Black Soldier Fly Larvae Selenium Feeding via Bacterial Fermentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current methods for feeding black soldier fly larvae with selenium, particularly using inorganic sources like sodium selenite, result in inhibitory effects on growth and decreased survival rates, limiting large-scale production and selenium absorption.

Innovation Solution

A two-step fermentation process involving inoculation of intestinal bacteria from black soldier flies, followed by addition of sodium selenite to convert inorganic selenium into nano-selenium, which is then added to the larvae's feed to enhance selenium absorption and reduce toxicity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If inorganic selenium (sodium selenite) is used to feed black soldier fly larvae, then selenium accumulation in larvae is achieved, but growth is inhibited and survival rate decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveselenium accumulation in larvaeVSAvoidsurvival rate of larvae
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical form of selenium from inorganic sodium selenite to organic selenium compounds (selenomethionine, selenocysteine) through microbial fermentation. This parameter change in selenium speciation resolves the contradiction by maintaining selenium accumulation while eliminating the toxic inhibitory effects on larval growth and survival

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces intestinal bacteria (Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, Bacillus) as intermediaries to convert inorganic selenium into organic selenium compounds. These microorganisms mediate the transformation process, allowing selenium accumulation without the harmful effects of direct inorganic selenium exposure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Quantity of substance

If inorganic selenium concentration is increased to enhance selenium content, then selenium enrichment is improved, but toxicity increases and production capacity decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveselenium enrichmentVSAvoidproduction capacity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the selenium delivery parameter from inorganic form to organic form through fermentation, enabling high selenium enrichment without the dose-dependent toxicity that limits production capacity in conventional methods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful inorganic selenium into beneficial organic selenium compounds through microbial fermentation. The same selenium that causes toxicity in inorganic form becomes safe and effective when transformed by intestinal bacteria, thereby enabling high enrichment without compromising productivity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The method improves selenium accumulation and utilization in black soldier fly larvae, promoting growth and productivity, and enhances the nutritional value for livestock and poultry feed.

Implementation Method 1

inoculating an intestinal bacteria seed liquid of black soldier fly to a fermentation medium at an inoculum size of 1%-3%, and cultivating at 30° C.-37° C. till the log phase to obtain a fermentation broth of log phase

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFermentation: Fermentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250221431A1Method for feeding black soldier fly larvae with selenium-rich bacteria solution
Publication Date: 2025.07.10 BIOFORTE BIOTECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO LTD

AI summary

The present invention discloses a method for feeding black soldier fly larvae with a selenium-rich bacteria solution, as follows: inoculating an intestinal bacteria seed liquid of black soldier fly to a fermentation medium at an inoculum size of 1%-3%, and cultivating at 30° C.-37° C. till the log phase to obtain a fermentation broth of log phase; adding sodium selenite to the fermentation broth of log phase to enable the fermentation broth to have a sodium selenite concentration of 10-600 μg/mL, then cultivating the fermentation broth at 30° C.-37° C. for 24-36 h to obtain a selenium-rich bacteria solution; and selecting 4-to-6-day-old black soldier fly larvae to be fed, adding the selenium-rich bacteria solution to a feed to enable the feed to have a selenium content of 5-500 mg/kg (wet weight), feeding the black soldier fly larvae with the feed till the end of the fifth instar of the larvae.