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A 21st century miniguide to fungal biotechnology
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This molecular biology review covers advances in fungal genetics and biotechnology, including gene editing, genome sequencing, and transposable elements. It is a fundamental biology paper with no direct connection to environmental microplastic pollution.
Realising the biotechnological potential of fungi requires full appreciation of the molecular biology and genetics of this kingdom. We review recent advances in our understanding of fungal genetic structure as it might influence biotechnology; including introns, alternative splicing of primary transcripts, transposons (transposable elements, or TEs), heterokaryosis, ploidy and genomic variation, sequencing, annotation and comparison of fungal genomes, and gene editing. We end by indicating under-researched, but unique, aspects of fungal cell biology that offer opportunities for developing new strategies to manage the activities of fungi to our benefit. As a closing example, we discuss the potential of bioengineering fungi specifically for bioremediation of plastic wastes.
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Biotechnological methods to remove microplastics: a review
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This review examines biotechnological approaches to removing microplastics from the environment, including using algae, fungi, and bacteria that can break down plastic particles. The paper also discusses cutting-edge methods like gene editing to enhance microbial degradation abilities, which could eventually help reduce the amount of microplastics that accumulate in food and water sources.
Fungal Degradation of Microplastics—An Environmental Need
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This review highlights fungi as an underexplored but promising tool for breaking down microplastics in the environment, noting that fungal enzymes can degrade plastics that bacteria struggle with. As conventional physical and chemical methods fall short of addressing the scale of microplastic pollution, fungal biodegradation could offer a practical, scalable complement to existing cleanup strategies.
Microbial Bioremediation of Microplastic Pollution for a Sustainable Ecosystem and Greener Future: A Review
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Microplastics—tiny plastic particles now found in our water, soil, and air—are hard to clean up with traditional methods and may pose risks to our health. This review rounds up the latest science on using bacteria, fungi, and their enzymes to break down these stubborn plastics, highlighting promising lab tools (like gene-editing and specially designed enzymes) that could make cleanup more effective. While these microbial solutions aren't yet ready for widespread real-world use, they represent a hopeful, more sustainable path toward reducing microplastic pollution in the future.
Fungal Bioremediation of Microplastics
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This review examines how fungi can be used for bioremediation of plastic pollution, covering the enzymes and metabolic pathways involved in fungal plastic degradation. Fungal approaches complement bacterial strategies and may offer unique capabilities for breaking down certain types of plastics in contaminated environments.
Biodegradation of Microplastics by Filamentous Fungi: A Novel Approach for Polymer Remediation
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Microplastics are tiny plastic particles that build up in our environment—and our bodies—because they barely break down naturally. This review pulls together current research on certain fungi that produce special enzymes capable of breaking down these plastics, suggesting a promising, more natural cleanup method. While the science is still developing and not yet ready for widespread use, it offers hope for reducing microplastic pollution that could otherwise keep accumulating in our food, water, and bodies.
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.