fig2

Figure 2. Targeted zones to produce insect gut cell lines. Schematic representation of the insect digestion system, which can be broken down into three regions: the foregut, midgut, and hindgut. The midgut is the primary choice from which to derive cell lines on account of it playing a key role in shaping the gut microbiome and being the principal location of nutrient absorption, pathogen defense, and the production of signaling molecules^[50]. The midgut has several cell types, including columnar epithelial cells (CC), endocrine cells (EC), goblet cells (GC), and stem cells (SC)^[50]. Only the most relevant of the top five cell types are shown. Columnar epithelial cells are the most common, followed by endocrine cells and stem cells, making these cells the first selection for cell culture^[50]. Created with BioRender.com^[20].