaboliser le glycérol a été effectuée. Deux types d’opéron pdu se profilent et cette variabilité génétique observée entre les souches de L. collinoides suggère des capacités différentes de dégradation du glycérol. Un plan expérimental (D-optimal) faisant varier 6 facteurs (glucose, fructose, azote, éthanol, acide malique, pH) a été élaboré pour étudier le métabolisme du glycérol chez ces souches. Trois profils génétiques et métaboliques ont pu être mis en évidence. Les souches de L. collinoides possédant l’opéron de type I sont toujours capables de dégrader le glycérol, contrairement à celles porteuses de l’opéron de type II. Ces travaux ouvrent des perspectives intéressantes quant à la présence et la physiologie de L. collinoides lors de l’élaboration du cidre et son implication dans la piqûre acroléique.