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Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to In vitro assays reveal inherently insecticide-tolerant termite symbionts
ClearCan wood-feeding termites solve the environmental bottleneck caused by plastics? A critical state-of-the-art review
Researchers reviewed the potential for wood-feeding termites and their gut microbiomes to biodegrade synthetic plastics, arguing that structural and chemical similarities between lignocellulose and plastic polymers make termite gut bacteria a promising but underexplored source of plastic-degrading enzymes.
Insects to the rescue? Insights into applications, mechanisms, and prospects of insect-driven remediation of organic contaminants
This review explores the emerging field of using insects and their gut microbiomes to break down organic pollutants, including plastics, pesticides, and industrial chemicals. Researchers found that certain insect species and their associated bacteria can metabolize contaminants that are difficult to treat with conventional methods. The study highlights insect-driven remediation as a novel and eco-friendly approach that deserves more research attention for environmental cleanup applications.
Mite-microbe gut symbiosis: Novel concept for plastic degradation and waste management
Researchers propose a novel concept for plastic biodegradation based on mite-microbe gut symbiosis, building on three years of research exploring whether soil microarthropods (mites) and their gut microbial communities could degrade plastic materials. The paper reviews existing evidence on bacterial and fungal plastic degradation and discusses preliminary findings suggesting that mites ingesting microplastics may harbor gut symbionts capable of contributing to plastic breakdown.
Enhanced biodegradation of microplastic and phthalic acid ester plasticizer: The role of gut microorganisms in black soldier fly larvae
Researchers discovered that black soldier fly larvae can biodegrade microplastics and phthalate plasticizers, with their gut microorganisms playing a key role in the breakdown process. The study found that the larvae's digestive bacteria enhanced the degradation of both contaminants, suggesting that insect-based bioprocessing could offer a novel approach to addressing plastic pollution.
A Function-Driven Single-Cell Approach to Unveiling and Cultivating Hidden Microplastic-Degrading Microbes from Insect Gut Microbiota
Researchers developed a function-driven single-cell approach to identify and cultivate microplastic-degrading microbes from insect gut microbiota, addressing the bottleneck of discovering efficient plastic-degrading organisms from complex microbial communities. The method successfully recovered novel microplastic-degrading microbes that could not be identified through conventional culture-independent approaches, demonstrating a new strategy for harnessing gut microbiome biodiversity for sustainable plastic biodegradation.
Plastics shape the black soldier fly larvae gut microbiome and select for biodegrading functions
Researchers found that black soldier fly larvae can adapt their gut microbiome to digest a wide range of plastics, shifting their microbial communities to favor biodegrading functions. This suggests the insects could serve as living incubators for discovering new plastic-breaking enzymes for industrial cleanup applications.
Soil environment reshapes microbiota of laboratory-maintained Collembola during host development
Researchers found that exposing laboratory-raised springtails (tiny soil insects used in toxicity testing) to different natural soil environments significantly shifted the bacterial communities living in their guts, suggesting that the microbiome of these test organisms is more dynamic than previously assumed and could affect toxicology study results.
Pivotal role of earthworm gut protists in mediating antibiotic resistance genes under microplastic and sulfamethoxazole stress in soil–earthworm systems
Researchers found that gut protists in earthworms play a pivotal role in mediating the spread of antibiotic resistance genes when earthworms are co-exposed to microplastics and antibiotics in soil, identifying a previously overlooked biological pathway for AMR dissemination.
Understanding the Ecological Robustness and Adaptability of the Gut Microbiome in Plastic-Degrading Superworms (Zophobas atratus) in Response to Microplastics and Antibiotics
Researchers studied superworms (Zophobas atratus larvae) that can eat and break down five major types of plastic, including polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene. They found that the gut microbiome of these insects adapted to digest different plastics even when challenged with antibiotics, suggesting the larvae and their gut bacteria work together in a robust system that could inform future plastic biodegradation strategies.
The Impact of Metolachlor Applications and Phytoremediation Processes on Soil Microorganisms: Insights from Functional Metagenomics Analysis
This paper is not about microplastics — it studies how phytoremediation plants affect soil microbial biodiversity in fields contaminated with the herbicide metolachlor, with no connection to microplastic pollution.
Isolation of bacterial strains for efficient degradation of organophosphate pesticide
This paper is not about microplastics; it isolates and characterizes soil bacteria capable of degrading the organophosphate pesticide chlorpyrifos.
Long-term inorganic fertilizer exposure disturbed functional traits and gut bacterial conditionally rare or abundant taxa in collembolan (Entomobrya proxima Folsom)
Researchers examined how long-term inorganic fertilizer application disturbed soil functional traits and gut bacterial communities of earthworms, finding that fertilizer-driven changes in soil chemistry altered earthworm gut microbiomes in ways that may affect soil ecosystem services.
The combined effect of microplastics and tetracycline on soil microbial communities and ARGs
Researchers studied how simultaneous exposure to microplastics and tetracycline affects soil microbial communities, finding that the combination disrupted microbial diversity, altered functional gene expression, and promoted horizontal transfer of antibiotic resistance genes beyond the effects of either pollutant alone.
Evidence for strong environmental control on bacterial microbiomes of Antarctic springtails
Researchers studied the bacterial communities living inside four species of Antarctic springtails (tiny soil insects) and found that geography — where the springtails lived — was a stronger influence on their gut microbiome than which species they were. This finding helps explain how extreme environments shape the microbial ecosystems inside animals, including those exposed to microplastic contamination.
Microplastics existence intensified bloom of antibiotic resistance in livestock feces transformed by black soldier fly
Researchers found that the presence of microplastics in livestock manure processed by black soldier fly larvae intensifies the spread of antibiotic resistance genes by damaging gut epithelial cells, triggering oxidative stress, and promoting horizontal gene transfer within the larval gut microbiome.
Synergistic functional activity of a landfill microbial consortium in a microplastic-enriched environment
Scientists studied soil bacteria from a decades-old landfill to understand how microbes adapt to high concentrations of polyethylene and PET microplastics. They found that multiple bacterial species work together to break down these plastics, with different roles for bacteria floating freely versus those attached to plastic surfaces. While biodegradation of microplastics is possible, it is slow, and understanding these natural processes could eventually help with cleanup efforts.
Interactions of Microplastics with Pesticides in Soils and Their Ecotoxicological Implications
This review examines how microplastics interact with pesticides in soil environments, finding that microplastics can sorb and transport pesticides, potentially altering their bioavailability and toxicity to soil organisms and ecosystems.
Do combined nanoscale polystyrene and tetracycline impact on the incidence of resistance genes and microbial community disturbance in Enchytraeus crypticus?
Researchers exposed the soil invertebrate Enchytraeus crypticus to nanoscale polystyrene combined with tetracycline and found increased abundance of multiple antibiotic resistance genes — particularly MLSB and multidrug ARGs — along with disrupted gut microbial communities, with ARG diversity not fully recovering 14 days after exposure ended.
Microplastics occurrence, detection and removal with emphasis on insect larvae gut microbiota
This review covers the sources, detection methods, and toxic effects of microplastics across ecosystems, with a special focus on insect larvae gut microbiota as a biological degradation tool. Researchers found that certain insect larvae, such as mealworms and waxworms, harbor gut bacteria capable of breaking down plastic polymers. The study highlights biological degradation by insect-associated microbes as a promising avenue for microplastic remediation.
Antibiotic legacies shape the temperature response of soil microbial communities
Historical exposure to antibiotics in soil shaped how microbial communities responded to temperature changes, demonstrating that past stressors influence future ecosystem function. The study highlighted that antibiotic legacies from agricultural activity can compound the effects of climate change by altering the temperature sensitivity of soil microbial processes.
The Gut Microbiome Associated to Honeybees and Waste-reducing Insects
This review examined the gut microbiomes of honeybees and insects that consume organic waste including plastic-contaminated food, finding that gut bacteria play key roles in digestion and immunity. Some insect gut bacteria are being studied for their potential to biodegrade plastics, making this a relevant intersection of microbiology and plastic pollution research.
Soil fauna Protaetia brevitarsis mediated polyethylene microplastic biodegradation
Researchers found that larvae of the beetle Protaetia brevitarsis can biodegrade polyethylene microplastics in soil, with gut microbiome analysis revealing specific bacterial communities responsible for PE degradation, suggesting potential for insect-mediated plastic bioremediation.
Host species and microplastics differentiate the crop root endophytic antibiotic resistome
Researchers found that crop species and microplastic contamination significantly shape the antibiotic resistance gene profile in plant root endophytes, with microplastics enhancing resistance gene abundance via changes in root-associated microbial communities.