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Priestia megaterium Jou-S14 degrades highly crystalline polyethylene terephthalate microplastics
npj Emerging Contaminants
2026
Guang Yang,
Xueping Huang,
Guohao Yu,
Tiantian Tao,
Kai Guo,
Xiaoyue Hou,
Congyan Qi,
Song Gao,
Yaowei Fang
Summary
Researchers isolated a coastal bacterium, Priestia megaterium Jou-S14, capable of degrading highly crystalline PET microplastics that typically resist enzymatic breakdown, achieving weight losses of over 5% in 30 days. Genomic analysis identified a novel PET hydrolase enzyme (PmPETase) with an active catalytic triad, expanding the known repertoire of marine microorganisms that can degrade recalcitrant plastic polymers.