Isolation of Plastic Digesting Microbes from the Gastrointestinal Tract of Tenebrio Molitor

Abstract

Plastics, particularly polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE), are pervasive in ecosystems and degrade slowly, leading to the formation of microplastics and nanoplastics, which pose environmental and health risks. The gut microbiota of Tenebrio molitor larvae (mealworms) can degrade plastics, making them a potential model for studying microbial plastic digestion. This study investigated how rearing T. molitor on PS-or PE-supplemented diets over three generations affected gut microbiota composition and plastic degradation. Larvae were reared on wheat bran (control), PS, or PE diets, and microbial communities from their guts were cultured to assess plastic metabolism. Results showed that the PE-supplemented diet enhanced bacterial plastic degradation, while the PS-supplemented diet did not lead to similar improvements. Microbes from PE-fed larvae exhibited increased plastic metabolic activity compared to controls, and several bacterial strains with plastic-degrading capabilities were identified. However, microbial digestion of PS was less efficient, and potential dysbiosis due to the presence of Dickeya phage in PS-fed larvae may have influenced the results. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms driving microbial plastic digestion and to determine the applicability of these findings to environmental plastic remediation, particularly for micro- and nanoplastics.