The gut microbiota of insects: a potential source of bacteria and metabolites

Insects are distributed in many environments on Earth, due to the symbiotic relationships they maintain with various microorganisms. Evolutionary (natural selection, mutations, gene flow, and genetic drift) and ecological (environmental features affecting living things) factors have led to the establishment of a microbiota with domains in all species. Insect symbionts are involved in the production of metabolites throughout their life cycle due to defense and nutrition mechanisms. Therefore, the gut microbiota of insects represents an area of interest for obtaining enzymes, antimicrobial compounds, and probiotics with biotechnological potential. Although the study of insect gut microbiota has been hampered by limited isolation capabilities, several modern techniques now provide insight into their presence in hosts. This review describes advances in isolating insect microorganisms and explores their potential for biotechnological applications. The aim is to contribute to our knowledge of these microorganisms and, at the same time, to highlight the importance of continuing the study of their microbiome and the opportunity for substantial benefits to humankind.