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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to A potential enzymatic pathway for polystyrene degradation using saliva of greater wax moth Galleria mellonella
ClearBiodegradation of Polystyrene by Galleria mellonella: Identification of Potential Enzymes Involved in the Degradative Pathway
This study confirmed that larvae of the wax moth Galleria mellonella can biodegrade polystyrene, one of the most resistant plastics, and identified candidate enzymes involved in the degradation process. Researchers used proteomics to pinpoint enzymes in the larval gut, providing insights that could inform future biotechnological approaches to plastic waste management.
Complete digestion/biodegradation of polystyrene microplastics by greater wax moth (Galleria mellonella) larvae: Direct in vivo evidence, gut microbiota independence, and potential metabolic pathways
Researchers provided direct in vivo evidence that greater wax moth larvae can completely digest polystyrene microplastics, demonstrating that biodegradation occurs independently of gut microbiota and identifying potential metabolic pathways involved in the breakdown process.
BIODEGRADATION OF POLYSTYRENE BY PLASTIVORES GREATER WAXWORMS LARVAE (Galleria mellonella).
Researchers investigated the biodegradation of polystyrene by Greater Waxworm larvae (Galleria mellonella), using weight loss measurements, morphology analysis, and FTIR spectroscopy to confirm that the larvae could consume and chemically alter polystyrene whose structure resembles beeswax. The findings identify Galleria mellonella as a promising biological agent for reducing polystyrene accumulation in the environment.
A novel Gordonia sp. PS3 isolated from the gut of Galleria mellonella larvae: Mechanism of polystyrene biodegradation and environmental toxicological evaluation
Researchers isolated a new bacterial strain, Gordonia sp. PS3, from the gut of wax moth larvae that can break down polystyrene microplastics with about a 34 percent degradation rate over 40 days. They identified specific enzymes responsible for the breakdown and confirmed the process produces non-toxic byproducts. The discovery points to a promising biological approach for addressing polystyrene plastic pollution in the environment.
Isolation, Identification, and Characterization of Polystyrene-Degrading Bacteria From the Gut of Galleria Mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) Larvae
A polystyrene-degrading bacterium identified as Massilia sp. was isolated from the gut of greater wax moth larvae, and characterization confirmed it could break down polystyrene, depolymerize the benzene ring structure, and reduce polymer molecular weight when grown on PS as the sole carbon source, making it a candidate for biotechnology applications.
Wax worm saliva and the enzymes therein are the key to polyethylene degradation by Galleria mellonella
Researchers discovered that the saliva of wax worm larvae (Galleria mellonella) can oxidize and begin breaking down polyethylene plastic within hours at room temperature, identifying two specific enzymes responsible — the first animal-derived enzymes known to initiate plastic degradation, offering a promising biological tool for tackling plastic waste.
Biodegradation of Polyethylene and Polystyrene by Greater Wax Moth Larvae (Galleria mellonella L.) and the Effect of Co-diet Supplementation on the Core Gut Microbiome
This study tested whether co-feeding larvae of the wax moth Galleria mellonella with supplementary diet could enhance survival while maintaining their ability to biodegrade polyethylene and polystyrene plastics. The results show that larvae can degrade both polymer types when fed co-diets, offering a potential avenue for biological plastic breakdown.
Wax worm saliva and the enzymes therein are the key to polyethylene degradation by Galleria mellonella
Researchers found that the saliva of Galleria mellonella (wax worm) larvae can oxidize and depolymerize polyethylene at room temperature within hours, overcoming the critical initial oxidation bottleneck in plastic biodegradation. Two specific enzymes within the saliva were identified as responsible for this capability, representing the first discovery of enzymes able to break down polyethylene under mild physiological conditions.
Beyond Microbial Biodegradation: Plastic Degradation by Galleria mellonella
Researchers reviewed the ability of the wax moth larva Galleria mellonella to degrade various types of plastic, including polyethylene. The study highlights this insect as one of the most promising biological approaches to plastic waste degradation, as it produces enzymes capable of breaking down polyethylene, offering a potential complement to microbial biodegradation strategies.
The Ability of Insects to Degrade Complex Synthetic Polymers
This review synthesizes research on insect-mediated biodegradation of synthetic polymers, examining species from Coleopteran and Lepidopteran orders — including mealworms, wax moths, and flour beetles — whose gut microbial symbionts enable breakdown of polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyurethane, and PVC into lower molecular weight, less toxic excreta.
Biodegradación de espumas plásticas por larvas de insectos: ¿una estrategia sustentable?
This review examines the biodegradation of plastic foams by insect larvae, particularly mealworms and waxworms, as a potential sustainable strategy for managing plastic waste. Researchers discuss the enzymatic mechanisms involved, current limitations in scale-up, and prospects for integrating insect-based degradation into waste management systems.
Optimizing polystyrene degradation, microbial community and metabolite analysis of intestinal flora of yellow mealworms, Tenebrio molitor.
Yellow mealworm larvae fed only expanded polystyrene were found to biodegrade the plastic, with the efficiency depending on temperature and humidity conditions. The gut microbiome of the larvae played a key role, and researchers identified metabolic pathways involved in polystyrene breakdown, advancing understanding of insect-based plastic biodegradation.
Biodegradation of Polystyrene by Plastic-Eating Tenebrionidae Larvae
Researchers examined the biodegradation of polystyrene by Tenebrionidae beetle larvae, testing the ability of plastic-eating mealworm larvae to break down the highly stable, hydrophobic polymer. The study characterized polymer molecular weight changes, gut microbiome contributions, and metabolic byproducts, demonstrating that larval gut bacteria play a key role in PS depolymerization.
Degradation of polystyrene plastics by alkane monooxygenase and alcohol dehydrogenase
Researchers investigated the ability of alkane monooxygenase and alcohol dehydrogenase enzymes to degrade polystyrene plastics, identifying a microbial enzymatic pathway capable of breaking down this highly persistent polymer that ranks among the six most commercially important plastics worldwide.
The Galleria mellonella Hologenome Supports Microbiota-Independent Metabolism of Long-Chain Hydrocarbon Beeswax
This study assembled a high-quality genome of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella to understand how it degrades wax and plastic molecules, identifying key enzymes and pathways involved in long-chain hydrocarbon metabolism. The findings advance knowledge of the genetic basis for plastic degradation by insects and may support biotechnological applications in plastic biodegradation.
Polystyrene degradation by bacteria isolated from the larvae of Rhynchophorusphoenicis
Researchers investigated the polystyrene (PS) biodegradation capability of bacteria isolated from the gut of African palm weevil larvae (Rhynchophorus phoenicis), feeding 100 larvae on PS foam for 21 days and then screening gut bacterial isolates for degradation activity in flask-based assays. The study identified PS-degrading bacterial strains from R. phoenicis gut contents, expanding the known range of insect species whose gut microbiota can break down synthetic plastics.
Nature’s solution to degrade long-chain hydrocarbons: A life cycle study of beeswax and plastic eating insect larvae
Researchers examined the lifecycle stages of three beeswax-eating insect larvae species (Galleria mellonella, Achroia grisella, and Uloma sp.) and measured their ability to degrade beeswax, polyethylene, and polystyrene under laboratory conditions. They found that all three insect larvae caused measurable weight loss in polyethylene and polystyrene feeds over time, confirming biodegradation capacity and identifying these species as potential biological agents for plastic waste degradation.
Comparison of three insect larvae biodegrading polyethylene and role of the intestinal bacterial strains in polyethylene degradation by Galleria mellonella larvae
Compared to two other insect species, Galleria mellonella waxworm larvae showed the highest polyethylene degradation ability, with gut bacterial strains identified as key contributors to plastic breakdown in a process transferable outside the host.
Can the insects Galleria mellonella and Tenebrio molitor be the future of plastic biodegradation?
This review examines recent discoveries about how wax moth and mealworm larvae can break down common plastics using enzymes in their saliva and gut microorganisms. Researchers found that these insects offer a promising biological alternative to traditional plastic disposal methods like landfilling and incineration, which themselves contribute to microplastic pollution. The study highlights key challenges including the need for standardized testing methods and proposes innovative ideas like using insects as living bioreactors for plastic waste processing.
Biodegradation of Polyethylene by Enterobacter sp. D1 from the Guts of Wax Moth Galleria mellonella
Researchers isolated the bacterium Enterobacter sp. D1 from the gut of wax moth larvae and found it capable of biodegrading polyethylene film. After 14 days of cultivation, the bacteria formed colonies on the plastic surface and caused visible damage including roughness and cracks. The study suggests that gut bacteria from plastic-consuming insects could offer potential avenues for developing biological approaches to plastic waste management.
Biodegradation of Polystyrene by Tenebrio molitor, Galleria mellonella, and Zophobas atratus Larvae and Comparison of Their Degradation Effects
Researchers compared polystyrene biodegradation by three insect larvae species, finding that superworms consumed the most plastic and converted it most efficiently into low-molecular-weight substances, while all three species harbored gut bacteria from the genera Enterococcus and Enterobacteriaceae that appear to drive the degradation process.
Biodegradation of Polystyrene by Plastic-Eating Tenebrionidae Larvae
Researchers tested the ability of mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) and superworm (Zophobas morio) larvae to biodegrade polystyrene foam through feeding experiments with different dietary conditions. They found that both species could consume and break down polystyrene, with gut microorganisms playing a key role in the degradation process. The study suggests that insect-based biodegradation could offer a biological approach to addressing polystyrene waste in the environment.
Gut Microbiome and Degradation Product Formation during Biodegradation of Expanded Polystyrene by Mealworm Larvae under Different Feeding Strategies
Researchers found that mealworm larvae successfully degrade polystyrene under different feeding strategies, with gut microbiome composition and degradation byproduct profiles varying by diet, demonstrating that diet manipulation can optimize the biological plastic-degradation capacity of the mealworm system.
Physicochemical and Structural Evidence that Bacillus cereus Isolated from the Gut of Waxworms (Galleria mellonella Larvae) Biodegrades Polypropylene Efficiently In Vitro
Researchers isolated Bacillus cereus bacteria from waxworm gut microbiota and demonstrated that it biodegrades polypropylene plastic in vitro by oxidizing the polymer surface to form carbonyl and hydroxyl groups, with high-temperature gel permeation chromatography confirming measurable molecular weight reduction — pointing to potential enzymes for future plastic-degradation applications.