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Isolation and mechanistic study of novel PLA-degrading bacteria from plastic manufacturing soil.
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Scientists discovered two new soil bacteria that can break down PLA, a "compostable" plastic used in food packaging and utensils that actually takes a very long time to decompose in nature. The researchers pinpointed the specific enzymes these bacteria use to digest the plastic, which could help engineers develop faster, more efficient ways to break down plastic waste. This matters because reducing how long plastics linger in the environment means less plastic breaking down into the microplastics that end up in our water, food, and bodies.
Petroleum-derived plastic pollution has become increasingly severe, stimulating the application demand for biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA). Nevertheless, the slow natural degradation rate of PLA limits its large-scale practical application. In this study, two potential novel strains with PLLA-degrading capacity, Chryseobacterium sp. L42 and Pedobacter sp. D55, were successfully isolated based on microbial community analysis of soil from plastic-manufacturing plants, combined with transparent-circle assays and PLA-film degradation tests. Integrated transcriptomic analysis and RT-qPCR validation, together with functional verification via heterologous expression in E. coli BL21 (DE3), confirmed that enzymes 10_101 and 10_105 from strain L42 exhibit prominent PLA-degrading activity, and both possess dual esterase and protease activities. Results from AlphaFold3 protein-structure prediction and molecular docking revealed that these functional enzymes contain conserved active pockets of PHA depolymerase, which target the ester bonds of PLA trimers through hydrogen bonds and hydrophobic interactions. This study clarifies the multi-enzyme synergistic PLA-degradation pathway mediated by strain L42. It provides valuable novel bacterial strains and degrading enzymes for the efficient bioremediation of plastic waste, and offers theoretical basis and practical reference for overcoming the technical bottlenecks in PLA degradation.
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Isolation and Characterization of PET-Degrading Bacteria from Plastic Waste- Contaminated Soil in Western India
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Scientists found bacteria living in plastic-polluted soil in India that can actually break down PET plastic (the type used in water bottles and food packaging). This matters because PET plastic pollution is a major source of the microplastics now found in our food, water, and even our bodies — and these natural bacteria could eventually help clean up plastic waste before it breaks down into the tiny particles that pose health risks.
Potential plastic biodegradation in lakes worldwide.
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Scientists studied lakes worldwide and found naturally occurring bacteria that can break down plastic waste, and they even isolated a new strain that effectively degrades common plastics like PET (used in bottles) and PLA (a "biodegradable" plastic). This matters because it could lead to new tools for cleaning up plastic pollution in our water systems, pollution that eventually breaks down into microplastics that end up in the food and water we consume.
Phenotypic and Genomic Characterization of Polyethylene-Degrading Bacillus cereus PE-1 Enriched from Landfill Microbial Consortium
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Scientists found a bacteria called Bacillus cereus PE-1 in landfill soil that can actually eat and break down plastic bags and containers (polyethylene). The bacteria damaged the plastic's surface and reduced its weight by about 5% in just 30 days, suggesting it could potentially help clean up plastic pollution in the environment. While this research is still early and needs more testing, it offers hope for using natural bacteria to tackle the growing problem of plastic waste that threatens our ecosystems and food chain.
Degradation of PET plastic with engineered environmental bacteria
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Scientists engineered a soil bacterium to break down PET plastic, one of the most common plastics in food packaging and textiles, by giving it the ability to produce and secrete a powerful plastic-degrading enzyme. This is one of the first demonstrations of a living microorganism that can directly consume PET as a food source, which could lead to more sustainable recycling approaches.
From Soil to Solution
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Plastic mulch films used in farming break down into microplastics that build up in soil—and eventually may end up in our food and water. This review summarizes research on certain soil bacteria (Bacillus species) that naturally produce enzymes capable of breaking down both regular and "biodegradable" plastics, offering a promising eco-friendly cleanup tool. While the approach is still developing and faces challenges like slow breakdown speeds, it points toward practical ways to reduce plastic pollution in the food we grow.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.