Integrating multi-omics and molecular simulations to elucidate the molecular mechanism of polystyrene degradation by Cupriavidus sp.

Polystyrene microplastics: environmental presence, pathways, and biological impact

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Researchers reviewed the environmental presence, transport pathways, and biological impacts of polystyrene microplastics, documenting how widespread food packaging use leads to pervasive contamination of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and raises concerns for organismal and human health.

Algae and Plastic Pollution: A Computational Study on Enzyme-Based Biodegradation Mechanisms

Enhancing the mycoremediation potential: The multifaceted role of fulvic acid in polystyrene microplastics degradation by Phanerochaete chrysosporium

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Researchers found that adding fulvic acid nearly doubled the degradation rate of polystyrene microplastics by the fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium, increasing breakdown from 14% to 25% over 21 days. Fulvic acid acted through multiple mechanisms — physically etching the plastic surface to improve bioaccessibility, upregulating fungal stress and energy metabolism genes, and accelerating chemical transformation of degradation intermediates — revealing a coupled abiotic-biotic pathway relevant to microplastic fate in natural environments.

Genomics and Proteomics Associated with Bioremediation of Microplastics

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Researchers are using genomics and proteomics to identify and engineer microbes and enzymes capable of breaking down microplastics in the environment, a field that holds promise for biological cleanup of plastic pollution. Understanding which genes and proteins drive plastic degradation could lead to targeted bioremediation strategies for soils and waterways contaminated with persistent plastic fragments.