Immune challenges and pathogen risks in edible insects: safeguarding health in space life-support systems

As space agencies progress toward long-duration missions and extraterrestrial
colonisation, Bioregenerative Life Support Systems (BLSS) have become central
to achieving closed-loop sustainability. Edible insects offer a highly efficient
protein source suited for BLSS integration, yet the unique stressors of spaceflight,
microgravity, ionising radiation, and limited microbial exposure, pose significant
risks to insect immunity and pathogen dynamics. This review synthesises
current research on insect immune function, microbiome stability, and disease
susceptibility under space-relevant conditions, highlighting vulnerabilities
introduced by physical, nutritional and behavioural stressors. We emphasise
species-specific immune traits, life stage- and sex-dependent responses, and
the contribution of natural behaviours and transgenerational immunity to
colony resilience. Further, we examine the synergistic effects of the space
environment and high-density rearing on pathogen transmission and virulence
evolution. Mitigation strategies, including environmental controls, probiotic
interventions and biosensor-based health monitoring, are discussed. By
identifying critical knowledge gaps, particularly concerning immune suppression
under microgravity and radiation, density-driven pathogen evolution, and the
stability of behavioural immunity, we propose system-level responses to support
robust insect health. Our synthesis advances the framework for designing
resilient, health-optimised insect rearing systems for future space missions and
terrestrial applications. Ensuring insect immune competence will be essential for
ecological stability and food security in extraterrestrial environments.