We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Identification and Characterization of a Polyethylene-Degrading Fungus Aspergillus sydowii Isolated from Soils of Waste Disposal Sites
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists discovered a fungus in landfill soil that can actually break down polyethylene, the most common plastic used in bags and packaging that normally takes hundreds of years to decompose. In lab tests, the fungus visibly ate away at plastic film and broke down its molecular structure, and researchers identified the specific enzyme responsible, which could eventually be used to help clean up plastic waste. This matters for human health because polyethylene waste breaks down into microplastics that contaminate our food, water, and even our bodies—finding natural ways to degrade this plastic could reduce that pollution over time.
Petrochemical-based plastics are widely used due to their convenience and low cost, with polyethylene (PE) being the most produced globally. However, the lack of efficient and sustainable treatment methods for conventional plastic wastes has led to severe environmental pollution. A new fungus strain capable of degrading PE was isolated from soil samples collected at a waste disposal site in Henan province and identified as Aspergillus sydowii W144. After 30 days of incubation under solid-state culture conditions, the strain demonstrated significant oxidative depolymerization of low-density polyethylene (LDPE). FTIR results revealed a substantial increase in the carbonyl index of the LDPE film, while differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis detected an enhanced crystallinity in the LDPE film. Notably, distinct pitting and erosion marks were observed on the surface of LDPE film using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Quantitative analysis showed a weight loss rate of 6.39% and a reduction in Weight-Average Molecular Weight (Mw) by 50.93%. Among currently identified PE-degrading strains polyethylene, A. sydowii W144 exhibits particularly outstanding depolymerization efficiency, especially on untreated PE. Based on the whole-genome data of A. sydowii W144, a preliminary model of the putative polyethylene degradation pathway in A. sydowii W144 was constructed through homology-based sequence analysis and by referencing previously reported polyethylene degradation pathways. Laccase/multicopper oxidase plays a key role in the initial oxidation of PE. Heterologous expression of the candidate gene laccase4 in Pichia pastoris yielded an active enzyme (~56 kDa) with a laccase activity of 460 U/L, confirming its functionality. This study provides a novel microbial resource and potential enzymatic tools for PE biodegradation. The strain exhibits a promising application in complex ecosystems for PE pollution. IMPORTANCE: The polyethylene-degrading strain A. sydowii W144 isolated in this study exhibits highly efficient depolymerization capabilities, particularly under solid-state culture conditions. Genomic sequencing analysis enabled the construction of a potential polyethylene (PE) degradation pathway and facilitated the identification of key laccase and multicopper oxidase genes involved in this process. The isolation of this novel strain enriches the microbial resources available for PE waste treatment and offers new insights into the mechanisms of plastic biodegradation.
More Papers Like This
Identification and Characterization of a Polyethylene-Degrading Fungus Aspergillus sydowii Isolated from Soils of Waste Disposal Sites
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers isolated a new fungal strain, Aspergillus sydowii W144, from landfill soil and found it degrades untreated low-density polyethylene under solid-state conditions—achieving 6.4% weight loss and a 51% reduction in molecular weight in 30 days—then identified laccase as the key initiating enzyme through genomic analysis and heterologous expression.
Biodegradation of Plastics by Fungi
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines how fungi — including naturally occurring species found in soil and marine environments — can break down common plastic polymers including polyethylene under low-nutrient conditions. Laboratory evidence suggests some fungal species can degrade plastic pellets, reducing their mass and size, offering a potentially cheaper and more ecologically compatible alternative to industrial plastic disposal methods. Scaling up fungal biodegradation remains a challenge, but the findings suggest microbes could play a significant role in reducing environmental microplastic accumulation over time.
Myco-remediation of plastic pollution: current knowledge and future prospects
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed the growing body of evidence showing that fungi can break down common plastics — including polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene — by secreting specialized enzymes that attack and mineralize plastic polymers, with many effective species coming from the Aspergillus and Penicillium families. The review calls for metagenomic approaches to discover more plastic-degrading fungi and develop them into practical bioremediation tools.
Bioremoval_of_PE_MPs
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists tested whether a common fungus can break down polyethylene microplastics—tiny plastic particles found in water, soil, and even our bodies—and found the fungus's ability to remove them depends on the plastic's size and shape. This matters because microplastics are increasingly linked to health concerns, and finding natural, low-cost ways like fungi to clean them up from water and the environment could help reduce our overall exposure to this pollution.
Evidence of Plastic Biodegradation Potential by a Fungal Isolate from a Sanitary Landfill in Davao Oriental
AI summary Read the abstract
Scientists found a fungus living in a Philippine landfill that can actually eat into plastic bags (LDPE), creating visible cracks, holes, and damage on the plastic's surface. This matters because plastic waste—and the microplastics it breaks down into—pollutes our environment and food chain, so finding natural organisms that break down plastic could offer a cheaper, eco-friendly way to tackle plastic pollution instead of letting it linger for decades. That said, this is early-stage research, so more testing is needed before this fungus becomes a real-world waste solution.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.