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Functional Characterization of PET Plastic and Aromatic Hydrocarbon Degradation by a Novel Anaerobic Bacterium Sporomusaceae sp. strain BFN5
Summary
Scientists discovered a bacterium that can break down PET plastic (the type used in water bottles) and oil-related pollutants even in environments without oxygen, like deep soil or sediment, something no other known bacteria could do before. This matters because plastic and oil pollution build up in low-oxygen places like landfills, marshes, and groundwater, and this microbe could eventually help clean up contamination that threatens drinking water and ecosystems humans depend on. That said, this is early-stage lab research, and it's not a quick fix, the bacteria break down plastic slowly (about 16-19% per year), so more work is needed before this
Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics and petroleum hydrocarbons are among the most persistent environmental pollutants. They are widespread globally and pose significant risks to human health and ecosystems, creating an urgent need for effective biological remediation strategies. This study presents the first physiological and molecular characterization of anaerobic PET and aromatic hydrocarbon degradation by Sporomusaceae sp. strain BFN5, a novel bacterium isolated from oil spill-impacted salt marsh sediment. Strain BFN5 was cultivated anaerobically with PET microplastics or naphthalene as the carbon source and nitrate as the terminal electron acceptor, demonstrating a PET degradation rate of ~16% per year (by weight loss). Supplementation with cobalt, a trace element associated with key enzymatic cofactors in aromatic metabolism, significantly enhanced biofilm formation (crystal violet staining, SEM, confocal microscopy) and increased PET degradation to ~19% per year. SEM further revealed grooves and pitting on PET plastic surfaces, indicating active enzymatic attack. Putative anaerobic PET and aromatic compound degradation genes were identified via genomic analysis, including ubiD and ubiX, encoding enzymes that facilitate aromatic ring activation; pduC, encoding propanediol dehydratase that converts ethylene glycol to acetaldehyde; bssA, encoding benzyl succinate synthase which is responsible for initiating the anaerobic degradation of toluene and benzene, and ncrA, encoding a core subunit of 2-naphthoyl-CoA reductase that is responsible for the anaerobic degradation of naphthalene, were identified and characterized via genomic analysis. These genes were significantly upregulated during mid-logarithmic growth of the strain BFN5 on both PET plastics and naphthalene, indicating their role in anaerobic PET and naphthalene degradation by strain BFN5 . Metabolite analysis provided further evidence for the degradation pathways employed by strain BFN5. During anaerobic naphthalene degradation, 2-naphthoic acid was detected, confirming a direct decarboxylation pathway. During PET degradation, terephthalic acid and other intermediates support a proposed first complete strictly anaerobic PET degradation pathway. To date, strain BFN5 is the only described pure-culture bacterium capable of strictly anaerobic PET degradation. The findings of this study expand current understanding of microbial plastic and aromatic hydrocarbon degradation and establish strain BFN5 as a promising model for future bioremediation research targeting oxygen-limited polluted environments.