scholarly journals Biodegradation of Polystyrene by Tenebrio molitor, Galleria mellonella, and Zophobas atratus Larvae and Comparison of Their Degradation Effects

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (20) ◽  
pp. 3539
Author(s):  
Shan Jiang ◽  
Tingting Su ◽  
Jingjing Zhao ◽  
Zhanyong Wang
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Degradation Process ◽  
Tenebrio Molitor ◽  
Community Diversity ◽  
Intestinal Microbiome ◽  
Yellow Mealworm ◽  
Greater Wax Moth ◽  
Zophobas Atratus ◽  
Wax Moth

Plastic waste pollution and its difficult degradation process have aroused widespread concern. Research has demonstrated that the larvae of Tenebrio molitor (yellow mealworm), Galleria mellonella (greater wax moth), and Zophobas atratus (superworm) possess a biodegradation ability for polystyrene (PS) within the gut microbiota of these organisms. In this study, the difference in PS degradation and the changes of the gut microbiota were compared before and after feeding PS. The results showed that superworm had the strongest PS consumption capacity and the highest survival rate during the 30 d experiment period. They all could degrade PS to different degrees. Superworm showed the highest ability to degrade PS into low-molecular-weight substances, while yellow mealworm depolymerized PS strongly by destroying the benzene ring. The changes of the intestinal microbiome caused by feeding PS showed that after ingesting PS, there was a decrease in community diversity in superworm and yellow mealworm, but an increase in greater wax moth. Meanwhile, Enterococcus and Enterobacteriaceae, found in all three species’ larvae upon 20 d of PS feeding, might play an important role in PS degradation. The results will provide more accurate PS degradation comparative data of the three species’ larvae and theoretical guidance for further research on the efficient PS biodegradations.

Toxin-binding proteins isolated from yellow mealworm Tenebrio molitor and wax moth Galleria mellonella

2011 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 202-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. V. Bulushova ◽  
D. P. Zhuzhikov ◽  
L. I. Lyutikova ◽  
N. E. Kirillova ◽  
I. A. Zalunin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Binding Proteins ◽  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Tenebrio Molitor ◽  
Yellow Mealworm ◽  
Toxin Binding ◽  
Wax Moth

scholarly journals Plastic biodegradation: do Galleria mellonella larvae - bio-assimilate polyethylene? A spectral histology approach using isotopic labelling and infrared microspectroscopy.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnès Réjasse ◽  
Jehan Waeytens ◽  
Ariane Deniset-Besseau ◽  
Nicolas Crapart ◽  
Christina Nielsen-Leroux ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fourier Transform ◽  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Potential Candidate ◽  
Isotopic Labelling ◽  
Infrared Microspectroscopy ◽  
Greater Wax Moth ◽  
Fourier Transform Infrared Microspectroscopy ◽  
Larval Frass ◽  
Wax Moth

Environmental pollution by non-biodegradable polyethylene (PE) plastics is of major concern, thus, organisms capable of bio-degrading PE are required. The larvae of the Greater Wax Moth, Galleria mellonella (Gm), were identified as a potential candidate to digest PE. In this study, we tested whether PE was metabolized by Gm larvae and could found in their tissues. We examined the implication of the larval gut microbiota by using conventional and axenic reared insects. First, our study showed that neither beeswax nor PE alone favour the growth of young larvae. We then used Fourier-Transform Infrared Microspectroscopy (microFTIR) to detect deuterium in larvae fed with isotopically labelled food. Perdeuterated molecules were found in most tissues of larvae fed with deuterium labelled oil for 72 hours proving that microFTIR can detect metabolization of 1-2 mg of deuterated food. No bio-assimilation was detected in the tissues of larvae fed with 1-5 mg of perdeuterated PED4 for 72 hours and 19-21 days, but micron sized PE particles were found in the larval digestive tract cavities. We evidenced weak bio-degradation of PE films in contact for 24 hours with the dissected gut of conventional larvae; and in the PED4 particles from excreted larval frass. Our study confirms that Gm larvae can bio-degrade PE but can not necessarily metabolize it.

scholarly journals Role of the intestinal microbiome in low-density polyethylene degradation by caterpillar larvae of the greater wax moth, Galleria mellonella

2020 ◽  
Vol 287 (1922) ◽  
pp. 20200112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bryan J. Cassone ◽  
Harald C. Grove ◽  
Oluwadara Elebute ◽  
Sachi M. P. Villanueva ◽  
Christophe M. R. LeMoine
Keyword(s):  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Intestinal Microbiome ◽  
Low Density Polyethylene ◽  
Low Density ◽  
Greater Wax Moth ◽  
Short Term Exposure ◽  
Biodegradation Process ◽  
Series Of Experiments ◽  
Wax Moth

Recently, a few insects, including the caterpillar larva of the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella , have been identified as avid ‘plastivores’. These caterpillars are able to ingest and metabolize polyethylene at unprecedented rates. While it appears that G. mellonella plays an important role in the biodegradation process, the contribution of its intestinal microbiome remains poorly understood and contested. In a series of experiments, we present strong evidence of an intricate relationship between an intact microbiome, low-density polyethylene (LDPE) biodegradation and the production of glycol as a metabolic by-product. First, we biochemically confirmed that G. mellonella larvae consume and metabolize LDPE, as individual caterpillars fed on polyethylene excreted glycol, but those excretions were reduced by antibiotic treatment. Further, while the gut bacterial communities remained relatively stable regardless of diet, we showed that during the early phases of feeding on LDPE (24–72 h), caterpillars exhibited increased microbial abundance relative to those starved or fed on their natural honeycomb diet. Finally, by isolating and growing gut bacteria with polyethylene as their exclusive carbon source for over 1 year, we identified microorganisms in the genus Acinetobacter that appeared to be involved in this biodegradation process. Taken collectively, our study indicates that during short-term exposure, the intestinal microbiome of G. mellonella is intricately associated with polyethylene biodegradation in vivo .

scholarly journals Establishing an invertebrate Galleria mellonella greater wax moth larval model of Neisseria gonorrhoeae infection

Virulence ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1900-1920
Author(s):  
Aiste Dijokaite ◽  
Maria Victoria Humbert ◽  
Emma Borkowski ◽  
Roberto M La Ragione ◽  
Myron Christodoulides
Keyword(s):  
Neisseria Gonorrhoeae ◽  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Greater Wax Moth ◽  
Wax Moth

Transgenic expression of gallerimycin, a novel antifungal insect defensin from the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella, confers resistance to pathogenic fungi in tobacco

2006 ◽  
Vol 387 (5) ◽  
pp. 549-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregor Langen ◽  
Jafargholi Imani ◽  
Boran Altincicek ◽  
Gernot Kieseritzky ◽  
Karl-Heinz Kogel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Transgenic Tobacco ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Ectopic Expression ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Transgenic Expression ◽  
Greater Wax Moth ◽  
Insect Defensin ◽  
Wax Moth

Abstract A cDNA encoding gallerimycin, a novel antifungal peptide from the greater wax moth Galleria mellonella, was isolated from a cDNA library of genes expressed during innate immune response in the caterpillars. Upon ectopic expression of gallerimycin in tobacco, using Agrobacterium tumefaciens as a vector, gallerimycin conferred resistance to the fungal pathogens Erysiphe cichoracearum and Sclerotinia minor. Quantification of gallerimycin mRNA in transgenic tobacco by real-time PCR confirmed transgenic expression under control of the inducible mannopine synthase promoter. Leaf sap and intercellular washing fluid from transgenic tobacco inhibited in vitro germination and growth of the fungal pathogens, demonstrating that gallerimycin is secreted into intercellular spaces. The feasibility of the use of gallerimycin to counteract fungal diseases in crop plants is discussed.

Greater wax moth Galleria mellonella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) as a resistant model host for Nosema pyrausta (Microsporidia: Nosematidae)

2018 ◽  
Vol 157 ◽  
pp. 1-3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuri S. Tokarev ◽  
Ekaterina V. Grizanova ◽  
Anastasia N. Ignatieva ◽  
Ivan M. Dubovskiy
Keyword(s):  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Greater Wax Moth ◽  
Lepidoptera Pyralidae ◽  
Wax Moth
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