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Tsochatzis ED, Berggreen IE, Vidal NP, Roman L, Gika H, Corredig M. Cellular lipids and protein alteration during biodegradation of expanded polystyrene by mealworm larvae under different feeding conditions. Chemosphere 2022; 300:134420. [PMID: 35367488 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The present study reports the biodegradation of polystyrene (PS) by mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) following different feeding regimes. Changes in lipids and protein were studied to evaluate possible differences in the growth and metabolic pathways of the insects depending on the diets. Thermo-gravimetric analysis of the excretions (frass) revealed a decrease in the molecular mass of the PS polymers. The insects' biomass contained less protein when PS was part of the diet, suggesting that the insects undergo a certain level of stress compared to control diets. The frass also contained lower amount of nitrogen content compared to that from insects fed a control diet. NH4+ and other cations involved in biochemical processes were also measured in insects' frass, including potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium, combined with a small pH change. The decrease in the mineral content of the frass was attributed to increased cellular activity in PS-fed insects. A higher amount of ceramides and cardiolipins, biomarkers of apoptosis, were also found in association with PS consumption. It was concluded that the insects could metabolize PS, but this caused an increase in its stress levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- E D Tsochatzis
- Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark; CiFOOD, Centre for Innovative Food Research, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark.
| | - I E Berggreen
- Aarhus University, Department of Animal Science, Blichers Alle 20, 8830, Tjele, Denmark
| | - N Prieto Vidal
- Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark; CiFOOD, Centre for Innovative Food Research, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark; Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies (AIAS), Aarhus University, DK-8000, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - L Roman
- Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark; CiFOOD, Centre for Innovative Food Research, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark
| | - H Gika
- Food Omics GR Research Infrastructure, AUTh Node, Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Innovation (CIRI-AUTH), Balkan Center B1.4, 10th Km Thessaloniki-Thermi Rd, P.O. Box 8318, GR 57001, Thessaloniki, Greece; School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - M Corredig
- Department of Food Science, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark; CiFOOD, Centre for Innovative Food Research, Aarhus University, Agro Food Park 48, 8200, Aarhus N, Denmark
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