PubMed · 2026-05-11
Scientists discovered that superworms (Zophobas atratus) break down common plastics using both their own body enzymes and gut bacteria. A host enzyme called CYP6k1-ZP10 attacks polyethylene, while a gut microbe, Klebsiella variicola, uses its own enzyme to oxidize both polyethylene and polystyrene.
Zophobas atratus larvae showed significantly higher ingestion and oxidation of both polyethylene and polystyrene compared to wax moth larvae (Galleria mellonella)
Antibiotic treatment substantially reduced plastic oxidation but did not eliminate it, proving that both the host insect and its gut microbes each contribute independently to plastic breakdown
A host enzyme (CYP6k1-ZP10) was confirmed to oxidize polyethylene via RNA interference, while the gut bacterium Klebsiella variicola and its FMN-dependent monooxygenase were identified as responsible for oxidizing both plastics