Characterization of the Gut Microbiota of Zophobas morio Larvae (Coleoptera, Tenebrionidae) Possibly Associated with Polystyrene Consumption and Originating from Different Regions of Brazil

• Grant number: 25/00525-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: April 01, 2025
• End date: March 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics - Molecular Genetics and Genetics of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Flavio Henrique da Silva
• Grantee: Letícia Garcia Beghini
• Host Institution: Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde (CCBS). Universidade Federal de São Carlos (UFSCAR). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The increase in plastic consumption and the dispersion of its waste in ecosystems have caused significant harm to global biota. Zophobas morio larvae (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) have been found to depolymerize polystyrene (PS) via their gut microbiota, opening possibilities for its use in polymer biodegradation. This study aims to identify the diversity of gut microbiota in Z. morio larvae from four regions of Brazil (North, Northeast, South, and Southeast) and assess changes in these microbiota when the larvae are fed exclusively on PS. A portion of individuals from each region will be fed exclusively with expanded polystyrene (EPS), while others will be maintained on a conventional diet. Larvae intestines from both diets will be isolated for DNA extraction, followed by metabarcoding analysis (Illumina sequencing) of the 16S ribosomal gene for bacteria and the ITS (internal transcribed spacer) region for fungi, allowing for the identification and comparison of gut microbiota across regions and diets.Additionally, a pool of larval intestines from the four regions will be inoculated into a liquid medium containing PS film as the sole carbon source, enriching organisms potentially involved in PS degradation. From this enrichment, further 16S and ITS metabarcoding analyses will be conducted and compared to the metabarcoding data from the pool before enrichment. Furthermore, the genetic diversity among Z. morio populations from the four regions will be assessed using DNA extracted from their heads, determining whether they represent distinct lineages through DArTseq sequencing. This project will enable the identification of common microorganisms among populations and those potentially involved in EPS degradation.