Insect Biofactories: Bioactive Compounds, Enzymes, and Biomaterials from Molecular Discovery to Market

Insects are an underexploited source of high-value molecules - antimicrobial peptides, enzymes, chitin and chitosan derivatives, silk and other structural biomaterials, pigments, and lipids - with applications spanning medicine, materials science, cosmetics, and industrial biocatalysis. While insect farming and waste bioconversion have advanced rapidly, the molecular discovery, targeted engineering, and translation of specific insect-derived bioproducts remain fragmented, and the economic, regulatory, and scale-up questions that determine whether a laboratory compound becomes a viable product are rarely addressed alongside the science.This Research Topic focuses on insects and insect cell systems as biofactories: the discovery and characterization of bioactive compounds and biomaterials, the use of genome editing and synthetic-biology tools to enhance or redirect their production, and the technical, economic, and regulatory steps required to move these products toward application. We deliberately focus on insect-derived products and the beneficial engineering of insects, rather than on pest control, integrated pest management, or biological control of pests, which are covered by other collections in this journal.We welcome original research, reviews, and perspectives that connect fundamental insect biology to a defined product or process, and that address not only what an insect molecule can do, but whether and how it can be produced reliably, safely, and economically.Indicative themes- Discovery and characterization of insect-derived bioactive compounds (antimicrobial peptides, defensins, venom peptides, pigments);- Insect enzymes for industrial biocatalysis and biodegradation, including plastic and lignocellulose degradation;- Chitin, chitosan, silk, and other insect biomaterials for biomedical and materials applications;- Genome editing, synthetic biology, and metabolic engineering to enhance or redirect compound and biomaterial production;- Insect cell lines and in vitro systems as production platforms;- Omics- and bioinformatics-driven identification of novel product candidates;- Bioprocessing, purification, and scale-up of insect-derived products;- Functional validation, safety, and quality control of insect bioproducts;- Regulatory frameworks, biosafety, and standardization for insect-derived and engineered products;- Techno-economic assessment, life-cycle and sustainability analysis, commercialization, and technology adoption. Topic editors: Adela Ramona Moise, Daniel Severus DEZMIREAN Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85061/insect-biofactories-bioactive-compounds-enzymes-and-biomaterials-from-molecular-discovery-to-market