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Unveiling gut microbiota and metabolic functions contributed to polyvinyl chloride degradation in Spodoptera frugiperda larvae
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Researchers discovered that gut bacteria of fall armyworm larvae (Spodoptera frugiperda) can degrade polyvinyl chloride, identifying an Enterococcus casseliflavus strain encoding a NAD-dependent oxidoreductase that directly dechlorinates PVC — the first documented case of enzymatic polymer dechlorination, offering a potential biocatalyst for plastic waste remediation.
The accumulation of synthetic plastic waste, particularly polyvinyl chloride (PVC), threatens ecosystems globally. While microbial biodegradation represents a sustainable solution, limited effective PVC-degrading microbial bioresources have been identified. Here, we investigated the gut microbiota of Spodoptera frugiperda larvae, revealing a consistent microbial profile dominated by Enterococcus in both gut contents and tissues. PVC film feeding induced significant microbiota shifts, with functional parallels to PVC powder-fed Tenebrio molitor larvae despite taxonomic divergence. Through enzyme-centric analysis, we found an Enterococcus casseliflavus strain from the gut of S. frugiperda larvae could encode a NAD-dependent oxidoreductase that directly dechlorinates additive-free PVC, representing the first case of enzymatic polymer dechlorination. This enzyme reduced PVC molecular weight (Mn: 12.02 %; Mw: 14.07 %) and notably liberated chloride ions (6.48 mg/L with NADH as a co-factor). Our findings demonstrate the PVC-degrading capacity of S. frugiperda gut microbiota and reveal its dechlorination mechanism, offering an enzymatic candidate for developing novel biocatalysts and engineered microbial strains for enhanced biodegradation. By unravelling insect-associated microbes and enzymes, this work lays a theoretical foundation for their application potentials in sustainable PVC wastes upcycling and microplastic remediation.
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Polyvinyl Chloride Degradation by Intestinal Klebsiella of Pest larvae
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Researchers discovered that larvae of the agricultural pest Spodoptera frugiperda can survive on a diet of PVC plastic film alone, and that the gut bacteria of these larvae — particularly a strain of Klebsiella — are capable of degrading PVC. This finding opens a potential new avenue for microbial PVC degradation, which has previously been extremely difficult to achieve.
Polyvinyl Chloride Degradation by Intestinal Klebsiella of Pest larvae
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Researchers discovered that the larvae of the fall armyworm pest can survive on PVC plastic film as a food source, and identified intestinal bacteria capable of degrading PVC. Insect gut microbiomes that break down PVC could be a source of novel plastic-degrading enzymes relevant to bioremediation.
Polyvinyl chloride degradation by a bacterium isolated from the gut of insect larvae
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Researchers isolated a PVC-degrading bacterium (Klebsiella sp. EMBL-1) from the gut of Spodoptera frugiperda insect larvae that had survived feeding on PVC film. Using genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses, the study identified genes and proteins potentially involved in PVC depolymerization, offering new insights into biological plastic degradation pathways.
Biodegradation of polyvinyl chloride by Citrobacter koseri isolated from superworms (Zophobas atratus larvae)
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Scientists isolated a bacterium called Citrobacter koseri from the gut of superworms that can break down polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic. The bacterium degraded unplasticized PVC film, which is notoriously difficult to biodegrade, showing measurable weight loss and surface changes over the study period. This discovery could lead to eco-friendly biological methods for breaking down one of the most stubborn plastic pollutants.
Isolation of Plastic Digesting Microbes from the Gastrointestinal Tract of Tenebrio Molitor
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Researchers isolated bacteria from the gut of Tenebrio molitor mealworm larvae that are capable of degrading polystyrene and polyethylene microplastics. The identified gut microbes showed plastic-degrading enzymatic activity, suggesting potential for bioremediation applications.
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