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Page 12 of 15 Macpherson et al. Microbiome Res Rep 2024;3:20 https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/mrr.2023.66

CONCLUSION
Insect gut cell lines offer a high-resolution and relevant model for the exploration of the microbiome and its
complex interactions with host nutrition, immunity, and toxicology. Despite decades of research in the
fields of the insect microbiome and insect cell culture, limited integration has occurred between the two.
This starkly contrasts the study of the human microbiome, which has utilized cell culture extensively. The
time has come to explore novel ways to study host-microbiome relationships in insects in the laboratory,
and cell lines represent an important tool to exploit. This is becoming more important as insects continue to
face unrelenting threats as a result of human development and habitat encroachment.

DECLARATIONS
Authors’ contributions
Contributed to the conceptualization and ideas presented, drafted the manuscript and revised it:
Macpherson CV, Daisley BA, Mallory E, Allen-Vercoe E
Produced all tables and figures: Macpherson CV
All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Availability of data and materials
Not applicable.

Financial support and sponsorship
This work was supported by an Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) Special
Initiatives grant (UG-SI-2022-102161), a Canada First Research Excellence Fund (CFREF) Food from
Thought (FfT) Thematic III Research Grant (THE3-00525), a Banting Postdoctoral Fellowship Award
(BPF-489532-402947), an Abell Pest Control Scholarship in Pollinator Research, and a University of Guelph
College of Biological Sciences Graduate Tuition Scholarship.

Conflicts of interest
All authors declared that there are no conflicts of interest. Allen-Vercoe E is an Editorial Board member of
the journal Microbiome Research Reports.

Ethical approval and consent to participate
Not applicable.

Consent for publication
Not applicable.

Copyright
© The Author(s) 2024.

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