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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.
Evidence for microbial degradation of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) has previously been reported, but little is known about the degrading strains and enzymes. Here, we isolate a PVC-degrading bacterium from the gut of insect larvae and shed light on the PVC degradation pathway using a multi-omic approach. We show that the larvae of an insect pest, Spodoptera frugiperda, can survive by feeding on PVC film, and this is associated with enrichment of Enterococcus, Klebsiella and other bacteria in the larva's gut microbiota. A bacterial strain isolated from the larval intestine (Klebsiella sp. EMBL-1) is able to depolymerize and utilize PVC as sole energy source. We use genomic, transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic analyses to identify genes and proteins potentially involved in PVC degradation (e.g., catalase-peroxidase, dehalogenases, enolase, aldehyde dehydrogenase and oxygenase), and propose a PVC biodegradation pathway. Furthermore, enzymatic assays using the purified catalase-peroxidase support a role in PVC depolymerization.
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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.
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.
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.
Integrative frameworks for plastic biodegradation in insect–microbiome systems: mechanistic insights, emerging multi-omics and enzyme engineering perspectives
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Certain insect larvae (like mealworms) can chew up and break down plastic with help from bacteria living in their guts, offering a possible natural solution to our massive plastic waste problem. This review pulls together what scientists currently know about how this works — a team effort between the insect's own body and its gut microbes — though it's still unclear exactly how much the plastic is being fully broken down versus just partially altered. The bigger payoff: understanding these natural processes could help researchers engineer better enzymes to break down plastic waste at scale, which matters because plastic pollution and the microplastics it creates are increasingly showing up in our food, water
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