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Biodegradation of Polystyrene by Hafnia paralvei: A Novel Isolate from the Gastrointestinal Tract of Common Carp
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Scientists found a new gut bacterium in carp (a fish that feeds on the bottom, where plastic waste accumulates) that can break down polystyrene, a common plastic found in food containers and packaging, eating away nearly 17% of it in just 16 days. This matters because microplastics are increasingly found in our water, food, and even our bodies, and discovering natural bacteria that can break down plastic waste could lead to new tools for cleaning up pollution before it reaches our plates.
This study highlights the strong ability of a new bacterial strain, Hafnia paralvei UUNT_MP29, isolated from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of common carp (Cyprinus carpio), to break down polystyrene (PS). As an omnivorous bottom feeder, C. carpio is constantly exposed to microplastics, creating a unique environment that favors the evolution of specialized microbiota capable of degrading polymers. Genomic analysis of the isolate identified key homologs involved in xenobiotic breakdown, including alcohol dehydrogenase (Adh), 3-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase (HDH), and a small glutamine-rich tetratricopeptide repeat-containing protein (SGTA), showing a strong metabolic system for processing long-chain hydrocarbons. Growth experiments showed the strain quickly adapted, reaching maximum cell density and forming mature biofilms by Day 16. Gravimetric analysis confirmed that H. paralvei UUNT_MP29 uses PS as its primary carbon source, with a significant weight loss of 16.76% over 16 days. Kinetic modeling indicated the degradation follows first-order kinetics (R2 = 0.9243) with a high degradation rate constant (k) of 0.2078 day−1. Surface analyses using FTIR and SEM confirmed extensive oxidative changes, as evidenced by the rising Carbonyl Index and surface erosion. TGA also showed reduced thermal stability of the treated polymer, suggesting microbial chain scission. These findings demonstrate the strong degradative ability of H. paralvei UUNT_MP29 and highlight the GIT of plastic-exposed aquatic animals as a promising area for discovering powerful biocatalysts for microplastic cleanup.
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