Responses of gut microbiomes to commercial polyester polymer biodegradation in Tenebrio molitor Larvae

He, Lei; Yang, Shan-Shan; Ding, Jie; He, Zuyong; Pang, Ji-Wei; Xing, Defeng; Zhao, Lei; Hong, Zheng; Ren, Nanqi; Wu, Wei‐Min

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131759

Cited by 16 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 75 publications

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“…Yellow mealworm, the larva of Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus 1758 (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) observed around the world and naturally present in forests with rotten wood, is one of the highly efficient plastic-degrading macroinvertebrates that voluntarily ingest a wide variety of petroleum-based plastic products, e.g., PS, low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polyurethane (PUR), PP, PVC, and PET. ,,− The unique metabolic process in the mealworm intestines endows them with great plastic-degrading capacities to depolymerize and biodegrade the ingested plastics through various gut-related mechanisms. After passing through the mealworm intestines, almost half of the ingested PS and LDPE can be efficiently biodegraded and mineralized within a short retention time of about 12 h, with residual polymers excreted in the frass. ,− ,,,,,,,− However, whether MPs or NPs are generated, retained, and accumulated as residues in the frass during the digestion of the plastics remains unknown. No detailed investigation has been conducted on the size distribution of residual micro- and nanosized particles in the previously published reports due to a lack of methods for characterizing, predicting, and unveiling the digestive formation of MPs and NPs during plastic biodegradation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unveiling Fragmentation of Plastic Particles during Biodegradation of Polystyrene and Polyethylene Foams in Mealworms: Highly Sensitive Detection and Digestive Modeling Prediction

Peng,

Xiao,

Sun

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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It remains unknown whether plastic-biodegrading macroinvertebrates generate microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) during the biodegradation of plastics. In this study, we utilized highly sensitive particle analyzers and pyrolyzer-gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GCMS) to investigate the possibility of generating MPs and NPs in frass during the biodegradation of polystyrene (PS) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) foams by mealworms (Tenebrio molitor larvae). We also developed a digestive biofragmentation model to predict and unveil the fragmentation process of ingested plastics. The mealworms removed 77.3% of ingested PS and 71.1% of ingested PE over a 6-week test period. Biodegradation of both polymers was verified by the increase in the δ13C signature of residual plastics, changes in molecular weights, and the formation of new oxidative functional groups. MPs accumulated in the frass due to biofragmentation, with residual PS and PE exhibiting the maximum percentage by number at 2.75 and 7.27 μm, respectively. Nevertheless, NPs were not detected using a laser light scattering sizer with a detection limit of 10 nm and Py-GCMS analysis. The digestive biofragmentation model predicted that the ingested PS and PE were progressively size-reduced and rapidly biodegraded, indicating the shorter half-life the smaller plastic particles have. This study allayed concerns regarding the accumulation of NPs by plastic-degrading mealworms and provided critical insights into the factors controlling MP and NP generation during macroinvertebrate-mediated plastic biodegradation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unveiling Fragmentation of Plastic Particles during Biodegradation of Polystyrene and Polyethylene Foams in Mealworms: Highly Sensitive Detection and Digestive Modeling Prediction

Peng,

Xiao,

Sun

et al. 2023

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…has been reported to be associated with PET degradation in T. molitor and PS degradation in Z. atratus. However, further research is needed to investigate their ability to degrade PP.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…70 Recently, evidence for nitrogen fixation has been found during the degradation of PS, LDPE, and PET by T. molitor larvae. 38,56,71 The analysis of gut microbial communities showed that various microorganisms in T. molitor larvae degrade polymers with different MW of PP polymers, yet the main functions of intestinal microorganisms in the process of plastic degradation are unified. This finding implies that the intestinal microbial community of T. molitor larvae contributes to PP biodegradation by forming a system conducive to plastic degradation domesticated through ingesting polymers.…”

Section: ■ Materials and Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…6,7 Recent researchers have identified certain macroinvertebrates capable of biodegrading major plastics, 8 such as insect larvae belonging to darkling beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) including Tenebrio molitor (T. molitor), 9−13 Tenebrio obscurus, 14 Zophobas atratus, 15,16 Uloma sp., 17 and Plesiophthalmus davidis; 18 pyralid moths (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) including Plodia interpunctella, 19,20 Galleria mellonella, 21−27 and Achroia grisella; 28 as well as other macroinvertebrates e.g., land snails Achatina Fulica. 29 Among these, T. molitor larvae have been extensively studied for their ability to degrade a wide range of materials, including wood residues in the environment, 30 lignocellulosic agricultural residues, 31,32 and various plastics including polystyrene (PS), 7−9,31−35 low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), 12,15,36,37 polyvinyl chloride (PVC), 15 polyethylene terephthalate (PET), 38 polyurethane (PUR), 39 polylactic acids (PLA), 40 and even rubber 41 and graphene oxide. 42 first confirmed the biodegradation of commercial PP foam by the larvae of T. molitor and Z. atratus.…”

Section: ■ Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Among these, T. molitor larvae have been extensively studied for their ability to degrade a wide range of materials, including wood residues in the environment, lignocellulosic agricultural residues, , and various plastics including polystyrene (PS), − ,− low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE), ,,, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyurethane (PUR), polylactic acids (PLA), and even rubber and graphene oxide . Our previous study first confirmed the biodegradation of commercial PP foam by the larvae of T.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Molecular-Weight-Dependent Degradation of Plastics: Deciphering Host–Microbiome Synergy Biodegradation of High-Purity Polypropylene Microplastics by Mealworms

He,

Ding,

Yang

et al. 2024

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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The biodegradation of polypropylene (PP), a highly persistent nonhydrolyzable polymer, by Tenebrio molitor has been confirmed using commercial PP microplastics (MPs) (M n 26.59 and M w 187.12 kDa). This confirmation was based on the reduction of the PP mass, change in molecular weight (MW), and a positive Δδ 13 C in the residual PP. A MW-dependent biodegradation mechanism was investigated using five high-purity PP MPs, classified into low (0.83 and 6.20 kDa), medium (50.40 and 108.0 kDa), and high (575.0 kDa) MW categories to access the impact of MW on the depolymerization pattern and associated gene expression of gut bacteria and the larval host. The larvae can depolymerize/biodegrade PP polymers with high MW although the consumption rate and weight losses increased, and survival rates declined with increasing PP MW. This pattern is similar to observations with polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE), i.e., both M n and M w decreased after being fed low MW PP, while M n and/or M w increased after high MW PP was fed. The gut microbiota exhibited specific bacteria associations, such as Kluyvera sp. and Pediococcus sp. for high MW PP degradation, Acinetobacter sp. for medium MW PP, and Bacillus sp. alongside three other bacteria for low MW PP metabolism. In the host transcriptome, digestive enzymes and plastic degradation-related bacterial enzymes were up-regulated after feeding on PP depending on different MWs. The T. molitor host exhibited both defensive function and degradation capability during the biodegradation of plastics, with high MW PP showing a relatively negative impact on the larvae.

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A Comparative Study on the Interaction Between Protein and PET Micro/Nanoplastics: Structural and Surface Characteristics of Particles and Impacts on Lung Carcinoma Cells (A549) and Staphylococcus aureus

Baysal,

Saygin,

Soyocak

2024

Environmental Toxicology

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The interaction between particles and proteins is a key factor determining the toxicity responses of particles. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the interaction between the emerging pollutant polyethylene terephthalate micro/nanoplastics from water bottles with bovine serum albumin. The physicochemical characteristics of micro/nanoplastics were investigated using nuclear magnetic resonance, x‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared, dynamic light scattering, and x‐ray energy dispersive spectroscopy after exposure to various concentrations and durations of protein. Furthermore, the impact of protein‐treated micro/nanoplastics on biological activities was examined using the mitochondrial activity and membrane integrity of A549 cells and the activity and biofilm production of Staphylococcus aureus. The structural characteristics of micro/nanoplastics revealed an interaction with protein. For instance, the assignment of protein‐related new proton signals (e.g., CH2, methylene protons of CH2O), changes in available protons s (e.g., CH and CH3), crystallinity, functional groups, elemental ratios, zeta potentials (−11.3 ± 1.3 to −12.4 ± 1.7 to 25.5 ± 2.3 mV), and particle size (395 ± 76 to 496 ± 60 to 866 ± 82 nm) of micro/nanoplastics were significantly observed after protein treatment. In addition, the loading (0.012–0.027 mM) and releasing (0.008–0.013 mM) of protein also showed similar responses with structural characteristics. Moreover, the cell‐based responses were changed regarding the structural and surface characteristics of micro/nanoplastics and the loading efficiencies of protein. For example, insignificant mitochondrial activity (2%–10%) and significant membrane integrity (12%–28%) of A549 cells increased compared with control, and reductions in bacterial activity (5%–40%) in many cases and biofilm production specifically at low dose of all treatment stages (13%–46% reduction) were observed.

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Responses of gut microbiomes to commercial polyester polymer biodegradation in Tenebrio molitor Larvae

Cited by 16 publications

References 75 publications

Unveiling Fragmentation of Plastic Particles during Biodegradation of Polystyrene and Polyethylene Foams in Mealworms: Highly Sensitive Detection and Digestive Modeling Prediction

Unveiling Fragmentation of Plastic Particles during Biodegradation of Polystyrene and Polyethylene Foams in Mealworms: Highly Sensitive Detection and Digestive Modeling Prediction

Molecular-Weight-Dependent Degradation of Plastics: Deciphering Host–Microbiome Synergy Biodegradation of High-Purity Polypropylene Microplastics by Mealworms

A Comparative Study on the Interaction Between Protein and PET Micro/Nanoplastics: Structural and Surface Characteristics of Particles and Impacts on Lung Carcinoma Cells (A549) and Staphylococcus aureus

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