Antibiotic Stewardship in Silkworms: Navigating the Pros and Cons

To safeguard against microbial diseases and maintain optimal silk yields, the sericulture industry relies on antibiotics to promote the health, well-being, and vitality of silkworms (<i>Bombyx mori</i>). Antibiotics are commonly incorporated into synthetic diets for rearing silkworms or...

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Main Authors: Rittick Mondal, Dipanjan Das, Amit Kumar Mandal
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Bacteria
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1334/4/1/2
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author Rittick Mondal
Dipanjan Das
Amit Kumar Mandal
author_facet Rittick Mondal
Dipanjan Das
Amit Kumar Mandal
author_sort Rittick Mondal
collection DOAJ
description To safeguard against microbial diseases and maintain optimal silk yields, the sericulture industry relies on antibiotics to promote the health, well-being, and vitality of silkworms (<i>Bombyx mori</i>). Antibiotics are commonly incorporated into synthetic diets for rearing silkworms or included as key components in bed disinfectant formulations. The silkworm-rearing industry’s reliance on antibiotics has led to concerns about the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Previous research has uncovered a dual role for antibiotics: not only do they prevent disease, but they also promote silkworm growth by reshaping the gut microbiome and enhancing nutrient absorption, highlighting the need for judicious use. Therefore, there is a critical need for prudent management and further exploration of alternative growth-promoting strategies to minimize resistance risks. This study investigates the relationship between antibiotic administration and silkworm growth, shedding light on the mechanisms underlying antibiotic-induced effects and assessing the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) emergence and dissemination.
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spelling doaj-art-b2c04c3f23464cccaa9d4bf200a065f82025-08-20T02:11:04ZengMDPI AGBacteria2674-13342025-01-0141210.3390/bacteria4010002Antibiotic Stewardship in Silkworms: Navigating the Pros and ConsRittick Mondal0Dipanjan Das1Amit Kumar Mandal2Chemical Biology Laboratory, Department of Sericulture, Raiganj University, Raiganj 733134, IndiaChemical Biology Laboratory, Department of Sericulture, Raiganj University, Raiganj 733134, IndiaChemical Biology Laboratory, Department of Sericulture, Raiganj University, Raiganj 733134, IndiaTo safeguard against microbial diseases and maintain optimal silk yields, the sericulture industry relies on antibiotics to promote the health, well-being, and vitality of silkworms (<i>Bombyx mori</i>). Antibiotics are commonly incorporated into synthetic diets for rearing silkworms or included as key components in bed disinfectant formulations. The silkworm-rearing industry’s reliance on antibiotics has led to concerns about the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Previous research has uncovered a dual role for antibiotics: not only do they prevent disease, but they also promote silkworm growth by reshaping the gut microbiome and enhancing nutrient absorption, highlighting the need for judicious use. Therefore, there is a critical need for prudent management and further exploration of alternative growth-promoting strategies to minimize resistance risks. This study investigates the relationship between antibiotic administration and silkworm growth, shedding light on the mechanisms underlying antibiotic-induced effects and assessing the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) emergence and dissemination.https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1334/4/1/2synthetic dietssilkworm rearingbed disinfectantmulberry leavesgut microbiota
spellingShingle Rittick Mondal
Dipanjan Das
Amit Kumar Mandal
Antibiotic Stewardship in Silkworms: Navigating the Pros and Cons
Bacteria
synthetic diets
silkworm rearing
bed disinfectant
mulberry leaves
gut microbiota
title Antibiotic Stewardship in Silkworms: Navigating the Pros and Cons
title_full Antibiotic Stewardship in Silkworms: Navigating the Pros and Cons
title_fullStr Antibiotic Stewardship in Silkworms: Navigating the Pros and Cons
title_full_unstemmed Antibiotic Stewardship in Silkworms: Navigating the Pros and Cons
title_short Antibiotic Stewardship in Silkworms: Navigating the Pros and Cons
title_sort antibiotic stewardship in silkworms navigating the pros and cons
topic synthetic diets
silkworm rearing
bed disinfectant
mulberry leaves
gut microbiota
url https://www.mdpi.com/2674-1334/4/1/2
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