Polystyrene shaping effect on the enriched bacterial community from the plastic-eating Alphitobius diaperinus (Insecta: Coleoptera)

Plastic pollution has become a serious issue of global concern, and biodegradation of plastic wastes is representing one attractive environment-friendly alternative to traditional disposal paths. It is known that insects are involved in the plastic polymer degradation process, with reported evidence of tenebrionid beetle larvae capable to degrade polystyrene (PS), one of the most used plastics worldwide. Recently, a ribosomal RNA based survey on the insect gut microbiota of the lesser mealworm Alphitobius diaperinus has revealed differentially abundant microbial taxa between PS-fed larvae and control group. Following these findings, an enrichment bacterial culture was set up in liquid carbon-free basal medium with PS film as sole carbon source using PS-fed larvae of A. diaperinus as inoculum. After two-months the culture was analysed both by molecular and culture-based methods. Isolated bacteria which had become prevalent under the selective enrichment conditions resulted ascribable to three taxonomic groups: Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, and Stenothrophomonas. The predominance of these groups in PS-fed larvae was confirmed by using bacterial 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and it was consistent with the results of previous reports. Isolated bacteria were able to attach to PS surfaces and SEM observations showed the presence of thin fibrillar structures connecting the bacterial cells to the abiotic surface.

Automated summary

Plastic pollution is a global concern, and biodegradation of plastic wastes is an environment-friendly alternative. Insects, such as tenebrionid beetle larvae, are involved in the plastic polymer degradation, with the ability to degrade polystyrene (PS). A study on the insect gut microbiota of the lesser mealworm revealed differential microbial taxa between PS-fed larvae and control group. Enrichment bacterial culture using PS-fed larvae as inoculum showed prevalence of Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, and Stenothrophomonas. These bacteria were able to attach to PS surfaces, as observed by SEM.