Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics01:28

Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a synthetic polymer widely utilized in the packaging industry, particularly for bottles and containers. Due to its chemical stability and durability, PET accumulates in the environment, contributing significantly to plastic pollution. It comprises repeating units of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, resulting in a semi-crystalline structure that is resistant to natural degradation processes.A notable breakthrough in plastic biodegradation came with the...
Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides01:28

Microbial Bioremediation of Pesticides

Pesticides often feature structurally complex chemical architectures, incorporating halogen groups and multiple aromatic rings. These characteristics confer high chemical stability, rendering many pesticides resistant to natural degradation processes. This resistance poses significant environmental concerns, as persistent pesticide residues can accumulate in ecosystems and affect non-target organisms.Despite the inherent stability of many pesticides, certain microorganisms possess the metabolic...
Bioplastics01:27

Bioplastics

Bioplastics derived from microbial processes present a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Among these, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), particularly polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs), have emerged as prominent candidates due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. These polymers are synthesized by a variety of bacteria, such as Cupriavidus necator and Pseudomonas putida, which naturally accumulate PHAs as intracellular carbon and energy reserves, especially under...
Production of Biopesticides01:18

Production of Biopesticides

Biopesticides offer a sustainable alternative to chemical pesticides, utilizing microbial agents to control agricultural pests. Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) is a widely employed bacterium known for its potent insecticidal activity. Bt biopesticides are favored for their specificity to insect pests, minimal environmental impact, and natural degradability.Mechanism of Bt Toxin Action Bt produces insecticidal crystal (Cry) proteins during its sporulation phase. These proteins form parasporal...
Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters01:20

Types of Step-Growth Polymers: Polyesters

The introduction of polyesters has brought major development to the textile industry. The wrinkle-free behavior of polyester blends has eliminated the need for starching and ironing clothes.
Polyesters are commonly prepared from terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol; the crude product is known as poly(ethylene terephthalate) or PET. However, polyesters are synthesized industrially by transesterification of dimethyl terephthalate with ethylene glycol at 150 °C. The two reactants and the polymer...
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons01:26

Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons

Bioremediation is an environmentally sustainable process that employs living organisms—primarily microorganisms—to degrade or neutralize pollutants from contaminated environments. In oil spills and hydrocarbon pollution, bioremediation involves the use of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria to transform toxic compounds into less harmful substances. This approach leverages natural microbial metabolic processes and is considered both cost-effective and ecologically favorable compared to physical or...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Plastic Degradation Potential and Metagenomic Analysis of an Enriched Gut Microbial Consortium from <i>Tenebrio molitor</i>.

Microorganisms·2026
Same author

Tightened coupling of organic nitrogen and organic carbon synthesis governs integrity of soil organic matter in black soils.

Environmental research·2026
Same author

Rejuvenation of corticospinal neurons enhances rehabilitation-associated corticospinal tract axon sprouting and functional recovery post photothrombotic ischemic stroke in mice.

Genes & diseases·2026
Same author

Low-substrate nitrogen drives functional succession toward a cooperative Candidatus Brocadia consortium in anammox systems.

Bioresource technology·2026
Same author

Gate-tunable bipolar transport in PbSe/GeSe/MoS<sub>2</sub> heterojunction photodetector array for medication optical rotation detection.

Optics express·2026
Same author

Research on the construction of prediction model for depressive symptom in the second and third trimester of pregnancy based on artificial neural network.

Frontiers in psychiatry·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 14, 2026

Forming Micro-and Nano-Plastics from Agricultural Plastic Films for Employment in Fundamental Research Studies
08:21

Forming Micro-and Nano-Plastics from Agricultural Plastic Films for Employment in Fundamental Research Studies

Published on: July 27, 2022

Insect-mediated polystyrene (PS) degradation: Mechanisms, efficiency, ecological impacts, and application prospects.

Yue Yu1, Kejian Tian2, Pengfei Hao3

  • 1School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, No. 2555 Jingyue Avenue, Changchun City, Jilin Province, China.

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
|May 12, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Insects and their gut microbes can biodegrade polystyrene (PS), a persistent plastic pollutant. This review details mechanisms, influencing factors, and the urgent need for standardized research methods for effective plastic remediation.

Keywords:
Degradative enzymesEcotoxicologyInsectsPolystyrene

More Related Videos

Isolation and Screening from Soil Biodiversity for Fungi Involved in the Degradation of Recalcitrant Materials
08:21

Isolation and Screening from Soil Biodiversity for Fungi Involved in the Degradation of Recalcitrant Materials

Published on: May 16, 2022

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
13:38

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture

Published on: May 10, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 14, 2026

Forming Micro-and Nano-Plastics from Agricultural Plastic Films for Employment in Fundamental Research Studies
08:21

Forming Micro-and Nano-Plastics from Agricultural Plastic Films for Employment in Fundamental Research Studies

Published on: July 27, 2022

Isolation and Screening from Soil Biodiversity for Fungi Involved in the Degradation of Recalcitrant Materials
08:21

Isolation and Screening from Soil Biodiversity for Fungi Involved in the Degradation of Recalcitrant Materials

Published on: May 16, 2022

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture
13:38

Isolation of Native Soil Microorganisms with Potential for Breaking Down Biodegradable Plastic Mulch Films Used in Agriculture

Published on: May 10, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Microbiology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Polystyrene (PS) pollution poses significant ecological and health risks due to its slow degradation.
  • Insects and their gut microbiota offer a promising biological solution for PS biodegradation.
  • Understanding the mechanisms and limitations is crucial for developing effective remediation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically review insect species capable of PS degradation.
  • To elucidate the roles of gut microbiota and enzyme systems in PS breakdown.
  • To analyze influencing factors, ecotoxicological effects, and application potential of insect-mediated PS remediation.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on insect-mediated PS biodegradation.
  • Analysis of multi-stage degradation mechanisms: physical activation, enzymatic oxidation, depolymerization-mineralization, and bioassimilation.
  • Examination of influencing factors (PS properties, insect stage) and ecotoxicological impacts.

Main Results:

  • Insects like Tenebrio molitor, Zophobas atratus, and Galleria mellonella degrade PS via gut microbial symbiosis.
  • PS degradation involves surface modification, molecular weight reduction, and carbon mineralization or assimilation.
  • Significant methodological heterogeneity and lack of standardized validation hinder comparability of current research.

Conclusions:

  • Insect-gut microbiota systems present a viable green approach for polystyrene remediation.
  • Standardized experimental protocols and validated methods (e.g., isotope tracing) are essential for reliable PS degradation assessment.
  • Further research is needed to optimize and apply this biodegradation process effectively.