Synergistic degradation of sulfamethoxazole by Enterococcus wangshanyuanii F4 and black soldier fly larvae

This study demonstrates that inoculation with the Enterococcus wangshanyuanii strain F4 in a germ-free black soldier fly larval (BSFL) system enhances sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation, larval growth, and substrate conversion. Following inoculation with strain F4, the net SMX degradation rate reached 37.08%, and the net substrate consumption rate reached 46.12%, both representing significant improvements compared to the control group. Metagenomic analysis revealed that strain F4 modulated the BSFL gut microbial community structure and enriched functional genes associated with organic pollutant degradation. Accordingly, the activities of key degradation enzymes in the larval gut, including catechol-1,2-dioxygenase (C12O), catechol-2,3-dioxygenase (C23O), and peroxidase (POD), were significantly elevated following inoculation. Taken together, these findings suggest a synergistic effect between Enterococcus wangshanyuanii F4 and the host during the degradation process, which significantly enhances the removal of SMX by black soldier fly larvae. This provides a theoretical basis for the use of symbiotic microbial augmentation strategies in antibiotic bioremediation.