Cricket-derived peptone · Microbial culture media
A sustainable, BSE-free peptone for the next generation of microbial culture.
Engineered from Brachytrupes portentosus biomass through a two-step alkalase–trypsin hydrolysis, Cricktone delivers commercial-grade microbial performance with an order-of-magnitude lower environmental footprint than animal- or soy-based alternatives.
Why peptone has to change
For seventy years the global microbiology industry has fermented its way through casein, beef extract, and tryptone — animal-derived peptones that work, but carry well-documented BSE risk, opaque supply chains, and a livestock-scale carbon footprint.
Plant alternatives close the safety gap but lag in microbial response: lactic acid bacteria, in particular, grow slower and less consistently on soy hydrolysates than on animal peptone.
Insect protein closes the loop. Cricket biomass is high-nitrogen, low-input, and BSE-impossible — and when hydrolyzed correctly, it outperforms the animal-derived peptones it replaces.
“Selected strains showed up to ~70% shorter lag phase on Cricktone versus commercial peptones.”
The product line
General-purpose peptone
A peptic digest of cricket protein, optimized for large-scale microbial fermentation, recovery, and diagnostics across enzyme, vaccine, antibiotic, and bio-based production lines.
Specialized for Lactic Acid Bacteria
Cricktone combined with a tuned MRS formulation. A unique blend of superior growth, BSE-free safety, and sustainability, providing a reliable, eco-friendly alternative to conventional MRS media for precision LAB cultivation.
Effervescent probiotic pellets
An effervescent pellet format derived from the MRS CrickTone platform — engineered for enhanced microbial growth and rapid rehydration in field, clinical, and industrial workflows.
Key advantages
13.45% total nitrogen, 4.20% amino nitrogen, and full coverage across all 17 essential amino acid types — verified by post-hydrolysis amino acid analysis.
Excellent kinetic fit (R² > 0.99) across E. coli, S. aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis. Selected strains showed up to ~70% shorter lag phase than commercial peptones.
Cricket biomass requires a fraction of the water, land, and feed of livestock peptone sources, and the alkalase–trypsin process minimizes chemical usage.
Insect protein is biologically incapable of carrying BSE or other ruminant prion diseases — a structural safety advantage no animal peptone can offer.
Microorganisms supported
Cricktone supports the growth of representative gram-negative, gram-positive, yeast, and mold strains. MRS CrickTone extends the platform to a tuned formulation for lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria.
Specifications
Every batch is QC-tested against the standards below. Full COA and amino-acid profile available on request.
| Property | Observed | Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Yellow powder | Yellow powder |
| pH value | 6.02 | 5 – 7 |
| Total nitrogen | 13.45% min | ≥ 12% |
| Ammonia nitrogen | 2% min | ≥ 3.50% |
| Loss on drying | 6% | ≤ 7% |
| Ash content | 10% max | ≤ 10% |
| Staphylococcus aureus | Positive — yellow colonies | — |
| Pseudomonas aeruginosa | Positive — green colonies | — |
| Salmonella | Positive — white-pink colonies | — |
| Escherichia coli | Positive | — |
Peer-reviewed science
Biocatalysis and Agricultural Biotechnology 73 (2026) 103972
Channankit · Pakakrong · Lertworapreecha
Thaksin University · Biotechnology Program, Microbiology Program, and Microbial Technology for Agriculture, Food and Environment Research Center
Valorization of cricket biomass into a sustainable, high-performance peptone for microbial culture media. Response surface methodology identified an optimal alkalase window near 52.5 °C and a trypsin maximum near 37–38 °C; the resulting two-step hydrolysis increased total free amino acids ~3.5× over the unhydrolyzed control and reached ~33–35% degree of hydrolysis. The spray-dried hydrolysate yielded a peptone of 13.25% total nitrogen and 4.20% amino nitrogen with 2.20% moisture, and supported E. coli, S. aureus, and Enterococcus faecalis with an excellent kinetic fit (R² > 0.99) versus casein- and soy-based peptones.
The people
Chief Executive Officer
Director · Marketing Manager
Chief Technology Officer · R&D Lead
Talk to the lab
Request a technical data sheet, ask about pilot quantities, or talk to our R&D team about a custom formulation for your strain.
