Intestinal microbial sequencing of Galleria mellonella and mealworms

Flame retardants like tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) are crucial in electronic and electrical plastics (EEP), yet their effects on biodegradation in invertebrates are under-researched. This study explored TBBPA's impact on the biodegradation of rigid polyurethane by G. mellonella and T. molitor larvae, focusing on TBBPA's migration, transformation, and influence on gut microbiota. Results indicated that TBBPA reduced dietary intake and protein-like fluorescence intensity in the intestines, suggesting it affected feeding behavior, hindered nutrient absorption, and prompted lipid consumption for survival. Most TBBPA was excreted, with a small fraction transformed into less toxic compounds like TriBBPA and other brominated organics. High-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing identified potential roles of Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococciae, and other intestinal bacteria in TBBPA degradation. In conclusion, TBBPA can degrade into less toxic organic bromides during plastic biodegradation.