Responses of gut microbial community and metabolic function to disposable face mask of Zophobas atratus larvae

TL;DR

This study shows that the gut microbes of Zophobas atratus larvae can degrade disposable face masks, offering a potential solution to plastic pollution.

Contribution

The study identifies specific gut microbes and metabolic pathways involved in mask degradation, a previously unreported capability.

Findings

Zophobas atratus larvae gut microbiome degrades masks at a rate of 60 ± 0.04 mg/d per 50 larvae.

Hafnia and Corynebacterium are key genera contributing to mask degradation.

46 metabolites were significantly upregulated, and steroid hormone biosynthesis and cytochrome P450 pathways are linked to degradation.

Abstract

With the prevalence of epidemics, disposable face masks have been used in large quantities and has caused global environmental pollution concern. The gut microbiome of Zophobas atratus larvae showed great potential for plastic degradation. In a preliminary study, the larval gut microbiome could degrade masks, which has not been previously reported. This study validated the ability of the gut microbiome to degrade masks. Functional microbiomes and metabolic pathways associated with the degradation of masks were also analyzed. Our findings confirmed that the larvae have high masks-degrading ability with a consumption of 60 ± 0.04 mg/d (dry mass by per 50 larvae), which is gut microbiome-dependent. At the genus level, Hafnia and Corynebaterium were highly abundant and contributed to masks degradation. The degrading metabolites were then identified, of which 46 were significantly upregulated. Steroid hormone biosynthesis and the cytochrome P450 pathway may be linked to DFM (PP) oxidation and degradation. Finally, Stenotrophomonas sp. strain M212 with a masks-degrading ability was screened from these functional microorganisms, further establishing the role of the gut microbiome.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s44307-025-00092-6.

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