Detection of Antibacterial Properties of Musca domestica, Drosophila melanogaster, and Sarcophaga nodosa Using Resazurin as A Growth Indicator in Bacterial Cells

Due to the side effects of chemical and synthetic antibiotics and the increase in bacterial resistance, extensive research has been conducted to obtain natural compounds without side effects from natural sources such as insects, especially Diptera order, because these insects require to live and survive on rotting food and be in direct contact with pathogenic and dangerous microorganisms because of their special diet.

In this study, hemolymphs were extracted from Musca domestica, Drosophila melanogaster, and Sarcophaga nodosa, and then the anti-bactericidal activity of these extracts against important pathogenic bacteria was investigated separately by the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method using resazurin indicator.

S. nodosa and M. domestica larvae were not able to prevent the growth of any of the bacteria. D. melanogaster larvae extract completely inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria at all densities, while Staphylococcus aureus was completely resistant to all concentrations. The minimum inhibitory concentration of D. melanogaster larvae extract against two bacteria of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella typhimurium was determined as 125 and 500  μL/mL, respectively.D. melanogaster pupae extract was unable to inhibit the growth of E. coli and S. typhimurium but prevented the growth of P. aeruginosa at all concentrations. Also, the minimum inhibitory concentration of this extract against both S. aureus and L. monocytogenes was determined as 1000 μL/mL.

These outcomes show that D. melanogaster holds a high potential of antibacterial effects, and the purification and evaluation of this extract active substances are recommended for future utilization as antibacterial agents and food preservatives to fight pathogenic and toxigenic microorganisms.