(645f) Integrated Omics and Chemical Biology Approaches Reveal Novel Polyolefin-Degrading Microbial Communities and Isolates

Polyolefins such as polyethylene (LDPE and HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) are significant sources of plastic pollution. However, current large-scale recycling and upcycling solutions are not economical due to the low density/high transportation costs of waste streams and their contamination with various additives, packaging and chemicals. Biological systems, in contrast, process complex feed streams locally (e.g. compost piles), promising an economical alternative for plastics deconstruction and upcycling. In particular, the gut microbiome of yellow mealworms (larvae of Tenebrio molitor) has emerged as a promising platform for plastics deconstruction. Thus, we apply microbiology, systems biology, analytical chemistry and chemical biology techniques to isolate and characterize optimized plastic-degrading consortia and isolates. We have assembled a microbial collection of over 300 yellow mealworm gut isolates and microbial communities enriched on plastic diets that we have evaluated for growth on plastic supplemented media. Metagenomic and metatranscriptomics sequencing reveal novel microbiota and anaerobic oxidation pathways enriched on plastics that have not previously been recognized to participate in plastics degradation. Many of these communities and isolates are plastic degrading; characterization via FTIR, SEM, DSC, and GPC reveal up to an order of magnitude decrease in polymer molecular weight with associated morphological, chemical, and physical property modifications consistent with depolymerization. We are now beginning to pair these studies with fluorescently-labeled chemical probes that mimic plastic substrates and label whole cells, facilitating cell sorting and isolation of even unculturable microbial communities. Our studies provide comprehensive insight into polyolefin degradation by yellow mealworm microbiomes and may accelerate development of robust microbial upcycling solutions.