Structural biology—plastic degradation by using wax worm saliva

Plastic waste management is a pressing ecological, social, and economic challenge that has looked to diverse chemical-biology strategies to facilitate biodegradation. In a new report now on Science Advances, Mercedes Spinola-Amilibia and a research team in structural and chemical biology, molecular biology, and microbial biology, in Spain, used the saliva of the lepidopteran Galleria mellonella larvae, to oxidize and depolymerize polyethylene within hours at room temperature.