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Polyolefin colonization and partial degradation by Gordonia sp., and Arthrobacter sp. isolated from wetlands and compost
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Researchers isolated Gordonia sp. and Arthrobacter sp. bacteria from wetlands and compost and tested their ability to degrade polypropylene and polystyrene over 28 days. Gordonia achieved 22.8% PP mass loss and 19.5% PS mass loss, formed biofilms on PP surfaces, and carried a putative alkane-degrading enzyme (AlkB), representing promising organisms for plastic biodegradation.
• Gordonia sp. iso11 and Arthrobacter sp. degrade polypropylene and polystyrene. • 22.8 % and 19.5 % mass loss of PP and PS degradation, respectively over 28 d. • Gordonia sp. iso11 forms biofilms on PP under nutrient-deplete conditions. • Putative polypropylene-degrading enzyme AlkB identified by whole genome sequencing. Plastics and microplastics constitute an ever-increasing pollutant in the biosphere. There is clear evidence that environmental microorganisms possess enzyme systems and metabolic apparatus to degrade natural high-molecular-weight polymers, which substantially overlap with those involved in the biodegradation of plastics. This study investigated the presence and activities of plastic-degrading microorganisms in environments with a high abundance of plant-derived polymers, including cellulosic, chitinous, or lignin-derived compounds. Microorganisms were enriched in a minimal medium, supplemented with low-density polyethylene (LDPE), polypropylene (PP), poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET), or polystyrene (PS) as the sole carbon source, resulting in 12 bacterial isolates. Plastic mass loss and cell viability were measured over a 28-day incubation period, in addition to assessment of biofilm formation. Gordonia sp. iso11 displayed mass loss of PP of up to 22.8 % and formed a viable dense biofilm (10 9 CFU cm −2 ) on a PP film. A putative alkane-1-monoxygenase (AlkB) was identified from genome sequence analysis, which aligned with a known LDPE-degrading enzyme. Furthermore, reductions in the contact angle of medium supernatant from Gordonia sp. iso11 provided evidence of biosurfactant production which may enhance the bioavailability of the synthetic plastic. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of PP degradation by Gordonia , achieved without any pretreatment or microbial consortium. These findings highlight the potential of environments rich in natural polymers to yield potent plastic-degrading strains.
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Polyolefin colonization and partial degradation by Gordonia sp., and Arthrobacter sp. isolated from wetlands and compost
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers isolated plastic-degrading bacteria from wetland and compost environments enriched on LDPE, PP, PET, and polystyrene as sole carbon sources, finding that Gordonia sp. iso11 degraded up to 22.8% of polypropylene mass over 28 days while forming a dense biofilm and producing biosurfactants, marking the first reported PP degradation by the Gordonia genus.
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Researchers isolated marine bacteria from plastic-contaminated sites in Egypt and found two Gordonia alkanivorans strains capable of breaking down low-density polyethylene (LDPE), a common plastic used in packaging, confirming the bacteria's ability to degrade plastic through measurable weight loss and chemical changes.
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Researchers isolated and characterized new bacterial strains capable of degrading low-density polyethylene, one of the most common plastic polymers. The strains were found in landfill and compost environments, and the study suggests that biological degradation could be a promising approach for addressing polyethylene waste accumulation.
Greater Biofilm Formation and Increased Biodegradation of Polyethylene Film by a Microbial Consortium of Arthrobacter sp. and Streptomyces sp.
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