Wen-long Liu, Xiaoli Yuan, Zong-hong Wen, You-yan Liu, Aixing Tang
Pyrethroid insecticides are extensively applied owing to their potent insecticidal activity and low mammalian toxicity, yet their hydrophobicity results in persistent environmental residues. Here, we engineered a Bacillus subtilis spore surface display system to anchor Pseudomonas aeruginosa aminopeptidase (PaAps) on the spore coat and evaluated its potential for pyrethroid degradation. Surface-anchored PaAps efficiently degraded various pyrethroids, with β-cypermethrin showing the highest removal. The enzyme exhibited remarkable thermal stability and pH tolerance, with optimal activity at 60 °C and pH 8.0, along with enhanced long-term storage stability. Soil microcosm studies revealed that PaAps not only accelerated β-cypermethrin degradation but also influenced the indigenous microbial community to enhance bioremediation. This study demonstrates a robust and environmentally sustainable biocatalytic strategy for pyrethroid detoxification, with promising applications in environmental remediation and food safety.