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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Assessing the Impact of Nutritional Stress on the Identification of Plastic-Associated Bacteria in Insect Gut Microbiota
ClearStarvation Effects on Superworms: Implications in Identifying Plastic-Degrading Genes and Microbes
Researchers found that starvation triggers significant stress responses in superworms (Zophobas morio) that alter both their transcriptome and gut microbiome, identifying 42 differentially expressed genes and demonstrating that starved insects should be used as controls in plastic degradation studies to accurately distinguish plastic-degrading genes and microorganisms from starvation-response effects.
Polystyrene-degrading bacteria modulate host stress and toxicity responses to microplastic exposure in Caenorhabditis elegans
Scientists studied how gut bacteria affect the health impacts of microplastics (tiny plastic particles) using lab worms as a model. They found that different types of plastic-eating bacteria in the gut can either make microplastic exposure more harmful or help protect against it. This research suggests that the specific mix of bacteria in our intestines might influence how dangerous microplastics are to our health.
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.
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.
Examining the potential of plastic-fed black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) as "bioincubators" of plastic-degrading bacteria.
Researchers examined whether black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) fed on plastic waste can serve as 'bioincubators' for plastic-degrading bacteria, investigating how gut microbiota shifts in response to plastic-containing diets and whether these bacteria retain degradation activity.
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.
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.
Isolation of Plastic Digesting Microbes from the Gastrointestinal Tract of Tenebrio Molitor
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.
Identification of plastic-degrading bacteria in the human gut
Scientists discovered bacteria in the human gut that can break down common plastics like polyethylene and polypropylene, though all the plastic-degrading species identified were opportunistic pathogens. The bacteria could physically and chemically alter plastic surfaces but only achieved limited depolymerization. This finding raises the question of whether microplastic exposure in the gut could promote the growth of potentially harmful bacteria while they attempt to digest the plastic.
Disruption of midgut homeostasis by microplastics in Spodoptera frugiperda: Insights into inflammatory and oxidative mechanisms
Researchers studied how polyethylene microplastics affect the gut of fall armyworms, a common agricultural pest insect. They found that microplastics caused gut inflammation and oxidative damage, disrupting normal gut function, which provides insight into how microplastic contamination in soil may affect insects throughout the food chain.
Unveiling Fragmentation of Plastic Particles during Biodegradation of Polystyrene and Polyethylene Foams in Mealworms: Highly Sensitive Detection and Digestive Modeling Prediction
Researchers discovered that mealworms biodegrading polystyrene and polyethylene foams generate micro- and nanoplastic fragments during the digestion process, despite removing over 70% of the ingested plastic. The study developed a digestive biofragmentation model to predict plastic fragmentation patterns, suggesting that insect-based plastic biodegradation may create secondary contamination that warrants further assessment.
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.
Corrigendum: Plastic biodegradation by in vitro environmental microorganisms and in vivo gut microorganisms of insects
This is a published correction (corrigendum) to an earlier study on plastic biodegradation by environmental microorganisms and insect gut bacteria; it is not a standalone research paper presenting new findings.
Mitogenomic profiling and gut microbial analysis of the newly identified polystyrene-consuming lesser mealworm in Kenya
Researchers identified a lesser mealworm species in Kenya capable of consuming and surviving on polystyrene plastic, while also characterizing the gut bacteria — including Kluyvera and Enterobacter — likely responsible for plastic breakdown. This is the first report of plastic-degrading lesser mealworms from Africa and points toward insect-based bioremediation as a promising tool for plastic waste management.
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.
Insects at the crossroads of microplastics pollution: Mechanistic insights, ecological risks, and research frontiers
This review of existing research found that tiny plastic particles called microplastics are harming insects by causing stress in their bodies and affecting their ability to digest food, think clearly, and reproduce. Insects also break down larger plastic pieces into even more microplastics, making the pollution problem worse. This matters because insects are crucial for pollinating our food crops and keeping ecosystems healthy, so plastic pollution could threaten our food supply.
Incorporation of polylactic acid microplastics into the carbon cycle as a carbon source to remodel the endogenous metabolism of the gut
Researchers discovered that gut bacteria can break down so-called biodegradable PLA microplastics and incorporate the carbon into their own metabolism, fundamentally altering the gut's energy balance. This process reduced beneficial short-chain fatty acids that fuel gut lining cells and caused decreased appetite and weight loss in mice, suggesting that biodegradable plastics may not be as harmless inside the body as assumed.
Gut microbiome of mealworms (Tenebrio molitor Larvae) show similar responses to polystyrene and corn straw diets
Researchers compared the gut microbiomes of mealworms fed polystyrene plastic versus corn straw and found strikingly similar microbial community responses to both diets. The findings suggest that the ability of mealworm larvae to break down plastics likely evolved from ancient biological mechanisms originally designed to digest natural plant fibers like lignocellulose. The study points to mealworm gut bacteria as a potential resource for developing biological plastic degradation strategies.
The Effect of Larval Exposure to Plastic Pollution on the Gut Microbiota of the Major Malaria Vector Anopheles arabiensis Patton (Diptera: Culicidae)
Researchers exposed larvae of the malaria-carrying mosquito Anopheles arabiensis to degraded plastic, plastic additives, and latex beads, then examined how these exposures changed the gut bacteria of adult mosquitoes. While overall bacterial diversity was minimally affected, each type of plastic stressor altered the specific composition of the gut microbial community. The findings are significant because gut bacteria influence mosquito immunity and insecticide resistance, meaning plastic pollution could indirectly affect malaria control efforts.
Microplastics in Motion: How Earthworm Guts Become Microbial Gateways through Plastic Surface Dynamics
This study tracked how microplastics move through earthworm digestive systems and found that the gut environment alters the microbial communities colonizing plastic surfaces, potentially transforming earthworms into vectors that spread plastic-associated microbes through soil ecosystems.
Polystyrene shaping effect on the enriched bacterial community from the plastic-eating Alphitobius diaperinus (Insecta: Coleoptera)
Researchers enriched and identified bacteria from the gut of polystyrene-fed lesser mealworm beetles, isolating Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, and Stenotrophomonas species that attached to plastic surfaces, confirming these microbes as promising candidates for breaking down polystyrene waste.
Exploring the potential of earthworm gut bacteria for plastic degradation
Researchers tested five species of earthworm gut bacteria against four common plastic types and found that only one bacterium — Streptomyces fulvissimus — showed meaningful ability to degrade polylactic acid (PLA) plastic, and only at 30°C with a small carbon food source, pointing to a narrow but real bioremediation potential.
Host metabolic integration enables superior polystyrene degradation in cockroaches
Scientists found that cockroaches can break down plastic much faster than other insects—eating and digesting polystyrene (a common plastic) more than 10 times faster than previously studied bugs like mealworms. The cockroaches work together with bacteria in their guts to completely break down the plastic into harmless substances. This discovery could lead to new ways to reduce plastic pollution, which is important since plastic waste harms our environment and can end up in our food and water.
Mechanisms and Perspectives of Microplastic Biodegradation by Insects and Their Associated Microorganisms
This review examined how insects and their gut microbiota contribute to microplastic biodegradation, summarizing known degradation mechanisms and the microorganisms involved. The authors found that several insect species harbor gut bacteria capable of depolymerizing common plastics like polystyrene and polyethylene, though degradation rates remain too slow for practical remediation at scale.