ARCHIVES
VOL. 11, ISSUE 3 (2026)
Mechanistic insights into polystyrene and polyethylene depolymerization by Galleria Mellonella and screening of involved gut bacteria
Authors
Elangovan Janani, Rajasekar Aruliah
Abstract
The synthetic plastic pollution, driven by the accumulation of
recalcitrant polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene (PE), represents an urgent
ecological challenge due to its environmental persistence and high molecular
weight. Conventional waste treatments often suffer from high energy demands and
toxic emissions, making green biodegradation strategies highly sought after.
This study provides critical mechanistic insights into the concurrent
depolymerization of PS and PE foam configurations by the larvae of Galleria
mellonella over a 25-day experimental trial. The larvae exhibited robust
polymer consumption, achieving a maximum weight reduction of 68.0% for thermo
black sheets, followed by 61.0% for thermocol and 58.0% for thermo white
sheets. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) of the larval gut fluid
confirmed rigorous in vivo oxidative depolymerization. This was
evidenced by the distinct splitting of aliphatic carbon-hydrogen backbones, a
depletion of resonance-stabilized aromatic benzene ring signatures, and the
formation of oxidized intermediate carbonyl (C=O) functional groups. Sodium
Dodecyl Sulfate-Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) verified the
presence of salivary proteins, corroborating an insect-mediated initial surface
modification phase. Concurrently, a highly metabolic plastic-degrading
bacterial strain was isolated from the gut microbiota. Identified via 16S rRNA
gene sequencing as Klebsiella aerogenes WA1 (GenBank: PX855136.1), the
isolate displayed broad phenotypic versatility and carbohydrate utilization
capabilities optimal for surviving polymer-contaminated ecosystems. Ultimately,
these findings elucidate a powerful host-microbiome synergistic framework that
can be leveraged to develop sustainable, bio-inspired engineering solutions to
mitigate synthetic plastic waste globally.
Download
Pages:272-279
How to cite this article:
Elangovan Janani, Rajasekar Aruliah "Mechanistic insights into polystyrene and polyethylene depolymerization by <i>Galleria Mellonella</i> and screening of involved gut bacteria". International Journal of Entomology Research, Vol 11, Issue 3, 2026, Pages 272-279
Download Author Certificate
Please enter the email address corresponding to this article submission to download your certificate.