Proteus spp. as potential agents for polyethylene (PE) bioremediation: Isolation, identification, and comparative degradation analysis

Screening, identification, and characterisation of bacteria in landfill leachate for polypropylene microplastic biodegradation

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Scientists found a bacteria strain living in landfill waste that can actually "eat" and break down polypropylene, one of the most common plastics used in food packaging, bottle caps, and textiles, reducing it by about 16% in just a month. This matters because microplastics are increasingly showing up in our food, water, and even our bodies, and this discovery suggests nature may already hold tools to help clean up plastic pollution before it breaks down into the tiny particles we end up ingesting.

Innovative Approaches to Enhance Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE) Biodegradation using Pleurotus ostreatus

Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Polyester-Degrading Bacterial Strains from Municipal Wastewater and Their Application in Microplastic Degradation in Contaminated Wastewater

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Scientists found three types of bacteria in wastewater that can naturally break down polyester microplastics, the tiny plastic fibers that shed from clothes and pollute our water, eventually working their way into the food we eat. In lab tests, these bacteria broke down 8-13% of the plastic over six weeks, which isn't a huge amount, but it's a promising first step toward using natural microbes to help clean up microplastic pollution in wastewater before it spreads further into the environment and our bodies.

Biodegradation efficacy of soil inherent novel sp. Bacillus tropicus (MK318648) onto low density polyethylene matrix

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Researchers identified a soil bacterium, Bacillus tropicus, capable of degrading low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plastic films, breaking down about 10% of the material's weight over 40 days. While degradation was partial and slow, findings like these point toward potential biological strategies for reducing plastic waste that would otherwise fragment into environmental microplastics.

Genomics and Proteomics Associated with Bioremediation of Microplastics

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Researchers are using genomics and proteomics to identify and engineer microbes and enzymes capable of breaking down microplastics in the environment, a field that holds promise for biological cleanup of plastic pollution. Understanding which genes and proteins drive plastic degradation could lead to targeted bioremediation strategies for soils and waterways contaminated with persistent plastic fragments.